My middle name is Zenira (I was named after my deceased grandmother), and I can never find this name in any name books or blogs. Have you heard of it? [name]How[/name] do you pronounce it? People usually want to say [name]Zen[/name]-ear-ah when they see it, but my relatives (who actually knew my grandmother) pronounce it
[name]Zen[/name]-Are (silent a at the end). [name]Ive[/name] always pronounced it [name]Zen[/name]-Are-[name]Ah[/name]. Any ideas where this name came from? Or, opinions on it? I’m thinking of it as a possible mn for my daughter.
I have never heard of it but I love the idea of sharing it with your daughter as a family tradition.
I would pronounce zen-ear-ah too if I read it somewhere.
I found this Portuguese-language (Brazilian) website that suggests it’s a variant of Arabic Zelmira, meaning radiant or shining. The page says this is suggested by the internet and pending revision so it’s not super clear cut, but it makes some sense. My first reaction on seeing it was that it sounded / looked Arabic, and looking around online a lot of use of the name seems to be by Spanish speakers, who sometimes have Arabic language or Arabic influenced names because of the Moorish influence on Spain. There are also some Brazilians with the name.
Googling for “significado do nome Zenira” in Portuguese leads to a lot of hits, although there seems to be a more popular idea than Zelmira, saying its Greek, meaning from [name]Zeus[/name], like (my suggestion here, not on the websites) a variant of [name]Zenobia[/name].
http://www.sonhosbr.com.br/nomes/letra-z/zenira.html
Variant of [name]Zenobia[/name] was another thought I had upon seeing the name. If you don’t have any Brazilian/Portuguese/Spanish/Arabic/Greek heritage, [name]Zenobia[/name] I think used to be more common that it is now, among older generations (it was never common).
That’s interesting that it was pronounced Ze-NAIRE, I would almost want to spell it that way for that prn. For Zenira, I agree, zen-ear-a.
I like the idea of continuing to pass this name on: whatever it’s origin, it’s pretty and meaningful for your family!
Wow! Thanks for all the info. the few times I tried to research the name on the Internet, I only found a few instances of its use in the United States, and whenever I did they were southern (which my grandmother was) --not sure if that means anything. I also found instances of gamers naming their characters that name! Of course, with no info on pronunciation.
Beautiful name, I would definitely use it for your daughter. If not, at least a variation. Maybe you could even use [name]Zeus[/name] for your son?..
I have a great grandson named zen.never figured out where my grandson or his wife came up with the name tho.i like it because it is unusual.i also have another great grandson named rylan and a new great granddaughter named honesty rayne.but once again i have another granddaughter named odyssey.guess the newer generation is going for more unusual names then in my day lol!!! But i love them all!!!
[name]Glad[/name] it was helpful! : D. Good luck as you search and consider.