How would you pronounce Orion?

system · April 10, 2015, 7:47am

See the results of this poll: How would you pronounce the name Orion?

Respondents: 108 (This poll is closed)

OR-ee-un : 13 (12%)
oh-RYE-un : 94 (87%)
Other: 1 (1%)

essa · April 10, 2015, 7:50am

I always read it as Or-ree-un. But when I think about it I think it might actually be Oh-rye-un.

mommy_mig · April 10, 2015, 8:01am

Oh-ryan, as in [name_u]Orion[/name_u]'s belt…

pebbles320 · April 10, 2015, 8:22am

The constellation and Greek mythology character is oh-[name_m]RYE[/name_m]-on, so that’s how I would pronounce it.

Mischa · April 10, 2015, 9:25am

This is correct.

Mischa · April 10, 2015, 9:29am

[name_u]Orion[/name_u] is pronounced with a “[name_m]RYE[/name_m]” like the constellation. I’m sure some other cultures say “ree” but English speakers should pronounce it as “oh-[name_m]RYE[/name_m]-un”.

tinyelk · April 10, 2015, 9:34am

Had to click on this just to see what other possible pronunciation there could be other than with the rye sound in the middle! [name_m]Just[/name_m] out of interest, kalanigirl, how would you pronounce it?

hkelsi · April 10, 2015, 9:40am

I typically pronounce the name “oh-rye-uh”, however there is a [name_u]Lake[/name_u] [name_u]Orion[/name_u] where my family is from, and that is pronounced “OR-ee-un”… I think it’s personal preference!

kala_way · April 10, 2015, 1:18pm

It may be personal preference but if you don’t pronounce it oh-[name_m]RYE[/name_m]-in you’ll be correcting a lot of people.

OpheliaFlora · April 10, 2015, 1:28pm

O-ry-on in English, O-ree-on in [name_m]German[/name_m].

McCharlie · April 10, 2015, 5:35pm

O ree on

We say “ee” in [name_f]France[/name_f] too. I’m shocked because I have always thought it was O ree on. I just learned something today. I don’t like O rye on.

southern.maple · April 10, 2015, 6:10pm

Essentially the same as O’[name_u]Ryan[/name_u].

bkb · April 10, 2015, 8:11pm

I live near [name_u]Lake[/name_u] [name_u]Orion[/name_u], which someone mentioned. It’s pronounced OR-ee-on. I still would probably guess that the name is pronounced like the constellation is in English–Oh-[name_m]RYE[/name_m]-on.

iraasuup · April 10, 2015, 10:46pm

I actually know someone with this name, and it is pronounced ‘Oh-[name_u]Ryan[/name_u]’

system · April 13, 2015, 6:55am

I prefer OR-ee-un. [name_m]Mark[/name_m] [name_m]Twain[/name_m]‘s brother pronounced his name that way, and I really like it. Unfortunately, the constellation and the Celtic ties (O’[name_u]Ryan[/name_u]) might ruin that pronunciation for me. I’m thinking of compromising with [name_u]Dorian[/name_u], which is doubly great because I love [name_m]Oscar[/name_m] Wilde and I’m a musician.

lovemysweeties · April 13, 2015, 7:00am

I pronounce the name o-[name_m]RYE[/name_m]-ən.

McCharlie · April 14, 2015, 9:55am

I agree!
And what about [name_f]Orian[/name_f]? I would say it O-ree-un as well, but I don’t know how people would pronounce it.

tinyelk · April 14, 2015, 10:32am

[name_m]Oscar[/name_m] Wilde for the absolute win, [name_u]Dorian[/name_u] is awesome!

rachelbrein · April 14, 2015, 1:55pm

ore-EYE-an

axps123 · April 14, 2015, 7:07pm

I would say oh-[name_m]RYE[/name_m]-un, because my only real association with the name is the constellation, and I speak English. I think this is the pronunciation you would get from most English-speakers.

If you were really aiming for ORR-ee-un, I think you could get away with Orien as an alternative, though you will likely still get “O’[name_u]Ryan[/name_u]” sometimes. I think [name_m]Oren[/name_m] is a really gorgeous boys name that also has ties to nature, if you don’t like the long-O sound at the beginning.