Nickname Abner & Jairus (& how do you pronounce Jairus?)

Boy Names
1

[name_m]Abner[/name_m] and [name_m]Jairus[/name_m] were suggested to me in another forum for names meaning something to do with ‘light’ - I love them! Nicknaming is a big part of my culture though, and I’m a bit stuck on ideas! I can see [name_u]Jai[/name_u] for [name_m]Jairus[/name_m], but I don’t like [name_u]Abby[/name_u] for [name_m]Abner[/name_m]… and can’t think of anything else!

Also, how is [name_m]Jairus[/name_m] pronounced? I say JYE-rus, and that’s how I’ve always read the name, but is that right?

2

I said it as [name_u]Jay[/name_u]-rus. Could be NN [name_u]Jay[/name_u] or [name_m]Russ[/name_m]. Pronounced your way, it is part of the brain – gyrus.
Personally not a fan of [name_m]Abner[/name_m]. It is the name of a pig from a cartoon I watched as a kid. Could be NN [name_m]Abe[/name_m] though

3

I love [name_m]Jairus[/name_m]! I pronounce it [name_u]Jai[/name_u]-rus/Jye-rus; [name_u]Jai[/name_u] would be a great nn.

I’m also fond of [name_m]Abner[/name_m], but it seems like it would be hard to wear… I would probably call him Abs…

4

Thanks for the answers so far - @grackym I noticed you’re from Australia too, that’s promising on the pronunciation then! I know I tend to pronounced [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] differently than my [name_u]North[/name_u] American friends, and that has a similar ‘ai’ sound to [name_m]Jairus[/name_m].

Anyone else?

5

I’m from [name_f]Canada[/name_f]:
I would say JYE-rus too.
Yet we say eye-ZAY-uh. I love the British eye-ZYE-uh pronunciation.

6

For [name_m]Abner[/name_m] you could go with [name_m]Abe[/name_m]! I love the nickname [name_m]Abe[/name_m]! And for [name_m]Jairus[/name_m] (which I see pronounced as Jye-russ as well) could be [name_u]Jay[/name_u]! Or adding their middle names for their nicknames. (middle names are purely for example!) Like if you had [name_m]Abner[/name_m] [name_m]John[/name_m] you could call him AJ, or if it’s [name_m]Jairus[/name_m] [name_m]Timothy[/name_m] it could be JT!

7

[name_m]Jairus[/name_m] in the Bible is 3 syllables ‘jah-IR-us’ or ‘jay-EYE-rus’, so for nn I’d say Jah or [name_u]Jay[/name_u]

For [name_m]Abner[/name_m], I’d call him [name_u]Abby[/name_u] or [name_m]Abe[/name_m]

8

[name_m]Abe[/name_m]'s come up quite a few times, thanks for the suggestion! I’m still liking [name_u]Jai[/name_u] as the best nickname for [name_m]Jairus[/name_m] though.

@nat108 - that really does depend on your accent… I see you’re from [name_f]Florida[/name_f]? I’d bet we say [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m] differently too (as I pointed out in a previous comment), even talking about the Biblical [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m]. I am very religious, perhaps you are too? And yet I say JYE-rus and Eye-ZYE-ah. :slight_smile:

On accents - I would be very interested to hear a Hebrew speaker’s pronunciation? I’m sure it will be entirely different to my own, and to others on this thread, but I would be very curious.

9

I would pronounce [name_m]Jairus[/name_m] as jye-rus.

I think [name_m]Abe[/name_m] and [name_u]Jai[/name_u] are cute sibling NNs.

10

Thanks @mummacat - another Australian using the same pronunciation as me, that’s looking promising :slight_smile: