See the results of this poll: which prn. of Keiko?
Respondents: 90 (This poll is closed)
- Kee-koh : 40 (44%)
- Kay-Ko: 50 (56%)
I think the English speaking world will assume Kee-ko, but I prefer the more original [name_u]Kay[/name_u]-ko or Kee-eh-ko.
Well, I speak Japanese, and it’s pronounced more like kay-koh. If you want the name to be kee-koh then that would be [name_m]Kiko[/name_m].
I say Kee koh. I think both ways are beautiful!
I like that [name_u]Kay[/name_u]-koh would give you the option of [name_u]Kay[/name_u] (Spelled [name_f]Kei[/name_f]) for short, which works a lot better than Kee.
In elementary school I had a classmate [name_f]Keiko[/name_f] and it was pronounced [name_u]Kay[/name_u]-ko.
I actually pronounce it “k-eye-koh” …from southern US. I think for the pronunciation to be “kee-koh” you could spell it Keko/Keeko/Kekoh, and for the pronunciation to be “[name_u]Kay[/name_u]-koh” you could spell it Kako/Kayko/Kaykoh
I would say [name_f]Keiko[/name_f] as kay-ko and [name_m]Kiko[/name_m] as kee-ko.
Definitely [name_u]Kay[/name_u]-ko! I would think the pronunciation Kee-koh would be spelled a different way.
[name_f]Edit[/name_f]: Oh, just for reference, I live in Northern Illinois.
If you mean the Japanese name [name_f]Keiko[/name_f], the correct pronunciation is [name_u]Kay[/name_u]-ko.
[name_f]Keiko[/name_f] was my cat’s name, we pronounced it [name_u]Kay[/name_u]-koh.
Yes. It really should be [name_u]Kay[/name_u]-koh since it’s a Japanese name.
I know a woman named [name_f]Keiko[/name_f] (she is from Japan)–pronounced [name_u]Kay[/name_u]-ko. I think if you use the spelling [name_f]Keiko[/name_f], you should really use the [name_u]Kay[/name_u]-ko pronunciation.
However [name_m]Kiko[/name_m] (kee-ko) could be a cute alternative–sounds like a shortened form of another Japanese name, Makiko. But I have more trouble seeing just “[name_m]Kiko[/name_m]” on a grown woman, whereas [name_f]Keiko[/name_f] is lovely at any age.
Since it’s a Japanese name, I think you should go with the Japanese pronunciation: [name_u]Kay[/name_u]-ko.
It’s properly pronounce kay-koh in Japanese. The “ei” combo in Japanese makes an “ay” sound, if you want the “ee” sound, you would spell it with just he “i” like [name_m]Kiko[/name_m], since the “i” makes an “ee” sound. It’s the same as in Chinese as well.
I think when using a foreign name it is important to keep the original pronunciation, and not “Americanize” it as it can be insulting to that language/culture.