Taya, Thea, or Tayah?

Yet another name I’ve seen that I might end up liking quite a lot lol how would most people pronounce [name_f]Thea[/name_f]? I’ve seen that I can be pronounced several ways. I’m not sure if I prefer the pronunciation as [name_f]Taya[/name_f], Thee-ah or thay-ah.

I know a [name_f]Taya[/name_f] ([name_u]TAY[/name_u]-uh) and I’ve always loved her name! She has as well. It’s lovely, and she’s lovely, and I think it’d work amazingly.

[name_f]Thea[/name_f] I would pronounce automatically like [name_u]Theo[/name_u] with an ‘a’ at the end. But I guess, you could get the [name_u]TAY[/name_u]-uh prn. out of it. I wouldn’t try, though. It’d be a lot of misspellings.

I have a very special connection to [name_f]Taya[/name_f].

In my first 4 months of grade 12, I had a co-operative work placement (Co-op) with a school for the visually impaired. The co-op placement meant that I could earn 4 high school credits (1 semester’s worth) by training in a field of my choice, and gaining work experience.

I was in grade 2-3 at the school I was placed in, and the children were from all over my province. Some were actually flown in from up north (normally a 24 hour drive) on the weekends, and well over half were staying in residency. In my own class, we had 6 children, and we often blended classes with the 1-2 class, for activities like swim, P.E., and music. In the grade 1-2 class, there was one little girl who was about 5, named [name_f]Taya[/name_f]. She was entirely wheelchair bound (but her wheelchair was more or less a stroller), and, she was not only blind, but also developmentally at about a young toddler level.

I was often placed in different classrooms throughout the day, but, when I did work with [name_f]Taya[/name_f], it was one of the most inspirational experiences I’ve ever had. [name_m]Little[/name_m] [name_f]Taya[/name_f] couldn’t speak very well, and she was difficult to understand when she did speak. Everyone had been trying to teach my name to her, but she would only register the [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] in her class, and not me.

At [name_u]Christmas[/name_u] time, I was asked to sit with her and help her make her gingerbread house, I learned that, she would point to objects she wanted, and that she loved to eat gumdrops and smarties (she tried stealing a few, haha). Then, as I was putting all her candies on to her house - she actually managed to say my name. From that day on, whenever I saw [name_f]Taya[/name_f], I would see her little arms outstretched from her stroller for a hug and hear my name being called. It was the sweetest thing, and, although the kids I worked with then were all very special to me, there were a few who will always stand out for me, and [name_f]Taya[/name_f] is one of them.

So, personally, I’d choose [name_f]Taya[/name_f]. It’s got a lovely sound to it. I’ve never been a fan of [name_f]Thea[/name_f] though.

Thank you both and what a lovely story.

I absolutely love [name_f]Thea[/name_f], pronounced THEE-uh (I think [name_u]TAY[/name_u]-ah is an acceptable pn though).

It feels summery and lovely to me. I like [name_u]Theo[/name_u] for a girl too.

I’d say THEE-uh. Another interesting version is [name_f]Theia[/name_f]:slight_smile: