What do you think of [name_f]Circe[/name_f]?
What might you pair with it?
[name_m]How[/name_m] would you pronounce it if you met her? I personally say something close to SEER-see, but I know many also say SUHR-see and it seems some classists are insistent on the hard K.
[name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] would be a nicer spelling for the intended pronounciation
As far as I’m aware, [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] ends with a “sha” sound. I would feel less comfortable co-opting a traditional Irish name to fit the pronunciation I mentioned than [name_f]Circe[/name_f], long ago adopted by the English language canon.
I would pronounce it as “sur-see”, but I like your pronunciation of “seer-see” a lot better! At first I thought it was kind of weird but after saying it a few times I do think it is very pretty. The only “downside” I see is that spelled out it looks very close to “circus”.
From your signature, I think [name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] has a very mysterious and “witchy” feel to it, which is nice, but may not actually suit a child.
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Angeline[/name_f] was a name that just popped to the top of my head! What do you think about that one?
I say sir-see (sir as in mister), like circus.
I do think it’s a little try-hard but of all the try-hard names it’s one of the simplest to have (you’ll have to correct many people but it’s relatively short so easy to remember)
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] is a tough one. It’s a name I wish I liked—it has a lot going for it, being short and simple but unusual, and that Greek -E ending is always great—but I can never quite seem to get on board for it.
I think the pronunciation is a big part of why. Seer-see is definitely nicer than Sur-see, but I only ever seem to hear it pronounced the second way (or by purists who use the hard K sounds.) I think “Seer-see” would be really hard to enforce, too, because it takes ever so slightly longer to say and still comes out “sur” when you say it fast. I suspect there would inevitably be people who can’t hear the difference when you correct them.
Then, of course, there’s the Game of Thrones thing. It’s a hugely popular show, she’s a very prominent character, etc. [name_m]Even[/name_m] if you managed to enforce the seer- pronunciation of [name_f]Circe[/name_f], I think you’d still get “oh, are you a Game of Thrones fan?”, and it’d be misspelled Cersei at Starbucks, etc.
[name_m]Horatio[/name_m] is a name that, while not everyone likes it and/or can spell it, everyone has at least heard of it at some point. [name_f]Circe[/name_f] is a little more under the radar, and its spelling and pronunciation(s) are less intuitive. When I first read it in a book as a kid, I assumed it was pronounced “seerce” (to rhyme with “pierce.”)
While it runs up against a lot of practical considerations, most of those are ones that don’t matter in the middle spot. I think in the right combination, [name_f]Circe[/name_f] can really shine. I’d just be careful not to use it with too many other equally unusual names or it could get lost. I think it goes well with the familiar-in-sound-but-unusual-in-usage [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f], so kudos for that.
I like the name and in English I also pronounce it sir-see. [name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is so magical 
(I’m Northern European and here it’s written [name_m]Kirke[/name_m] and pronounced something like keer-ke)
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Arabella[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Juliette[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Morgana[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Valeria[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Elowen[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Fae[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Viola[/name_f]
I think it was me who suggested [name_f]Circe[/name_f] on one of your threads so I obviously like it for you - it’s memorable, unusual but not weird, it goes well with Hor@tio and has a nice meaning (“bird”). I say “sur-see” but I also like the hard K pronunciation.
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is a great combo.
I like the witchy vibe of [name_f]Circe[/name_f] a lot! I’ve always thought it was pronounced the the hard K sound but the SEER-see pronounciation is nice and probably a lot more wearable. [name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is cute!
I’ve always thought it was pronounced SURK-see. Not a huge fan, personally, but I do think [name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f] is a beautiful combo.
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] and [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] are nothing alike.
Personally, I love [name_f]Circe[/name_f]. It’s sweet. I pronounce it sur-see and I love the suggestion of [name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f].
I pronounce it Ser-see like Cersei from Game of Thrones. I really like it, its short and snappy, and I think a fair amount of people will have a rough idea of how to pronounce it.
Ideas for middle names;
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Matilda[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Lenore[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f]
When I saw the thread I though the title was “the enchanting CIRCLE” for a second, so I don’t think that bodes very well for how Americans would pronounce the name…
Honestly only after thinking HARD did I find a faint glimmer in the back of my mind and make a guess at seer-say, but I suspect a lot of people, particularly midwesterners, would ceerce-as-in-rhymes-with-pierce. I have a feelings anyone name [name_f]Circe[/name_f] would know when their name was being called by the silence and intense expression on their face, not the greatest response.
Now, that is not to say that you (and she) could not correct people to whichever pronunciation you prefer. However, its tough to have a name almost no one can pronounce, because it is so uncommon in English and very few people in the Midwest speak Greek. [name_f]Circe[/name_f] is a lovely name, at least with the pronunciation you prefer, but it would be a tough one, for sure.
I think my pronunciation of [name_f]Circe[/name_f] comes out somewhere between SUHR-see and SEER-see. I have also heard [name_m]KEER[/name_m]-kee, and even SUHRK-see used by people whom I trust.
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] is very tied to the character from The Odyssey, so she’s embodies the image of female strength and power. She may not be depicted very kindly by later works, but her behavior is no worse than many male heroes who are glorified and used as namesakes. The similar sound to the Game of Thrones character is unfortunate - although it’s tough to say how long-lasting this reference will be.
I will say, if you still plan on using [name_m]Ulysses[/name_m], I think I would stay clear of [name_f]Circe[/name_f].
I love it! I say SUR-see. The GOT character would be my biggest stumbling block to using it, but we used a name that draws GOT comments for our son and we still love it. I agree that [name_f]Circe[/name_f] sounds strong and witchy, but sweet.
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Rosamund[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Valeria[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Viviane[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Viveca[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Winifred[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Marigold[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Cosima[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Apolline[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Thomasin[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Leonor[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] Tatiane
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Arianell[/name_f]
[name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Arabel[/name_f]
I also love [name_f]Circe[/name_f] [name_f]Beatrix[/name_f]!