What do you think of when you hear the name [name_f]Carys[/name_f]? I think it’s very sweet sounding and I love the meaning: “to love,” “beloved friend.” Also, do you think it suits our last name, [name_m]Hill[/name_m]? Thanks for your help.
I love it. But I find [name_u]North[/name_u] Americans can’t say it easily (myself included). Always want to say care-is.
I pronounce it as care-iss. There’s more emphasis on the end that way. It’s nice.
Like [name_f]Carissa[/name_f] minus the -a?
[name_u]Love[/name_u] it.
I have a cousin named [name_f]Carys[/name_f], she’s from [name_m]Wales[/name_m], and it always sounds so beautiful when said in a Welsh accent. It really grates on me to hear it mispronounced as CARE-iss.
[name_f]Cerys[/name_f] is KEHR-iss, so that’s more like care-iss, but [name_f]Carys[/name_f] is strictly KA-ris.
It’s really hard to phonetically write down how to pronounce [name_f]Carys[/name_f]. It’s not Care and it’s not [name_f]Carissa[/name_f] minus the a.
The best I can do is the first syllable (which is the stressed syllable) rhymes with man. It’s an open-mouthed “a” that [name_u]North[/name_u] Americans struggle with but it’s easy for Brits. Same problem with “[name_m]Harry[/name_m]” where we want to say “hairy”.
ps. I agree with previous poster. If you want the “CARE-iss” sound, go with [name_f]Cerys[/name_f] or [name_f]Ceris[/name_f].
Absolutely love it, one of my faves. I love the meaning, the sound and it is sweet but spunky to me. It’s usually in my sig but not right at the moment.
Thanks @abertawe for the info on pronunciation - I have Welsh relatives and love hearing how they say it! It’s fairly straight forward for the Aussie accent once you’ve heard it but still easy to slip into the ‘a’ sound of ‘far’ instead of ‘man.’
I agree with pp that if the Care-iss sound is what you like, [name_f]Cerys[/name_f] is better.
I say care iss.
[name_f]Carys[/name_f] is such a sweet, lovely name, the kind of name that gives me that warm feeling of snuggling under a blanket or reading a familiar book. The meaning is a plus for me too, and I’m not usually one to consider meanings.
I’m [name_u]North[/name_u] American and my first instinct is to say care-iss even though I know it’s ca-ris. I wouldn’t say we struggle with that “a” sound- if we try/do so deliberately most of us say it correctly, it’s just not a sound that’s ever really said. [name_m]Harry[/name_m] and hairy are pronounced the same here and no one tries to do so any differently? I think [name_f]Carys[/name_f] is a rare enough name though that getting people to say ca-ris wouldn’t be a problem, as long as you’re okay with having to correct them.
I really love [name_f]Carys[/name_f] (& [name_f]Cerys[/name_f]) and pronounce it as KA-Riss. Being a [name_u]Brit[/name_u] the only way I can explain it is that the ‘Ca’ is pronounced the same as [name_f]Carrie[/name_f] (or [name_f]Carry[/name_f]) not [name_u]Kerry[/name_u] or Care, or rhymes with (in a British accent anyway!) la, ma, ta, ha.
I think [name_f]Carys[/name_f] is lovely with your surname, [name_f]Carys[/name_f] [name_m]Hill[/name_m] is sweet yet spunky!
I love [name_f]Cerys[/name_f], although the pronunciation is slightly different. I really like [name_f]Carys[/name_f] too.
[name_f]Carys[/name_f] [name_m]Hill[/name_m] is perfect. I love it. 
It’s a beautiful name, but I see from these previous posts I’ve been pronouncing it incorrectly. But if you don’t mind correcting people like me, go for it.
I love [name_f]Carys[/name_f]. [name_f]Carys[/name_f] [name_m]Hill[/name_m] flows well together I’ve seen it spelled [name_f]Charis[/name_f] before (novel called [name_u]Taliesin[/name_u]).
Thanks for the comments and suggestions, everyone! I’ve seen a few different phonetic spellings, and that others say the different pronunciations come from the varied dialects in the US and in [name_m]Wales[/name_m]. The way Hubs and I say it rhymes with [name_u]Paris[/name_u]. This may be “incorrect” to some, but it sounds just right to us; it probably depends on where you live.
I’ve never posted a name on here and received so many wonderful comments. It’s definitely reassuring. Now on to a middle name!