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Help[Opinions] Re: Nia
in reply to a message by overtheclouds
I first saw this name as Nyah and assumed it was "NIE-uh." I loved it. I was actually disappointed to find out it's a variant of Nia ("NEE-uh") and thus my pronunciation was wrong. (Someone had a thread about this the other day -- but I digress.)
"NEE-uh" sounds like it could be just the end of any number of names, like Antonia, Eugenia, Virginia, etc. OK, then why don't I have a similar problem with Mia, which I love? Could it be because Mia is more mainstream and I have known it since childhood? Maybe. Am I prejudiced because Nia is from Africa? I have to allow the possibility. But I love other African names like Johari and Shandurai, so I hope that's not it. Am I spiteful because I couldn't get my initial pronunciation of "NIE-uh." This seems the most likely to me.
I even had a stock combo: Nyah ("NIE-uh") Gabrielle. Now what do I do? [Cue the helpful namenerd who pops up to let me know that either pronunciation is commonly used and I wouldn't be *making it up* to rely on "NIE-uh."]
Hello? Are you out there helpful namenerd?
. . . crickets . . .
Now what do I do? I just can't get into the "NEE-uh" pronunciation. :-(
"NEE-uh" sounds like it could be just the end of any number of names, like Antonia, Eugenia, Virginia, etc. OK, then why don't I have a similar problem with Mia, which I love? Could it be because Mia is more mainstream and I have known it since childhood? Maybe. Am I prejudiced because Nia is from Africa? I have to allow the possibility. But I love other African names like Johari and Shandurai, so I hope that's not it. Am I spiteful because I couldn't get my initial pronunciation of "NIE-uh." This seems the most likely to me.
I even had a stock combo: Nyah ("NIE-uh") Gabrielle. Now what do I do? [Cue the helpful namenerd who pops up to let me know that either pronunciation is commonly used and I wouldn't be *making it up* to rely on "NIE-uh."]
Hello? Are you out there helpful namenerd?
. . . crickets . . .
Now what do I do? I just can't get into the "NEE-uh" pronunciation. :-(
This message was edited 1/28/2013, 12:10 PM
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Replies
There's a beautiful piece of music called Nyah composed by Hans Zimmer for the film 'Mission Impossible 2'. I've seen several performances by figure skaters, Kurt Browning and Torvill & Dean, to this music and I've only heard it announced as "NIE-uh" (you can see videos at the "tube" site). I've not seen the film but, as Mirsada mentions a character by that name, it's likely the origin of the title. Regardless, while it may be too great a stretch for you, in my mind, when an artist creates such a beautiful piece of music and titles it "NIE-uh", it becomes a legitimate pronunciation and such associations are always worthy of name consideration. :)
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Good enough for me. :-) Nyah, "NIE-uh," it is.
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It's a big help.
I think I read that Thandie Newton is half Nigerian. Nia / Nyah is Eastern African, not Western, but still. It gives me more confidence that she would have corrected it. That may not be fair, but at least that's how I'm going to rationalize it. :-P
I knew you guys would come to my rescue. :-D Thanks!
I think I read that Thandie Newton is half Nigerian. Nia / Nyah is Eastern African, not Western, but still. It gives me more confidence that she would have corrected it. That may not be fair, but at least that's how I'm going to rationalize it. :-P
I knew you guys would come to my rescue. :-D Thanks!
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IDK about Swahili; it's not a language I'm familiar with. I'm told in Welsh it's pronounced NEE-a.
There is a Basque name Naia, pronounced NIE-a I think. Or close to that.
There is a Basque name Naia, pronounced NIE-a I think. Or close to that.
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Ooh. Naia. And Basque. One can never have too many Basque names. :-) I'll have to look into that one. Thanks!
ETA: It seems the database has Naiara and Nahia under Basque names. I wonder if Naia is a variant. (There is no pronunciation guide for either name.) Or perhaps I just have to look further afield. Hmmm.
ETA: It seems the database has Naiara and Nahia under Basque names. I wonder if Naia is a variant. (There is no pronunciation guide for either name.) Or perhaps I just have to look further afield. Hmmm.
This message was edited 1/28/2013, 12:38 PM
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It seems to be another form/spelling of Nahia, meaning "wish, desire". That's what comes up when I search for the name meaning in Spanish.
But according to an online Basque dictionary naia means "wave". Maybe it's a bit of both.
But according to an online Basque dictionary naia means "wave". Maybe it's a bit of both.
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I entered "naia name meaning" into Google. Most sites said Naia meant nymph or water nymph. But I know nothing of their reliability. It makes sense that Naia is another form of Nahia.
My only problem with all of this is that there is no pronunciation guide and I would have thought Nahia was "nah-HEE-uh." But my Basque is a little rusty, so I suppose it could also be "NIE-uh." :-)
My only problem with all of this is that there is no pronunciation guide and I would have thought Nahia was "nah-HEE-uh." But my Basque is a little rusty, so I suppose it could also be "NIE-uh." :-)
This message was edited 1/28/2013, 1:06 PM
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Luckily we have Forvo. Yay.
http://www.forvo.com/word/nahia/#eu
To me it sounds like NIE-a.
ETA - I guess they're getting the water nymph thing from Naiad.
http://www.forvo.com/word/nahia/#eu
To me it sounds like NIE-a.
ETA - I guess they're getting the water nymph thing from Naiad.
This message was edited 1/28/2013, 1:16 PM
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