How would you pronounce this name: Br...

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2007
How would you pronounce this name: Br...
9
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 10:59am

How would you pronounce this name: Brianna?



  • Bri (e like in we) an (a like in apple) na
  • Bri (e like in we) an (a like in water) na
  • Bri (i like in kite) an (a like in water) na
  • Bri (i like in kite) an (a like in apple) na
  • Please feel free to send me a post with alternate spellings of the name as well.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 11:31am

I wasn't clear about your choices (you might just try phonetic spellings next time ), but it's bree-ANN-a ... long "ee" sound in the first syllable and like the name Ann for the second.

I've honestly never heard anyone pronounce any of the Brianna spellings/variations with the long "i" Bri- beginning, FWIW. Even Brian's original pronunciation is BREE-an, so this would just seem like the parents weren't that familiar with the name prior to choosing it, KWIM?

HTH


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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2006
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 11:53am

There are 4 Brianna's in my DD's class and I think 9 in her school and all are pronounced with an "ee" sound for the Bri.


siggy
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-01-2003
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 1:03pm

the spelling Brianna is used for both of those pronunciations - Bree-ann-ah and Bree-awn-ah

I've never heard anyone pronounce it BRIE (long I) anna or awna

I don't think there's a way to get around the fact that Brianna is pronounced both of those two ways at the top. I have also seen it spelled Breanna - and that also could go either way - Bree-ann-ah or Bree-awn-ah

good luck

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-09-2005
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 3:29pm

Brianna = "bree-ANN-uh"
Briana = "bree-ON-uh"

With the name Anna/Ana, a single "n" is "on" and a double is "ann"

HTH,
-Nikki


                             
Avatar for haarlasr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 04-03-2007 - 6:10pm

I would say that that's generally true (and why we chose the Julianna spelling for our DD), but I have never seen anyone's name spelled Briana. I have only seen Brianna, and I've heard it pronounced bree-ANN-uh and bree-AH-nuh. I think this may be one case where both pronunciations are acceptable for the same spelling.

Stephanie, mom to Megan Joy (nn Meg), Julianna May (nn Annie), and #3 edd 8/30/07

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Wed, 04-04-2007 - 6:51pm

<<>>

To be blunt, the -anna ending in this case DOES indicate an ann-a pronunciation. Just like the Irish name Alannah, which is also supposed to have the ann-a sound, though you might occasionally hear it said a-lah-nah. It just means those people were unfamiliar with the name prior to reading it (or using it, if the parents say it that way).

It's true names with other ethnic roots might have an "ahn" rather than "ann" pronunciation for the double-N spelling (Gianna or Anneliese, for example), but as a name with Irish roots, Brianna is bree-ANN-a, just as it's spelled.

FWIW, the Briana spelling and pronunciation is also pretty prevalent (in the 120s now, though it got as high as 68 in the 90s). ;)


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Avatar for haarlasr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 04-04-2007 - 9:36pm

Really? I'm surprised that Briana was that high up. I've honestly never ever seen it. Every Brianna/Breanna I've known (not that there are *that* many) has had two N's, but I've heard both pronunciations.

And I do know that the -ana vs. -anna applies most of the time (which is why we used Julianna), but I'd really never seen it before with Brianna. Guess I thought that was some exception to the rule (not knowing the roots of Brianna).

Interesting... thanks for sharing.
Stephanie

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Wed, 04-04-2007 - 10:02pm

It might be a variant that's more regionally popular, since ALL forms/spellings are pretty trendy in my area (PA).

I actually grew up with a Brianne (named for her parents, Brian and Anne), she'd be almost 30 now, and a handful of slightly-younger Briannas and Brianas (guess they'd all be in their late teens/early 20s). It seems to have gotten even more popular recently, though, and believe it or not, the Briana spelling/pronunciation seems to be more common (maybe a bit of an Italian influence?). People just seem to like the frillier -ana pronunciation around here, though all -anna names are making a bit of a comeback, so maybe the tides will turn.

Interesting, like you said. ;)


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 04-04-2007 - 11:22pm

I've only seen the Brianna spelling but I know people who pronounce it like Anna or ah-na.