What do you think of the name Kamea?

Question

It's Hawaiian, and it's pronounced Kamaya. I think it's so beautiful, but a lot of people don't like it! I've heard the whole, "It's your child, name her what you want to." and I will, but if I were naming my child Bertha or something I would want someone to be like, "Dude that's an ugly name." So anyway, what do y'all think? It means my one and only, which I think is precious. Any ideas on how I could spell it so people would pronounce it correctly? I don't like it spelled Kamaya, but I'm afraid if it's Kamea ppl will pronounce it Ka-mee-ah. Thanks all!

Answer 1

It you spell it Kamea, people will probably pronounce it ka-MEY-ah, not ka-MEE-ah.

If you don't like it spelled Kamaya, go ahead and spell it the right way, Kamea. Just be prepared to correct people and tell them it is the real authentic Hawaiian spelling and pronunciation.

I like most Hawaiian names. One of my friends in high school was named Maralei. Her middle name was also Hawaiian, but it was like fifty syllables long ... her whole name put together meant something like "glistening fragrant flowers near the beautiful waterfall".

Answer 2

I concur with "Actually, Kamaya could get pronounced "Ka My Ah"." That was how I read it.

I have a "unique" name that starts with 'K,' and I urge you to think _very_ carefully about it. Nobody can pronounce mine as spelled. Here and there I've actually met people with my name, albeit with different spellings, and it invariably turns out nobody can pronounce theirs, either.

Spending your life correcting people, or hearing your name mangled, is not a lot of fun. Especially when there's a back story that's pretty much "my mother liked it." If you're not Hawaiian, forget it.

I am a pair of initials for stuff with any formality. My name, and any variation of Kamea, is a :-) on an otherwise serious document. Few things are more condescending than "Did you make that up yourself, or...?"

It will also never be 'adult.' Kamaya will be struggling for respect all his? her? life.

Re. his? her?: there're reasons for names being tip-offs for what to expect; don't overlook most people just finding it convenient. Look into contemporary studies on the problems people with 'unique' names have with their resumés. Given how often I got "Oh! I didn't think you'd be WHITE!" when I was a kid and people were ruder/louder about that sort of thing, I'm pretty sure my resumé got tossed more than once while job-hunting because even if the person doing the hiring wasn't a bigot and didn't care what my gender was -- why bother sitting around guessing when it was so easy to go with a William or Shashiprabha, who had nothing to hide?

(sigh)

All that said, at this point, I've grown in to it and can't imagine being named anything else. If you have to, well, you have to.

It is easier to explain "it's a traditional name etc etc; pronounced kamaya," than it is to explain "it's a traditional name etc etc etc, and my mother just happened to like that spelling." But, that means explaining both spelling and pronunciation all the time, which is a drag.

If you do: very, very plain middle name, please, and don't fuss when the kid starts going around as "K. Middlename Lastname."

Answer 3

I definitely like it. I know you said you dont like it spelled Kamaya, but i think that's the only way people will be able to pronounce it correctly. Sorry if i wasn't very much help but i do really like the name.

Answer 4

Actually, Kamaya could get pronounced "Ka My Ah". I think it is OK. To me it sounds like "Come Here." As far as beautiful or ugly is concerned, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Answer 5

I agree, that is such a beautiful name! I'm not sure why people wouldn't like it. I might even steal it from you! Perhaps for the spelling you might try Kamayuh. Just as unique as the name, but easy to pronounce. Good luck working things out, and great choice for a name!

Answer 6

It's a beautiful name! I know a girl who spells her name Cameah. But that could easily be mispronounced. There will always be people who mispronounce names, no matter how easy or difficult it is to spell or say. If you are set on naming your daughter Kamea then go for it!

Answer 7

first time I've heard this name and I think it's Beautiful!!
you could spell it:
Kemiya,Kamaia,Kemaya,Kemaia
I like the way you've spelled it also Kamaya..

Answer 8

I like the name but not the spelling you chose because that is exactly what I thought. Ka-mee-ah is not very flattering. Kamaia, maybe. Anyways, the name is pretty.

Answer 9

I THINK THE NAME KAMEA IS A LOVELY NAME,BUT I WOULD SPELL IT KAMAYA

Answer 10

I think the name, with both pronunciations, its nice and original. But if you really want it to be pronounced properly and for not complicating your life and your child's, just write it down as it is pronounced.
Good Luck!