Wednesday, April 8, 2009

What's in a Name?

One must admit my name is a little unusual, especially
for anglophones. I clould of course have anglisised it by
dropping the 'j' , but then, I would no longer be me.
I have endured many interesting but erroneous
pronunciations at school in Europe and Australia, at work
and socially...no, it does not rhyme with Kalija the wooden
Indian or 'a rear' which, like everyone else, I have,

Arija is the Latvian spelling of a word from he ancient Sanskrit
meaning 'air, musical' and its proper pronunciation is very
close to an 'aria' from an opera although in Latvian it is
pronounced in three syllables with the accent on the fist A.
So there you have it, I am happy both in my skin and with
my name and the happier for knowing that my friends can
pronounce it too.
at

45 comments:

  1. Sylvia KApril 8, 2009 at 6:02 PM

    Thank you, Arija, I've been wondering if I was pronouncing it properly because I love your name!

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  2. AnonymousApril 8, 2009 at 7:43 PM

    Good for you. It's a nice name.

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  3. GaelynApril 8, 2009 at 7:51 PM

    Thank you for sharing that. Now I love your name even more, and will pronounce it correctly. Music and air, how beautiful.

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  4. Pamela Terry and EdwardApril 8, 2009 at 9:35 PM

    I think it's a beautiful name!

    Thanks so much for the sweet Happy Birthday wish you left for me! I had a lovely day. It snowed, which was a delightful surprise and made Edward quite happy!!

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  5. CaroleApril 8, 2009 at 9:55 PM

    Hello Arija,
    Very beautiful name!
    see you soon.
    Carole

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  6. IndraniApril 8, 2009 at 10:29 PM

    Such a cute post. :)
    And I didn't know the Sanskrit meaning.

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  7. AnonymousApril 8, 2009 at 10:30 PM

    I wonder if you have been reading my mind, I was wondering exactly how to pronounce it, because I was very aware I have probably been saying it wrong. It is a lovely name, and I love its uniqueness.

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  8. Cedar ...April 9, 2009 at 3:11 AM

    You know how we hear our own voice in our head when we read something, so I'm glad you explained. I have been saying your name incorrectly and i think I have it right now. It is a lovely name!

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  9. John ThebergeApril 9, 2009 at 3:43 AM

    Interesting, learn something new everyday.

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  10. Reader WilApril 9, 2009 at 5:11 AM

    Arija is a very common name in Holland. I also a woman called Arijanne and Marijo. I like these names. So for me your name is familiar.

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  11. AnonymousApril 9, 2009 at 5:25 AM

    I think Arija fits you like a glove. You are an aria! xox Isabel

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  12. SharonApril 9, 2009 at 6:08 AM

    I think your name is beautiful! We named our daughter Jesea (pronounced Jessie), but my husband loves the sea, so he wanted to spell it this way. Even something so simple, nobody seems to know how to pronounce it. She absolutely loves her name though, because as you say, it is "her".

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  13. MariamellieApril 9, 2009 at 6:12 AM

    Oh..lovely meaning of your name, so nice to know about it! Thanks for sharing!

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  14. Deborah GodinApril 9, 2009 at 7:31 AM

    Thank you - it's a beautiful name in print, and now I'm glad to know who it sounds out loud "in the air"!

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  15. The Weaver of GrassApril 9, 2009 at 11:03 AM

    I am glad you have cleared up that point Arija - I have been wondering where the name came from and how it was pronounced. I think it is lovely to have a really unusual name.

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  16. EG CameraGirlApril 9, 2009 at 12:07 PM

    I'm so glad you told us! I admit I have been pronouncing your name incorrectly inside my head. I will correct that.

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  17. MedaMApril 9, 2009 at 12:08 PM

    Your name is like a melody; it’s just beautiful!

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  18. bowledoverApril 9, 2009 at 12:30 PM

    There is a saying name the child and give it the character of that name.
    From your blog I would say your family did well were very much in tune.

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  19. JanieApril 9, 2009 at 12:48 PM

    Thank you, Arija. I'm glad to know the proper way to pronounce your name. It's beautiful.

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  20. BTApril 9, 2009 at 2:09 PM

    Oh that's so different from how I was pronouncing it. I'm so glad I now know the correct way.
    XX

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  21. The BirdladyApril 9, 2009 at 4:30 PM

    Thanks for that - it's a lovely name.

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  22. CelesteApril 9, 2009 at 5:07 PM

    It is fun having an unusual name, although yours is definitely more unusual than mine. Does suck though when people can't pronounce it, or in my case, try and shorten it!!!

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  23. MaryApril 9, 2009 at 6:13 PM

    So glad to know how to pronounce your name! It's beautiful and very unusual.

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  24. mansuetudeApril 9, 2009 at 7:59 PM

    a beautiful gift, in that...

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  25. DeniseinVAApril 9, 2009 at 8:17 PM

    I can say I am happy to know how to say your name Arija. It is a pretty name and should be pronounced correctly.

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  26. EbieApril 9, 2009 at 10:41 PM

    That's a wonderful translation of your name. Now I can pronounce your name.

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  27. soulbrushApril 10, 2009 at 5:00 AM

    i think it is a beautiful name and i like it a lot.so there.

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  28. CTG PoniesApril 10, 2009 at 5:50 AM

    I think your name is beautiful!

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  29. vincibeneApril 10, 2009 at 12:21 PM

    It is a beautiful name and a wonderful meaning.

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  30. RuthApril 10, 2009 at 3:36 PM

    I had it right, and think the meaning is lovely. Our names are a very important part of our identity. We all need to be comfortable with ourselves.

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  31. The Write GirlApril 10, 2009 at 5:55 PM

    I like the name Arija.
    It's a beautiful name. I'm from the U.S. so to me it is unique.
    And it looks very pretty spelled out : )

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  32. AnonymousApril 10, 2009 at 10:09 PM

    I was wondering how to pronounce it so thank you for explaining it. I hope you are feeling OK and have a good weekend....Michelle

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  33. Ces AdorioApril 11, 2009 at 3:26 AM

    Oh that is a lovely name even lovelier that you explained it. So I have been pronouncing it incorrectly all this time. I am glad to be able to say it according to your specifications now.

    That's wonderful that you picked up your colors. I too had a twenty year hiatus when nursing and the kids kept my hands tied. Enjoy and may your todays be always blessed.

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  34. Ces AdorioApril 11, 2009 at 3:29 AM

    Oh may I please have a request? It would delight me so much and I would find it an honor if you please read my post Illustration Friday - Fleeting. When I wrote it, I was thinking that I was telling it to you.

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  35. indicaspeciesApril 11, 2009 at 4:27 AM

    Now I know how to pronounce your name correctly, thanks.:)

    The word "Himalaya" in Sanskrit means 'abode of snow' because the tall peaks of the Himalayan mountains are capped with snow throughout the year. (Ref. my last post). Have a lovely day.

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  36. Girl TornadoApril 11, 2009 at 7:57 AM

    It's a most beautiful name, and based on its meaning, it is YOU! :)

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  37. rosadimaggio63April 11, 2009 at 8:21 AM

    Hi Arija, happy Easter !

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  38. ElizabethApril 11, 2009 at 12:53 PM

    Such a beautiful name with a lovely meaning.
    I am totally in love with names and their meanings.

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  39. Kathie BrownApril 11, 2009 at 1:30 PM

    I happen to love your name! You and I have discussed this before, but it is nice for you to enlighten everyone else. I would never drop the "j". It is special and unigue, as are you!

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  40. Lori SkoogApril 11, 2009 at 7:14 PM

    A beautiful name and a blog full of sensational photographs. Thanks for visiting Skoog Farm.

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  41. Tess KincaidApril 12, 2009 at 8:04 PM

    Your name is lovely and I'm happy to say, I've been pronouncing it correctly...in my head, that is!

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  42. RAApril 12, 2009 at 10:47 PM

    Beautiful meaning of a name, Arija :).

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  43. GizelleApril 12, 2009 at 11:47 PM

    Its true, a name for everyone is important, without knowing it one cannot say that the other is her friend. You have a beautiful name :)

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  44. MerisiApril 13, 2009 at 6:55 AM

    Thank you!

    You have a beautiful name and by instinct (or/and the Italian training), I pronounced it right.

    I hope you had an enjoyable Easter weekend.

    I enjoyed your Herbstzeitlosen post!

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  45. AnonymousApril 13, 2009 at 1:17 PM

    You're the only person I know with your name - and it's beautiful. I'm so glad you explained about its origin and how to pronounce it because now I think it's even more beautiful!

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