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HelpDesmond and Viola
The name Desmond has been on my mind lately and it's really growing on me. I'm thinking if I had another boy I think I'd consider using it as a middle name because I don't think it would really go with my boys' names, Finn and Shia. What do you think? What are your impressions of Desmond?
Also I have a question about the name Viola. How do you pronounce it? Do you pronounce it with the stress on the first syllable (VI-oh-la) or on the second syllable (vi-OH-la)?
Also I have a question about the name Viola. How do you pronounce it? Do you pronounce it with the stress on the first syllable (VI-oh-la) or on the second syllable (vi-OH-la)?
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I love Desmond! I don't see why you couldn't use it, siblings don't have to be a matched set. I mean, you do want to avoid total clashes like, say, Patrick/Blayden/Farid, but you're well within boundaries. :)
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I think Desmond goes fine with Finn and Shia. It is a little bit different, true, but I think it's such a great name that it doesn't matter. And I really like Bear's suggestion of calling him Des - Finn, Shia, and Des is an awesome set.
I personally pronounce Viola vee-OH-la, like the instrument, but that's because I was in music for years and years and that's just how I instinctively pronounce it. I can't help it. I feel like if I met someone named Viola, though, I'd try to make a conscious effort to pronounce it vi-OH-la. Stressing the first syllable is really hard for me, for some reason. It makes the name come out of my mouth too fast.
I personally pronounce Viola vee-OH-la, like the instrument, but that's because I was in music for years and years and that's just how I instinctively pronounce it. I can't help it. I feel like if I met someone named Viola, though, I'd try to make a conscious effort to pronounce it vi-OH-la. Stressing the first syllable is really hard for me, for some reason. It makes the name come out of my mouth too fast.
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Desmond is my #2 favorite name for a boy. It's handsome, intelligent, romantic. Plus, it means "from Munster / southern province of Ireland" which is where my family is from. The nn Desi / Des / Dez is super cute. It's got everything I look for in a name. I'm glad you love it too.
Finn and Desmond go together to me. They are both Irish and "Finn and Des / Desi" sound like brothers to me. Shia isn't Irish. But "Shia and Des / Desi" still works for me. (But I'm biased.)
Shia Leo, Finn Caelan and Desmond Peter ?
Shia Leo, Finn Caelan and Desmond Malachi / Malachy ?
Shia Leo, Finn Caelan and Desmond Oliver ?
Shia Leo, Finn Caelan and Desmond Liev ?
Shia Leo, Finn Caelan and Desmond Felix ?
I say Viola the British way, exactly like the beginning of Violet, "VIE-uh-luh." I can't stand the American, "vie-O-luh." There's a third way, "vee-O-luh" which is OK, but reminds me more of the musical instrument than a person.
Finn and Desmond go together to me. They are both Irish and "Finn and Des / Desi" sound like brothers to me. Shia isn't Irish. But "Shia and Des / Desi" still works for me. (But I'm biased.)
Shia Leo, Finn Caelan and Desmond Peter ?
Shia Leo, Finn Caelan and Desmond Malachi / Malachy ?
Shia Leo, Finn Caelan and Desmond Oliver ?
Shia Leo, Finn Caelan and Desmond Liev ?
Shia Leo, Finn Caelan and Desmond Felix ?
I say Viola the British way, exactly like the beginning of Violet, "VIE-uh-luh." I can't stand the American, "vie-O-luh." There's a third way, "vee-O-luh" which is OK, but reminds me more of the musical instrument than a person.
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Thanks so much! This was so helpful! I'm liking Desmond more and more and I absolutely love Des as a nickname. I'm also happy that it seems like most people pronounce Viola the way you do because I really really hate the American version with the long Oh sound in the middle, but love the other way with the long stressed IE sound in the beginning.
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Oh, I can't stand "vie-OH-luh." However, I'm American and it wouldn't make sense for me to not pronounce it that way. Violetta would be preferable, but I'm kind of a frilly name fan.
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Desmond is nice. I think it would go well with your sons' names. You could also use Desi (which I love, personally) as a nickname; I think Desi matches with your sons' names more, as well.
I've always pronounced Viola as VIE-oh-lah (that's how it's said in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, which is where I heard it first). The musical instrument is vee-OH-lah, so I don't like stressing the second syllable in the name.
Edit: I'm American, and I've never actually heard vie-OH-lah. Everyone always says vee-OH-lah, unless they're familiar enough with Shakespeare to say VIE-oh-lah. In any case, stressing the first syllable is much better.
I've always pronounced Viola as VIE-oh-lah (that's how it's said in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, which is where I heard it first). The musical instrument is vee-OH-lah, so I don't like stressing the second syllable in the name.
Edit: I'm American, and I've never actually heard vie-OH-lah. Everyone always says vee-OH-lah, unless they're familiar enough with Shakespeare to say VIE-oh-lah. In any case, stressing the first syllable is much better.
This message was edited 1/18/2011, 11:35 PM
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Desmond is very nice. The only real difference I see between Desmond and the names of your other boys is that Desmond has has a "harder" sound with the "d"s while Shia and Finn are softer sounds. But that doesn't bother me. I think Shia, Finn and Desmond work together just fine.
Regarding Viola, I'm a first syllable stressor, with just a hint of the "o".
Regarding Viola, I'm a first syllable stressor, with just a hint of the "o".
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