Message: "Emina" - Behind the Name

Emina

by abbasdaughter

7/1/2013, 2:00 AM

Sounds a bit like Amy-na... using the kanji for laugh/smile and the na from Nara, which a lot of people couldn't tell you the meaning to. Someone I know recently named her daughter this and it works ok in Japan, but I don't think I'd do it in an En.-speaking country.

#Emina

Replies

- Dracotorix

7/2/2013, 5:06 PM

I think it would work fine- although if I saw it on an English-speaker I'd be more inclined to pronounce it EH-mee-na.

All these enema comments are making me doubt my own name though. Emma Na____ sort of sounds like Enema _____... :P

- Calla (guest) +5

7/1/2013, 10:33 AM

I know an Emina. She pronounces it em-MEEN-uh. Her parents are from Slovenia, I think.

So it works fine in America. No one ever has issues with it. But it's a different name, obviously.

- abbasdaughter +4

7/1/2013, 7:50 PM

Are you SURE it work work completely fine there?... on a school playground? ... when it's kinda close to enema in sound? I wouldn't do it.

This message was edited 7/1/2013, 7:50 PM

- Calla (guest) +3

7/2/2013, 4:38 PM

Here in America? Yeah. She said she's gotten nothing but compliments here. But if by "there" you mean somewhere else, er, never mind. But America? Most definitely. Besides, how many elementary school kids know about enemas anyway?

- abbasdaughter +2

7/3/2013, 7:17 AM

Yes, I was referring to N. America. You'd be surprised how many elementary kids would know about enemas... and even more teens... How old is this person? Could be that many of those she's around who would think about it that way were just to polite to comment accordingly.

- Calla (guest) +1

7/3/2013, 2:32 PM

Teens, yes. But you mentioned the playground so I went to elementary school because any older wouldn't have playgrounds usually.

Too polite? lol not likely. She's in her early-to-mid 20's.

- abbasdaughter

7/3/2013, 7:24 PM

May vary, depending on the circles one is in too... and even that, it's a potential case by case thing that I wouldn't want to risk.

This message was edited 7/3/2013, 7:25 PM

- Moonstones and Birdsong (alicia_renee) +1

7/1/2013, 8:25 AM

I thought it was pronounced the way it looks: EM-i-na. It reminds me of enemas, if I'm honest.

- abbasdaughter

7/1/2013, 7:49 PM

It can be promounced almost that way too... and THAT is the problem.

- babybackribs (Lolth) +1

7/1/2013, 8:00 AM

I like it.

I never knew that it was Japanese. The Emina I know is Bosnian.

- abbasdaughter

7/1/2013, 7:48 PM

There are a number of same-sounding names that work in multiple languages... Erika and Mari and Ken work in Jpns. as well.

- Fiammetta (lady murasaki)

7/1/2013, 7:41 AM

I don't think it works out of Japan either, it looks a bit like Enema or Enemy or something.

- insane romantic +1

7/1/2013, 6:55 AM

I think Amina looks better and I think it would have a very similar pronunciation.

- abbasdaughter

7/1/2013, 7:47 PM

It wouldn't be the same in Jpns... In Jpns. Amina would be prn'd ah-mee-na. The e in Jpns. is prn'd ay or eh.

- Anneza +1

7/1/2013, 6:22 AM

Fatally close to enema. Pity, because in itself it's quite pleasant.

- abbasdaughter

7/1/2013, 7:46 PM

Yeah... That's why I wouldn't be inclined to use it... Could live with the sound if it weren't for the closeness to enema.

- Delphi_Blue +5

7/1/2013, 4:33 AM

Well it's one of Sass' many nicknames- in Italian it's quite common to make a nn by adding -ina. So Emma becauses Emina, or basically "little Emma". It also works for Sara -> Sarina (little Sara). Except that's prn. Em-ee-na, rather than the what you've given. Cause that is what I'm used to, it's odd to me pronounced any other way.

ETA: huh, apprently it's also a legit (and rather popular) Bosnian name. I'm not sure how it'd be pronounced there.

This message was edited 7/1/2013, 4:34 AM

- Sofia +4

7/1/2013, 1:53 PM

It's pronounced EH-mee-nah in Bosnia, so quite similar to the Italian pronunciation.

- Delphi_Blue +3

7/2/2013, 5:38 AM

Thanks! That would have been my guess, but it's good to know for sure :) I quite like it prn. that way, now that I know it means something other than "little Emma"

I'm visiting Bosnia briefly on my summer trip next month! Looking forward to it.

- Sofia +2

7/2/2013, 10:14 AM

Do you know where you'll be going on your trip?
Be sure to collect good name sightings, I'm sure there will be plenty interesting names:-)

- Delphi_Blue +1

7/2/2013, 11:26 AM

Just to Mostar. My whole trip is Italy (2 weeks for work, I'd rather not say where because it's a tiny little village), then Croatia (Dubrovnik, Zagreb, Plitvice), while in Dubrovnik we'll visit Bosnia (Mostar), Montenegro (Kotor), then up to Slovenia (Lake Bled, Ljubljana) over to Macedonia (Skopje, Ohrid) then a ten hour lay over in Serbia (Belgrade) on the way home.

- Sofia

7/2/2013, 12:07 PM

All of those are gorgeous, I'm sure you'll love it (hope you put some pictures on the lounge). I'm especially glad that you'll be visiting continental Croatia, since most summertime tourists tend to stick to the coast (which is beautiful, but us northerners feel a bit left out;-)).

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