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I say ROSE-a-lind as well

I pronounce it with a short O, but not like 'RAHZ' as I have an English accent.

'ROZ-uh-lind'
'ROZ-uh-mund'

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They're not actually derived from 'rose', from what I recall they're Germanic, they're only inspired by the word.

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I love Rosamund, it's very pretty anyway. Rosalind is nice too, but I don't like it as much.

It's weird - I usually say Rosalind as RAHZ-uh-lind, but Rosamond becomes ROSE-uh-muhnd. I don't know how that happened in my head, but that's how I pronounce the names.

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Rosalind: RAWZ-uh-lind
Rosamund: RAWZ-mund
Rosaline: RAWZ-uh-lyne

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I actually like the "rawz" part of the names - it gives them chutzpah.

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And, a question for others: how do you say these Rose- names?:

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Rosabel
Rosalba
Rosalia
Rosenda
Rosita

This message was edited 6/23/2015, 7:10 AM

ROZ-a-lind and ROZ-a-mund

Rosalind . . . I say it like RAHZ-a-lind, but find that more appealing than ROSE-ah-lind.

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Rosamund . . . I say ROSE-ah--muhnd

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I honestly like all Rose-names, so any pronunciation works for me. Rosalind is probably the only one I used the RAHZ pronunciation, except maybe Roslyn.

I pronounce both with the short O.

RAHZ-a-lind and ROHZ-a-mund

I've never heard Rosalind said like Rose-a-lind. And I've only once heard Rosamund said like Roz-a-mund.

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I don't know the truth about medieval etylomogy! But it has been my understanding that the Ros- in Rosalind is derived, not from Rose the flower, but from Hros, as in Roswitha, which means Horse. Roswitha certainly has a short o sound.

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Rosamund, OTOH, although it apparently also derives from Hros and would therefore have originally had the short o, was thought in medieval England to have a Latin derivation and to mean Pure Rose (Rosa Munda) or Rose of the World (Rosa Mundi). This enabled the history scribes to make several insinuations about King Henry II, who was married to the amazing Eleanor of Aquitaine but took as his mistress one Rosamund Clifford, who might once have been Rosa Munda but soon became, let's say, open to the public as the Rose, or selection, of the Whole (Male) World!

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So, since etymology is extremely difficult and often subjective, I subjectively stick to the story of Ms Clifford rather than the (much older) Horse Protection version. Which has its points - a Rosamund and Philippa sibset would be fun.

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The other problem arises from names like Katharine. Viewed from one angle, it becomes "pure" and is often chosen with th at in mind. I know a Chinese woman whose name means "pure" and who now goes by Katie "because of" the "meaning" of Katharine. Which seems to be such an ancient name that it originally had a negative meaning (goddess of witchcraft, instrument of torture etc), given to prevent the gods from feeling jealous of a baby with a positive name and cursing her accordingly!

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I pronounce them as you do, with a long O. This reminds me of the fact that throughout Jimmy Carter's presidency, my husband pronounced Rosalynn Carter's first name incorrectly, with a short O, and persisted in doing so no matter how many times he was corrected.

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Rosalind: short O
Rosamund: long O

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ROZ-ah-lind
ROSE-ah-mund

"Roz-" for Rosalind, but "Rose-" for Rosamond.

I say Rosalind with the short o (quite like RAHZ-a-lind, yes) and I prefer it, but it's quite pretty with a long o as well. Rosamund I say with a long o. RO-sa-mund. (though the more I say it, the more it actually sounds like RO-sa-mint for some reason)

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My final d's in the names really blend in with the n's and do sound more like t's than d's, so if you don't listen carefully it might sound like I'm pronouncing them as Rosalin, Rosamun, Rosalint, or Rosamunt.

I always say Roz for both. I really enjoy both names.

Yeah, I say ROZ-a-lind and ROZ-a-mund, with a short O sound. I don't think the Rose- pronunciation is unfeasible, but I kind of like the edge the Roz sound gives to them, and that it separates thematic bit from the more sweet, girly sounding Rosalie (nothing wrong with it just not really my style). Oddly enough I love Rosa, but then that isn't as 'frilly' as Rosalie.

I say them both with a ROSE beginning.

I've never thought about it before, but I say Rosalind with a short O (which in my Australian accent doesn't sound like AH), and Rosamund with a long O. I also pronounce the end of Rosamund with a short, 'ooh'-sounding U instead of a short U like in 'fun' (does that make sense).

Long O for both. Same as your pronunciation.

Rosalind -- Roz
Rosamund -- Rose