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Just looking at it I'd assume it was pronounced SUN-NIV-AH or SUN-IV-AH (I'm from the UK but I'd think that most English speaking countries would say it similarly). What's its Norwegian pronunciation? It doesn't say on this name's page. In the comments section it says it's pronounced "Soohn-eva", is that right?

I know the actual pronunciation is SOO-nee-va/SOON-ee-va. But I do think in English speaking countries SUN-ih-va is more likely and I would say and vastly prefer Sun-EE-va. Unfortunately I wouldn't use it because I dislike the actual pronunciation (and don't want to change it just because it suits me), which is a shame since it's lovely otherwise.

I love Sunniva and would pronounce it suh-NEE-vah (I also like SOO-nee-vah, but that would be hard to enforce). I think it's usable in the US.

Sunniva always tricks me because on first glance I think that it's Indian. But I like it. I think that English speakers would say sa-NEE-va.

When I first saw it I would've pronounced it Sunny-va.

You could make it work, but I think in the US it would frequently be mispronounced like "son of a" ... (SUH-niv-uh)

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I've been pronouncing it "sue NEE va" in my mind.
If you asked for SOON-ee-va, I think the I would get shortened and people would say SOON-ih-va. Sue would be the natural nickname, not Sunny.

This message was edited 6/8/2016, 2:23 PM

I have been wondering the exact same thing for a long time actually, haha.

I'ts pronounced something like SOON-ee-vuh

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nm

I love Sunniva and pronounce it soo-Nee-vuh. It could definitely work in an English-speaking country. The only issue I could see is that it might be pronounced suh-NEE-vuh, but then again, that could lead to the adorable nn, Sunny. Bottom line, no matter how you pronounce it, you'd (and she'd) have to help some people out with the pronunciation and spelling. That doesn't need to be a deal breaker, however, imo.

I love it, and i think it would work fine here in the us. I don't know the Norwegian pronunciation; I pronounce it soo-NEE-va.