The name Lara?

[Anonymous]

It's a very popular and beautiful name in my parents' home county but I wonder if it would work in the States. It's pronounced with a rolling "R"... Think "Larrr-ra." Or is she going to spend her whole life correcting people that's it's not pronounced like "Lahr-a" or that it's not actually Laura?

[Anonymous]

Contrived.

[Anonymous]

Makes me think of Dr. Zhivago. In a good way.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like Larla.

[Anonymous]

I quite like it. Simple and unique while classic in an Old-World sort of way.

[Anonymous]

I've heard the name pronounced like Laura but also to rhyme with Tara or Cara. She'd spend a lot of time correcting pronunciation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like Larla.

+1

[Anonymous]

Ugly. Reminds me of a girl I went to school with named Larin

[Anonymous]

Kind of dated. But ok.

[Anonymous]

Lara Croft. Tomb Raider. Hot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Makes me think of Dr. Zhivago. In a good way.

My twin sister is Lara (Lah-rah). She was named from Dr. Zhivago. I of course love this name but it does get pronounced wrong a lot. That said, it's not so bad you shouldn't use the name. I also have a name that can be said 5 different ways. It's just not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

In the US, I think people will pronounce Lara without the rolling R, even if you correct them. So I would only use it if you're OK with her name having that pronunciation among Americans. (Obviously, your parents or others from their country would pronounce it with the rolling R.)

I think the Lara/Laura confusion is easier to overcome. As a child, I knew a Lara (where Lar- rhymes with far and car) and also a Laura (where Laur- rhymes with more), and it was no problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a very popular and beautiful name in my parents' home county but I wonder if it would work in the States. It's pronounced with a rolling "R"... Think "Larrr-ra." Or is she going to spend her whole life correcting people that's it's not pronounced like "Lahr-a" or that it's not actually Laura?

This.
It's my best friend's name and even teachers assumed she was spelling it wrong and just called her Laura. Other people just could not wrap their minds around it and just called her Laura even after tons of correction. And yes, when pronounced correctly by people it was "Lahr-a" as the pronunciation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Makes me think of Dr. Zhivago. In a good way.

It makes me think of Dr. Zhivago in a bad way (that stupid ever-present balalaika!), but that's my own personal issue and should not affect OP's decision. OP, there are plenty of people named Lara in the US. People might mishear it for Laura, but in that case, you just say, "No, Lara. L-A-R-A." If you like the name, use it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Makes me think of Dr. Zhivago. In a good way.

It makes me think of Dr. Zhivago in a bad way (that stupid ever-present balalaika!), but that's my own personal issue and should not affect OP's decision. OP, there are plenty of people named Lara in the US. People might mishear it for Laura, but in that case, you just say, "No, Lara. L-A-R-A." If you like the name, use it!