Our daughter goes by about 10 different names.
Her name is the Ukrainian form of Katherine, which is Kateryna (Катерина).
The a sound is similar to the vowel sound in Kahn.
The e sound is similar to the vowel sound in yet.
The y sound is similar to the vowel sound in led.
And the r is slightly rolled.
To hear it pronounced by actual Ukrainians, there are two examples here:
http://www.forvo.com/word/%D0%BA%D0%...B0_(kateryna)/
As in English, there are a number of diminutives. We call her Katrusia. For Ukrainians, this is about as common as an English Katherine going by Kathy.
So, we hear the following names her:
- Kateryna (with a rolled r)
- Katrusia (with rolled r)
- Katerina
- Kateryna (without rolled r)
- Katrusia (without rolled r)
- Kat
- Trusha
- Katrusha
- Katia (another common Ukrainian diminutive)
- Katerynka (another Ukrainian diminutive)
I even give a different answer when someone asks me her name (usually one of the top two, but I sometimes just say Katerina if I don't feel like explaining).
At daycare, everyone calls here Katerina. I'm sure the other parents think we put in the "y" to be cute.
At least she will have plenty of choices when she gets older. She could add to the mix and go with something like Kate, Katie, Kathy or even Katherine.