Melinay

Anoushig, Nope, it's a "k" sound....which is also why my Armenian friends from Armenia (rather than we Genocide surviving Diaspora folk) don't get my dog's name either...which is KOOLBA for her white sock feet (Chors Jermag Koolbaner, actually)

Zara, yes, I agree with you on the conversation starter aspect, and that's part of what attracts me to spelling it differently...otherwise no one would ask about his name! I still have to wonder though: since we're talking about transliteration of Armenian characters, there is no "correct" spelling, but since the "adopted" spelling of Kaiyl (or Kayl, I've seen) Vahan is, to me, too hard to pronounce, is it still giving him an 'Armenian name' if I spell it Kiyal or Kiayl??? I'd love some opinions on that!

Arpa, Thanks, yes, this is my THIRD boy. Here's the funny/ironic thing. My 10 year old son, Jarod, has an Armenian name of Vahan already...named for my grandfather. So now he's all excited that he'll be named after Kaiyl Vahan as well! My second son, Gryffin, has an Armenian name of Vahe, for my father, and Kaiyl/Kyle will have an Armenian name of Harutyun for my uncle. We are now considering Kiayl, or Kiyal as well for spellings............. I was named Melinay (I started spelling it with the "ay" for pronounciation issues with the "e" ) because my grandpa couldnt' say my Mother's name (Marilyn) and called her Meline...

Hi, thanks for the response. I suppose it makes more sense to go with Kyle, but I just want it to "feel" more Armenian. The article my uncle has in a recent St. Vartan newsletter spells it Kaiyl and that's how I love it. But I don't want him to hate his name for the reason that no one says it correctly. We're actually considering spelling it Kiayl...at least the odars would then ask about it and we can spread the Armenain story! The only question I really have is: does it really matter how we spell it since we're translating from Armenian characters anyway? you know?

I grew up near Detroit, where there were plenty of Armenians..and my whole family, but now I live in Kentucky, and there are about 20 of us (maybe! ) Plus, I grew up speaking (not fluent ) Western Armenian, and all my friends here are actual immigrants from Hyestan and so speak Eastern. I'm trying to teach my sons Armenian, but it's nearly impossible. We have a small "class" with a few of our kids and we try to get together once a week, but it's not enough. I loved the CD's from Pimsleur, but they only offer once level of lessons..you can get no further than being able to pick someone up in a bar!!! Are there any good cd courses that cover the whole language and not just an introduction? I think I should be concentrating on Eastern since that's what is spoken in Armenia and by most people I know here. Thanks!

Parev everyone! I'm new to this forum and am Amerigatzeehye. We have two boys and are about to have another. They all have American names and Armenian names, however this one will be getting sort of a combination, and I need help in spelling it. We decided on the first name of Kyle (in English) but with the wonderful stories of Kaiyl Vahan, I wanted to use an "Armenian" spelling. Now, first of all, as you can see by how I spelled it, I am the descendent of Western Armenian genocide survivors...so we use "k's" not "g's" That being said, I have done informal surveys of Americans around here and almost EVERYONE mispronounces the name when it's spelled Kaiyl (they rhyme it with "mail" rather than "mile") The other way I've seen Kaiyl Vahan spelled is Kayl, and that is even worse for mispronounciations. Here is my question (you knew there would be one eventually!) : Do we just keep the spelling the American "Kyle," since it's all a translation from Armenian characters anyway (there's no real "correct" way to spell it) or should we subject our son to a lifetime of mispronounciations and misspellings. Growing up with an Armenian last name, I'm certainly used to that!!!! Thank you for taking the time to read this and respond to it!! Melinay