Message: "Lita" - Behind the Name

[Opinions] Lita

by Murasaki (lady murasaki)

12/25/2008, 10:46 AM

I was looking up some stuff on Charlie Chaplin, and came across Lita, which was the name of one of his wives.

It's kinda cute, but a bit unsubstancial, reminds me of "lite". WDYT?

#Lita

Replies

- Andromache (Hannah Ruth)

12/26/2008, 6:56 PM

I prefer Leda or Lyda. Lita sounds like a brand of soft-drink.

- Dot (Spider from Mars)

12/25/2008, 8:22 PM

I really like it, but it does seem a bit insubstantial as a full name. Maybe as a nn for one of these:

Adelita
Carmelita
Angelita
Lalita
Melita
Perlita
Julita
Margalita

- Sofia

12/25/2008, 1:37 PM

I like it as a nn for names like Carmelita, Lolita, etc.

- Lily8

12/25/2008, 11:05 AM

I think her full name was Lillita. I kind of like Lillita spelled Lilita.

I think it is supposed to be pr. LEE-ta so it doesn't make me think of lite.

hmmmm it could be short for everything ending in -lita from Juanita to Lolita, but those are Spanish nickname names.

- Cora (Nitrojen) +3

12/25/2008, 10:53 AM

Oh, maybe you'll like...

Melita (meh-LIE-tuh) nn Lita? That was my Great-Great Grandmother's name. Except they called her Litie.

Unless it's LEE-tuh, which wouldn't be a nn for Melita. I dunno. :-)

- Sofia +2

12/25/2008, 1:48 PM

Where was your G-Grandmother from? Because all Melitas I know pronounce their name Meh-LEE-tah.

- Cora (Nitrojen) +1

12/25/2008, 2:32 PM

Pennsylvania, I think...

Or somewhere in that area. That's not the first 'unusual' pronunciation in my family. My Great Grandma Ruth's middle name was Albina, prn. al-BIE-nuh, when everyone pronounces it al-BEE-nuh.

So Melita, nn Lita would work with either pronunciation!

ETA: I've always liked Meh-LEE-tuh better, but I thought it was the wrong pronunciation, so I never got too attached to the name. ;-)

This message was edited 12/25/2008, 2:33 PM

- Sofia

12/25/2008, 2:41 PM

Nope, Meh-LEE-tah is actually the correct pronunciation from the Greek word for honey and (as far as I know) only English speakers try anything else.

As for Albina, I'd guess that in English it would be with 'BIE' since the word albino is pronounced that way. It's 'BEE' in Latin so I guess it can be both ways in English.

- mafiosa

12/25/2008, 10:51 AM

I think it sounds very insubstantial as well. It also just reminds me of "liter". I really don't like it.

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