Message: "Kirsi" - Behind the Name

[Opinions] Kirsi

by Lynxosophy

6/19/2021, 2:41 AM

It's the name I've chosen for the female protagonist in the comic series I'm currently working on, but I'm worried that people might mispronounce it. What are your thoughts?

Her surname is Harmaajärvi, she's 24 and this world's version of a witch from a country/culture based on Finland, so I wanted a Finnish name with a nature theme. Other options I've considered and might reconsider are:

Aurora
Erika
Kielo
Terhi
Tuuli

⭑✩ I'm stupid and make little money :( ✩⭑
I'll finish writing my comic series one of these days...
My PNL: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/187226

#Kirsi

Replies

- ari.

6/19/2021, 9:20 AM

I prefer Kristiina, but it's not nearly as witchy. If I didn't know Kirsi was Finnish, I'd say it sounds vaguely Caribbean.

- KindnessIsReal

6/19/2021, 9:04 AM

This name definitely reminds me of a female Finnish witch.

- New_Chloë (New_Chloe)

6/19/2021, 7:52 AM

I like Kirsi too, it reminds me a bit of my childhood nickname :)

- Ani (peonini)

6/19/2021, 5:58 AM

Saccharine. I think something like Terhi, Tuuli or Kielo would be so much cooler. Kirsi feels infantile and insubstantial to me, though I know it’s actually kind of dated.

- Uilos +3

6/19/2021, 4:34 AM

I'm from Finland... If I met a 24-year Kirsi here, I would be slightly surprised because it's more a typical name for a woman aged roughly 40-70 years. Still, I don't find it too dated or boring, but in fact quite beautiful (I like that "kirsi" is an archaic word for "frost").

Of the names on your list, Aurora, Erika and Tuuli would be suitable for a 24-year old (if you want the name to be realistic, that is). Terhi is more common for women born in the 1960's to 1980's, while Kielo is either a great-grandmother's or a vintage trendy newborn's name. I like Aurora and Erika the best for your story, though paired with a surname Harmaajärvi they're both a bit of mouthful. I would like to pick a two-syllable name, for example...

Aino
Aliisa / Alisa
Alina
Anni
Eliisa / Elisa / Elise (EH-li-seh)
Elina
Elle (EHL-leh)
Heini - https://www.behindthename.com/name/heini/submitted
Helmi
Ilona
Inari - https://www.behindthename.com/name/inari/submitted
Kaisa
Katja
Kerttu
Kiira
Leeni - https://www.behindthename.com/name/leeni/submitted
Maiju - https://www.behindthename.com/name/maiju/submitted

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This message was edited 6/19/2021, 6:08 AM

- Lynxosophy +2

6/19/2021, 6:09 AM

Thanks for the feedback! I hadn't really considered much about how popular each of these names were in what decade, I think I wasn't too concerned about it because the story's set in a totally different world in a future time (2265 to be exact) but it's worth considering. I agree that Aurora and Erika are a bit of a mouthful with the surname.

Aino was going to be the name of the character's mother, but I might consider it for this character.

The ones I really like that you suggested are Aino, Kaisa, Kiira, Meeri, Satu, Senja and Sohvi, I think I'll still consider Kirsi, Aurora and Erika as options as well. I just have a bit of a soft spot for Kirsi, I think it's a beautiful name :)

- Uilos +1

6/19/2021, 7:58 AM

Yeah, Kirsi is perfectly fine if your story is set in the future. It's cool that you like Kirsi so much: as I mentioned, it's currently considered as a dated aunt name here and that used to be my opinion too. Now I appreciate the name more and I hope it will receive love from the younger generations when they start to name their children (I would love to come across baby Kirsis!).

By the way... If you want to use Aurora or Erika for your character, I think they would make a great middle name for Kirsi! Kirsi Aurora especially would be quite lovely.

This message was edited 6/19/2021, 7:58 AM

- Lynxosophy

6/19/2021, 9:19 AM

I definitely find the more dated names in my country more appealing personally, I really wish some of them would get more love!

Kirsi Aurora sounds so pretty, I think you've sold me on it!

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