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I think its pretty, but I fear people would think its kr8tive or something, hence I would just prefer Esme.

I like it

It's beautiful!

I think it's pretty. The sound reminds me of Esme, Esmeralda, Lorelei, and mesmerize.

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I think it would often be mispronounced at first reading, but it's easily explainable that the ay basically rhymes with Kai, as in Maya or the version of Raya in the Disney movie. I don't think it's a big deal that it's Turkish, at least not more than it is that Leila is Persian, or beyond the evolution of Turkish being interesting in that it's been written in different alphabets over time. If it is being intentionally pronounced with "ray" at the end...I don't know if I really care, beyond not liking the sound quite as much; it's like Layla being pronounced in English vs Persian vs Arabic to me (I feel like it'd be pointless to be like, "Which is more correct?").

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FYI though, esmer can mean dusky/swarthy/brunette.

This message was edited 4/11/2023, 9:28 AM

I just assumed it was a mesh of two names. The Turkish pronunciation gives it a new dimension that feels obviously less shallow but not being a Turkish person I would not use it.

In looking up pronunciations of Turkish names (since I don't speak Turkish), I discovered that Tülay is pronounced tuy-LIE. This is most likely consistent regarding the "ay" pronunciation in Turkish; therefore Esmeray is most likely pronounced ez-muh-RIE, not ez-muh-RAY.

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If I were Turkish I'd likely consider it, but otherwise I'd just be instinctively mispronouncing a Turkish name. I'll stick with Esme / Esmée.

This message was edited 4/11/2023, 6:18 AM

Don't really like it