The spelling of the name Geerda can be a bit confusing, as the IPA phonetic transcription reveals. The first syllable is pronounced /gɪr/ with a short "i" sound, not a long "ee" sound. The second syllable is pronounced /də/, with no "r" sound. The final "a" is pronounced /ə/, the schwa sound. So overall, the correct spelling of Geerda reflects the pronunciation with the "i" and "a" sounds being shorter than expected.