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If you add random extra letters into a name, don't be pissy when people mispronounce it!

308 replies

BoobsOnTheMoon · 27/05/2025 20:08

I met someone recently who has a young child with a name that is actually quite a old/traditional English name, rare but not unheard of. Almost the perfect sweet spot, you'd think.

When I heard the name I immediately said oh how beautiful, I love that name. Which then set the mum off on a big rant about how nobody can ever pronounce it. Strange, I thought, it's not that unusual and tbh it's pretty phonetic when written down.

Except I found out later via FB that the mum has added two letters to the name (a consonant and a vowel), in two different places, that make it look like you pronounce it completely differently to the way she wants it pronounced. It's not an alternative spelling (which the name does have a couple of, both of which are completely obvious how to pronounce). If you were to see it written down you'd add an extra syllable when reading it out! And probably mispronounce the one of the consonants because it's had a random other consonant put next to it for...no reason? She must just like how it looks Hmm

I can't say what the name is because this child is literally the only person in the world with the name spelled that way, I've googled it and got the total of 2 results (both of which refer to this child, via their hobby). The closest examples I can come up with would be calling a baby Phetier when you want it pronounced Peter, or Elixzabieth but wanting it pronounced Elizabeth, or Dharrien and expecting everyone to know you say it Darren.

Anyway I don't particularly care how people spell names but to then be huffy that it gets mispronounced is just silly, right?

OP posts:
BoobsOnTheMoon · 23/04/2026 19:17

WorstPaceScenario · 23/04/2026 13:30

I read something this morning where a woman wanted to name her child Kaitlyn (her spelling) but with a more unique spelling. Her DH suggested inserting the Roman numeral for 8 into it, and they actually went ahead and named that poor child KVIIIlyn

This has brought back to me that my oldest went to nursery with a Kaitland. Pronounced as spelled, and in a heavy Brummie accent no less!!

OP posts:
trainboundfornowhere · 23/04/2026 16:50

Almost 25 years ago when I was 18 I worked in the children’s play area of a now Brewers Fayre (it was Brewsters then) restaurant. Two of the girls were called Emma Leigh and Jo Anna. All the parents have done is given their daughters perfectly normal names Emily and Joanna except that the girls will have to spend their lives spelling their names.

LikeWhoUsesTypewritersAnyway · 23/04/2026 14:46

Completely agree. It does my head in when I see Kaighleeegh, and Jaydunn, and Saffffrooonnn (I may be exaggerating the last one!) Grin But yeah, I know someone with a son called 'Deacon,' and he/his DP spell it Deekonne. I mean FFS! I have tried Googling this, and it comes up 'did you mean Deacon?!' 😆

His daughter is called Emileigh-Jayde. I mean, what the actual fuck! 😂

They both (him and her) whine constantly that people never spell their children's names right! I wonder why............?!!! 😜

I don't mean to be a snob, but it's just bloody farcical. My 2 have just normal 1990s names that are spelt normally! (eg; Emily, Sophie, Lily, Emma, Charlotte, Hannah, Amy, Rebecca, Lucy, Katie, Alice, Olivia.....)

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 23/04/2026 14:26

OP has had eleven months to ponder this and may not even be on MN any more, so I wouldn't hold your breath.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 23/04/2026 13:51

It’s very mean to put up a thread where of course everyone will be dying to know the name but not tell us the name!

x2boys · 23/04/2026 13:47

WorstPaceScenario · 23/04/2026 13:30

I read something this morning where a woman wanted to name her child Kaitlyn (her spelling) but with a more unique spelling. Her DH suggested inserting the Roman numeral for 8 into it, and they actually went ahead and named that poor child KVIIIlyn

Pretty sure this is also an urban myth
I have read this a few times...

randomchap · 23/04/2026 13:30

Holdonforsummer · 23/04/2026 13:27

I’m a midwife. It came from the midwife who delivered Car-ian.

It's an urban myth going back years. Did she also tell you about the child stealing a penguin from the zoo?

WorstPaceScenario · 23/04/2026 13:30

I read something this morning where a woman wanted to name her child Kaitlyn (her spelling) but with a more unique spelling. Her DH suggested inserting the Roman numeral for 8 into it, and they actually went ahead and named that poor child KVIIIlyn

Holdonforsummer · 23/04/2026 13:27

randomchap · 23/04/2026 08:14

I hadn't heard this version of that old urban myth. Normally it's La-a, Ladasha.

Don't believe any old shite people tell you

I’m a midwife. It came from the midwife who delivered Car-ian.

MrsCRose · 23/04/2026 08:25

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 22/04/2026 04:36

Thread is about people who complain about mispronunciation, which you say you don't do, so clearly doesn't apply to you.

You’re right, I don’t, but the post that I was responding to was an extremely rude and unnecessary judgement of my daughter’s unusual (to English culture anyway) name. New to mumsnet, didn’t realise that you have to quote the post which you’re responding to. I now remember why I have avoided becoming part of this mumsnet ‘community’. It’s a bit too negative for my liking!

Dizzydrizzy · 23/04/2026 08:23

Name the name! Is it myaryi

MrsCRose · 23/04/2026 08:17

burgerbunz · 23/04/2026 08:05

It's your child that has to live with the name though which is surely something that should be carefully considered before you give them a name that nobody is going to know how to pronounce.

Really? Wow, thanks for explaining that to me. 🙄

randomchap · 23/04/2026 08:14

Holdonforsummer · 23/04/2026 06:37

I once heard about a child called Car-ian. It was pronounced Kardashian.

I hadn't heard this version of that old urban myth. Normally it's La-a, Ladasha.

Don't believe any old shite people tell you

burgerbunz · 23/04/2026 08:05

MrsCRose · 21/04/2026 21:47

I don't remember asking anyone called ClareDeLaLune for their opinion when I named my daughter Eirlysiane. But I'll tell you what the fuck anyway - not that I should have to. I just like the name. Me, the person who actually gave birth to her and has raised her, so I kind of get that decision by default really. It has family meaning for us too, which is absolutely none of your business, incidentally. I never, ever complain about anyone mispronouncing it, I accept and know that this will happen but that it's also possible to move on quickly. And do you know what? Most people can remember how to say it after the first few attempts, so no big deal. There are almost 30 million first names used across the world - I wonder just how many of those you wouldn't approve of? But what's the point of criticising someone else's name? It says more about you than them. Attitudes such as judgmental narrow-mindedness, however... they're definitely worth criticising, always. 😘

It's your child that has to live with the name though which is surely something that should be carefully considered before you give them a name that nobody is going to know how to pronounce.

Cappuccinosisters · 23/04/2026 07:47

mathanxiety · 23/04/2026 03:58

It's patrisha in English.

Yes. That doesn’t make it the only ‘proper’ way to pronounce it though. See the post I was replying to.

Holdonforsummer · 23/04/2026 06:38

My kids also used to go swimming with a boy called Levii.

Holdonforsummer · 23/04/2026 06:37

I once heard about a child called Car-ian. It was pronounced Kardashian.

mathanxiety · 23/04/2026 03:58

Cappuccinosisters · 28/05/2025 20:20

Patricia is Pa-tree-sia (roughly) in lots of languages.

It's patrisha in English.

mathanxiety · 23/04/2026 03:55

Blurberoo · 27/05/2025 22:18

Actually both are correct - Mairi is the name (Scots Gaelic and pronounced Mahr-ee, version of Mary) the pet name of which is ‘Mhairi’ pronounced Vahr- ee. See also Seamus (Scots Gaelic version of James), the pet form of which being ‘Hamish’. Both pet names have become common names without the original name being the official one.

They're not pet names.

The forms without the ellipsis (h) are the nominative case. This is the form you use when writing the name or using the name as the subject of a sentence.

The forms with the ellipsis are the vocative case. This is the form of the name used when addressing Mairi or Seamus.

Gaelic and its cousin, Gaeilge (Irish) feature changes to all nouns depending on case - nominative, vocative, possessive, etc.

Using the vocative as the nominative is all wrong.

Sharptonguedwoman · 22/04/2026 08:28

CaptainFuture · 27/05/2025 20:24

Oh like this game!! Lhucsea?!

Took me a minute.

Mydadsbirthday · 22/04/2026 08:01

PeachPumpkin · 29/05/2025 10:21

I knew a Hannagh and an Issac years ago. I don’t know if these spellings are more well-known in other countries.

Hannagh 🙄 that’s dreadful - part of the beauty of the name is that it’s a palindrome!

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 22/04/2026 04:36

MrsCRose · 21/04/2026 21:47

I don't remember asking anyone called ClareDeLaLune for their opinion when I named my daughter Eirlysiane. But I'll tell you what the fuck anyway - not that I should have to. I just like the name. Me, the person who actually gave birth to her and has raised her, so I kind of get that decision by default really. It has family meaning for us too, which is absolutely none of your business, incidentally. I never, ever complain about anyone mispronouncing it, I accept and know that this will happen but that it's also possible to move on quickly. And do you know what? Most people can remember how to say it after the first few attempts, so no big deal. There are almost 30 million first names used across the world - I wonder just how many of those you wouldn't approve of? But what's the point of criticising someone else's name? It says more about you than them. Attitudes such as judgmental narrow-mindedness, however... they're definitely worth criticising, always. 😘

Thread is about people who complain about mispronunciation, which you say you don't do, so clearly doesn't apply to you.

KeeleyJ · 21/04/2026 21:49

Ptameigh for Tammie?

MrsCRose · 21/04/2026 21:47

I don't remember asking anyone called ClareDeLaLune for their opinion when I named my daughter Eirlysiane. But I'll tell you what the fuck anyway - not that I should have to. I just like the name. Me, the person who actually gave birth to her and has raised her, so I kind of get that decision by default really. It has family meaning for us too, which is absolutely none of your business, incidentally. I never, ever complain about anyone mispronouncing it, I accept and know that this will happen but that it's also possible to move on quickly. And do you know what? Most people can remember how to say it after the first few attempts, so no big deal. There are almost 30 million first names used across the world - I wonder just how many of those you wouldn't approve of? But what's the point of criticising someone else's name? It says more about you than them. Attitudes such as judgmental narrow-mindedness, however... they're definitely worth criticising, always. 😘

PeachPumpkin · 29/05/2025 10:21

I knew a Hannagh and an Issac years ago. I don’t know if these spellings are more well-known in other countries.