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Original poster

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:
Eenameenadeeka · 28/05/2025 08:37

BobbyBiscuits · 28/05/2025 00:02

I think it's somewhat remiss for a school to miss-spell any of the names of the students. There really isn't any reason why that should happen. A name is spelt how it's spelt, you can't change it just because you think it looks naff.

Show quote history

I don't believe they changed it "because they believe it looks naff", I think it was an accident because it was a name that generally has one "correct" spelling, which is what the school wrote. I do think they should be more careful and get the spelling right, but I just think it's a little silly when people act like there's something wrong with everyone else when they've misspelled something that has a clear and commonly understood spelling.

HonoriaBulstrode · 28/05/2025 08:34

Also knew a little Micheal. Pronounced Michael. Never understood that one.

They probably meant Michael and got it wrong. It's often misspelled like that. I always notice because I have a relative called Michael.

I knew someone who followed the career of an actor whose name was Michael. She spelled it Micheal every time she mentioned him online. Set my teeth on edge.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 28/05/2025 08:23

Fgfgfg · 27/05/2025 21:51

You'd like Scandinavian countries
Denmark - the name has to be from the approved list with no weird spellings
Norway - the name can be rejected.
Iceland - unusual names are referred to the national naming committee

Show quote history

If only we had the same here. IMO ‘youneek’ names are too often verging on child abuse.

Marylou62 · 28/05/2025 08:17

AngelicInnocent · 27/05/2025 21:45

I was born in another country and my perfectly normal English name was spelt incorrectly on my birth certificate. Nothing heinous, just enough that I constantly have to correct the spelling.

I very deliberately gave my DC very straightforward, traditional names, spelt in the traditional manner.

DS, no problem. His name is always spelt correctly.

DD, everyone always tries to make it complicated. Think should be Mary people try to spell it Mayoreigh or some such nonsense.

hahaha!
I could have written this word for word apart from being born in England.
My Dad registered me and spelt it wrong. I didn't find out about the wrong spelling until I was an adult. (and wondering why one particular teacher always insisted on calling me the wrong name.)

Like you I called all 3 of my DC perfectly normal, easily pronounced names.
I often got: Is that spelt with an H? (Tegan)
Has that got an i on the end? (Barry)
Is that spelt que? (Mark)
Just examples and not my DC real names!

x2boys · 28/05/2025 07:59

Lamby225 · 28/05/2025 06:14

I know a Sharon , gets annoyed when pronounced incorrectly- apparently it’s pronounced Share-ron 😉 . ‘Course it is love.

I had a manager called Karen pronounced Kare on ,bu she waa south African.

x2boys · 28/05/2025 07:57

MoominUnderWater · 28/05/2025 07:44

I know an Amiee
But I always want to spell it Aimee because in my head that makes more sense.

I mean Amy would be better but not my child!

Edited

Aimee is the French spelling.

MoominUnderWater · 28/05/2025 07:44

I know an Amiee
But I always want to spell it Aimee because in my head that makes more sense.

I mean Amy would be better but not my child!

MoominUnderWater · 28/05/2025 07:42

ClairDeLaLune · 28/05/2025 01:11

My DD was at school with an Eirlysiane. What the fuck??

"early-sane" is how I would pronounce that :)

SinicalMe · 28/05/2025 07:42

I came across a Shyvonne pronounced Siobhan. It was written down and I pronounced it phonetically, as it looked but was corrected to Siobhan.

I just assumed the parents weren’t very bright. I always assume that when I see “wrong” spellings of names.

threenaancurrywhore · 28/05/2025 07:33

I used to know a girl who’d been lumbered with Channell – her parents had been aiming for Chanel 😭

Frostiesflakes · 28/05/2025 07:29

My name is sort of like this in that it’s a fairly popular girls name but instead of ie it’s ea
but you pronounced with normal ie so it’s pronounced normally

But it’s always a case of me spelling it as people get it wrong which isn’t there fault I have only ever met one person with the name spelt the same and she was a tiny toddler

Agix · 28/05/2025 07:20

I agree with you not posting the name, but it'd hard to say whether you're unreasonable or not without knowing the name. It could be entirely reasonable, and you're just not reading it correctly. We only have your word for it that this is not the case.

LillyPJ · 28/05/2025 07:17

@GarlicPile I love language too, especially because of all its ridiculousness! I stumbled when I read (red/reed?) 'outliers' in your comment; 'liers' as in 'hoteliers' or as in 'liars'? And do we ever call someone who's lying down a 'lyer'/'lier'? 'Misled' is another word that trips me up. Mizzled?

healthybychristmas · 28/05/2025 07:07

I was teaching a girl with a name like this. She had to spell it out for me during enrolment and I said it was an unusual name and she said yes, it tells the whole world that my mother is illiterate. She was going to change it as soon as she could legally.

Spinachpastapicker · 28/05/2025 07:01

Citycathedral · 27/05/2025 22:58

I know, or have come across, a Chevaughn, a Keyanti, a Hana, a Jorja, a Lexii and a Maxx.

Also read of an Ayprill. Oh and went to school with a Sarrah

Is Keyanti meant to be Chianti, the wine? Confused

sanityisamyth · 28/05/2025 06:37

OonaStubbs · 27/05/2025 20:54

There should be a set number of names that parents from choose from. Giving parents free reign just leads to chaos.

Free rein … not reign.

thepariscrimefiles · 28/05/2025 06:35

BirthdeighParteigh · 27/05/2025 21:37

Bhalonze?

Ah, the traditional Surrey name.

Spinachpastapicker · 28/05/2025 06:29

Tulipsontoast · 27/05/2025 20:53

I know an Amy whose name was spelled Amme. Her mum was called Emma.

That’s so bad it’s almost good. Almost.

CiaoMeow · 28/05/2025 06:28

Lamby225 · 28/05/2025 06:14

I know a Sharon , gets annoyed when pronounced incorrectly- apparently it’s pronounced Share-ron 😉 . ‘Course it is love.

I worked with Share-on years ago. Only one I have met.

2021x · 28/05/2025 06:26

As someone with a reasonably common/traditional names with a legitimately billion different spellings I feel for the kid.

I have even had customer service reps telling me that I spell my name to me as an adult.

It’s not clever or cool to give your kid a name that they will constantly feel victimised by just to feel different. Do it as a middle name

Onemerrybluesnail · 28/05/2025 06:24

I used to know a Suellen. Her mother was a Dallas fan.it seems.

Why it wasn't hyphenated I'll never know ( Sue-Ellen )

Koalafan · 28/05/2025 06:23

Lamby225 · 28/05/2025 06:14

I know a Sharon , gets annoyed when pronounced incorrectly- apparently it’s pronounced Share-ron 😉 . ‘Course it is love.

Shay-ron is a less common pronunciation of the name spelled Sharon.

Koalafan · 28/05/2025 06:21

Tenducks · 28/05/2025 05:11

There was a Maisie at playgroup. Her mum called her Maisie. She called herself Maisie.
Found out later it was spelt Macy. Her mum was also annoyed that people pronounced it ‘wrong’. She said she preferred the look of Macy but the pronunciation of Maisie.
It’s a different name!

I came across the opposite of that - written as Maisie, pronounced as Macy (as in Macy's department store).

Koalafan · 28/05/2025 06:14

Beon · 27/05/2025 22:31

Seen someone with the name Kateland when it’s pronounced Caitlin

I have seen Caitlend written down, not 100% sure how they pronounce it though.

Lamby225 · 28/05/2025 06:14

I know a Sharon , gets annoyed when pronounced incorrectly- apparently it’s pronounced Share-ron 😉 . ‘Course it is love.