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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:
kierenthecommunity · 27/05/2025 23:40

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

Hana is a legit name. In several languages.

Ayprill is one of the Radford grandkids I think

Perhapsanothertime · 27/05/2025 23:36

feelingbleh · 27/05/2025 20:14

I wouldn't that could be kayleigh or Kylie

Haha! That just reminded me of high school, we had a girl called Kayleigh and one of our teachers, when doing the register and reading out her name would always say “is it Kayleigh or kylie?”

Surely after several months and years of being told what it is you’d remember 😂😂

SalmonDreams · 27/05/2025 23:32

CaptainFuture · 27/05/2025 20:29

Next option Pelhiliipiahha?

Phillipa?

UpHillVerySlowly · 27/05/2025 23:25

I always believed I was naming a future adult, not a child. My kids have sensible names which are widely understood. People need to get over their stupid ideas of yooniqueness. My young colleague has given her son a name which will constantly be misspelt and misunderstood. 😕

vipersputpaidtomylastusername · 27/05/2025 23:20

CaptainFuture · 27/05/2025 20:47

Bhaallloonzh?

😂😂
Very well done! You win the thread for me.

HonoriaBulstrode · 27/05/2025 23:14

Siouxsie

A fan of Siouxsie and the Banshees? That Siouxsie's real given names were Susan Janet, apparently - parents obviously the opposite of edgy and youneek.

Neededa · 27/05/2025 22:59

The point is, we all understand that Gaelic names are spelled and pronounced differently to English expectations of spelling and pronunciation. As are names from all sorts of countries around the world. But there is an “acceptable” way of pronouncing certain names in England. Adding a few vowels or consonants, doesn’t make you edgy, it makes life more difficult for your child.

OakleyAnnie · 27/05/2025 22:58

Amabelle. In pretty little liars. Of course everyone calls her Annabelle which infuriates the mum who says ITS AMA BELLE! 🤩

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

billycat321 · 27/05/2025 22:57

Isn't there an actress called Agyness? What's wrong with Agnes? Anyone who saddles their offspring with a name that, when heard, is asked how to spell it or when seen, is asked how to pronounce it is not doing said offspring any favours!

Cherrysoup · 27/05/2025 22:55

A friend did this, added a letter to ensure people said her dd’s name properly, but she named her after a famous film star so everyone would have known to say her name. Really obsolete.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 27/05/2025 22:51

BruceAndNosh · 27/05/2025 20:38

Tradjdeigh

Yes, it’s a tragedy all right…

Gymnopediegivesmethewillies · 27/05/2025 22:49

GarlicPile · 27/05/2025 22:34

Perhaps she's going for the Cholmondeley effect 😉 He has a brother named Grosvenor, I'm told.

Their cousins are Ralph, pronounced 'Rafe', and Phoebe, whose vowels are mysterious.

Anglo-Saxon names are a wondrous source of spelling weirdness. I'm irrationally fond of Edith, also seen as Ædith, Ædythe, Edyth, Edythe, Eadgyth, Ealdgyth and possibly even more varieties.

And OMG, Celtic / Gaelic names! Once I think I've learned one, I then find the pronunciation and/or spelling is specific to a certain country or region and I'm still doing it wrong!

I am a SPAG bore but, where names are concerned, all bets are off. I can't criticise this woman in good conscience: there's sufficient reason to suppose that a few extra letters and syllables make no difference to pronunciation Confused

Oh my! I love Edythe. (Misses point of thread ☺️)

ChompandaGrazia · 27/05/2025 22:35

Supergirl1958 · 27/05/2025 21:15

I went to college with three girls called Amy spelt three different ways! 🤦‍♀️

I remember about 15 years ago having Kayleigh, Kailee and Ceilidh in my class.

GarlicPile · 27/05/2025 22:34

Perhaps she's going for the Cholmondeley effect 😉 He has a brother named Grosvenor, I'm told.

Their cousins are Ralph, pronounced 'Rafe', and Phoebe, whose vowels are mysterious.

Anglo-Saxon names are a wondrous source of spelling weirdness. I'm irrationally fond of Edith, also seen as Ædith, Ædythe, Edyth, Edythe, Eadgyth, Ealdgyth and possibly even more varieties.

And OMG, Celtic / Gaelic names! Once I think I've learned one, I then find the pronunciation and/or spelling is specific to a certain country or region and I'm still doing it wrong!

I am a SPAG bore but, where names are concerned, all bets are off. I can't criticise this woman in good conscience: there's sufficient reason to suppose that a few extra letters and syllables make no difference to pronunciation Confused

FlatErica · 27/05/2025 22:31

CaptainFuture · 27/05/2025 20:47

Bhaallloonzh?

Bwahahahahahaha!!!

Beon · 27/05/2025 22:31

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

Beon · 27/05/2025 22:27

The poor children have to spend their lives saying “it’s spelt…..” to many people.

What do parents want to achieve from giving their DC unique spellings of normal names?

TunnocksOrDeath · 27/05/2025 22:26

You're not being unreasonable. Friends of ours, both originally from different countries overseas, have given their child a British name but added an extra vowel so that extended family in one country would pronounce it correctly. Unfortunately, although the digraph they have created is quite common, there is literally no word in the English language where it is pronounced the way that they want it pronounced, so their British child has a name that will be mispronounced by every native English speaker who sees it, because of that extra vowel. It really was not thought through.

Redbushteaforme · 27/05/2025 22:25

And Seamus and Hamish - same nominative/vocative thing as Mairi and Mhairi in Scottish Gaelic ...

Purplecatshopaholic · 27/05/2025 22:25

I find Alastair and Leanne quite tricky, as there are at least four spellings of each, all of which are quite common and none incorrect (I don’t think).

QuinionsRainbow · 27/05/2025 22:23

Siouxsie.

Namerequired · 27/05/2025 22:22

Jujujudo · 27/05/2025 22:03

Not really what we are discussing, but my pet peeve is people getting my name totally wrong every time, despite it being a bog standard 70’s name. In case anyone cares enough to identify me, I’ll use an example: my name is Anna but everyone for some reason calls me Anne. Or my name is Bernice and everyone calls me Denise. I ended up shortening my actual name so it really can’t be wrong no matter who tries to say it.
On topic, I’m a teacher and some of the names I have to remember do my head in. Last year I had a Chevon, Shevaughn, Shevonne and Shervorn (Yorkshire accent if that helps). None of which are actually spelt correctly. Argh

Your name is Judith and they call you Judy?

I assume those other names are meant to be variations of Siobhan?

Redbushteaforme · 27/05/2025 22:19

Manxexile · 27/05/2025 21:18

Are you sure it's an old English name and not Scots or Manx Gaelic?

eg Mharie which I've heard English people wrongly pronounce as "Marie" or "Mary", but it should be pronounced something like "Vorrie" or "Vorrey"

In Scottish Gaelic, it should actually be Mairi (Ma-ri), nominative case. The 'h' is only added in Gaelic in the vocative form - 'a mhairi ' (a Vari) so anyone with Mhairi as their name is actually making a grammatical mistake in Gaelic. One of the hazards of choosing a name in a language you don't speak! Most people aren't aware though/don't care, and it's become the default version for English speakers
.

Blurberoo · 27/05/2025 22:18

HiRen · 27/05/2025 22:06

Really? I know a Mhairie who pronounces her name Myrie!

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.

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