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Original poster

Rohan - pronunciation?

41 replies

Mum2Pea · 12/06/2011 17:11

I know this has been done before but have a specific question

Am expecting mixed race half indian / half white DC this week.
We both love the name Rohan if we have a boy.

With regards to pronunciation, would you pronounce it so that the Han is rhyming with Dan / Fan or as in rhyming with pun/gun

DH and i are concerned it would be pronounced with a harsh A (like ham) rather than a soft a (like the middle a of Adam) - would it be the bane of our DS's life to have to explain how it should be pronounced the indian way?

thanks!

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Ihavewelliesbuttheyrenotgreen · 12/06/2011 21:45

I've known 2 Indian (but born/grown up in the UK) Rohan pronounced Row -han (rhyming with Dan). But when said fast it does start to sound a bit like Rohun imo most names ending in 'n' do think, Karen, Ellen, Aaron etc

Hulababy · 12/06/2011 21:29

I know a 5y male Rohan. His parents are Indian and they live in England. They pronounce his name as Row-han.

DotRotten · 12/06/2011 21:08

I know two Row-han s, although both are forrin.

emsies · 12/06/2011 20:29

Sister in law has a Rohan (in Australia, married to a man with Indian family). Pronounced Row-han (rhyming with ham) there.

bluebobbin · 12/06/2011 20:28

I'd say Row - Han, rhyming with Dan. So, yes, I think my first guess would be pronouncing it with the hard a, sorry.

orienteerer · 12/06/2011 20:27

Row-han .......as per the clothing shop

PhishFoodAddiction · 12/06/2011 20:25

I'd say Ro-Han too, rhyming with fan.

NightLark · 12/06/2011 20:23

I'd say it Ro-Han, like the outdoor brand. Sorry. Would never occur to me to say it the other way. I'd use the Welsh spelling (Rowan) for the other pronunciation.

funnypeculiar · 12/06/2011 20:18

And dd's best mate is called Caoimhe - pronounced Kee-va. Gorgeous name. Her mum just wrote on all the starting school forms both the spelling and how to pronounce it, which seemed like a very sensible plan. Although obviously not a technique he could carry into adult life Grin

funnypeculiar · 12/06/2011 20:16

Lovely name Smile

I would expect to pronounce in Ro(wh)-un (to rhyme with fun), unless I found out you were a huge fan of Lord Of the Rings, in which case I would expect it to be Row-han (to rhyme with man)

bristols · 12/06/2011 20:13

Out of nosiness interest, what are you going to name a girl?

bristols · 12/06/2011 20:12

I know a Rohan whose name is pronounced Row-Han (like ham). He is Sri Lankan. He probably will spend his life explaining how to pronounce it, but lots of people do and it's not so bad. We have a really unusual surname which everyone mis-pronounces but we're used to it.
The people that matter (his family and friends) will say it correctly and other people only tend to need to be told once.
A lovely name Smile

TheMonster · 12/06/2011 20:07

It's a lovely name, btw.

TheMonster · 12/06/2011 20:07

I have only ever know it be pronounced ro-un.

BuntyPenfold · 12/06/2011 20:05

I know one, pronounced Rowun.

piellabakewell · 12/06/2011 17:17

I have one in my class...I say it like fan and so do all the other kids and staff. However, at parents' evening I rapidly realised I was not saying it all like his parents do! I have a normal (ish) first name spelt in an unexpected way, which has been the bane of my life. Perhaps teach your son not to mind if someone says it wrongly?

Or alternatively hope for a girl!