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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Xander or Xander?

39 replies

Oysterbabe · 20/10/2015 10:37

DH and I both like this name and its going on our shortlist but can't agree on spelling. I prefer Xander, more of a true shortening of Alexander (although the baby won't be called Alexander) DH prefers Zander, so more of a separate name to Alexander. I can't get past Zander being a fish. I know my brothers, keen fishermen, will immediately say "like the fish?" When we tell them.
Which spelling do you prefer?

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CuffsAndCollar · 23/10/2015 19:31

Yes, what Neophyte said.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 23/10/2015 16:56

Xander

NeophyteStarfish · 23/10/2015 16:54

(It wasn't you specifically, F0xglove, there was a trend of posts suggesting that 'southern' pronunciation was irritating, annoying, ridiculous etc. I wasn't offended personally - as I say, I haven't said how I'd pronounce anything and I didn't say there was a right or wrong way - I just thought people might think a bit more before they start jumping on a 'oh yes, southern pronunciation is so ---' bandwagon. That's all.)

Thanks for the tea :)

F0xglove · 23/10/2015 15:06

Cuffsandcollars, you've misunderstood. I was referring to ONE vowel sound which I have heard called "intrusive a". I wasn't referring to the entire accent.

OH BOY

{hides thread}

F0xglove · 23/10/2015 15:01

I've been misrepresented a bit. Sad You've zoomed in on a part of what I said. Xander is one name. I dislike the way some mothers/people say this one word.

I'm not from the NOrth of England but reading Mumsnet, it's as though anybody from the north must have a working class background/accent and anybody from the south talks like cut glass. Generally, their belief that their pronounciation is the right one is so spectacularly intransigent that they don't even get offended. You're the first. Brew

NeophyteStarfish · 23/10/2015 14:07

Why the need to criticise other people's natural pronunciation of certain spelling? Just think before you post - would you not be offended if 'southern' people started saying how unpleasant they find the Northern (flat) pronunciation of things ("oh how awful, they say 'Xander' rhyming with 'panda' ")?

Not saying which way I pronounce anything btw, just sick of people being unnecessarily rude and offensive. (can't imagine when it would be necessary to be either, but YKWIM.)

p.s. I'd spell it Xander too :)

UntilTheCowsComeHome · 22/10/2015 00:20

I love the name Xander, great choice.

All this talk of long aaaaaaaah sounds reminds me of a mum at our Midlands school who pronounced her DS's name Laaaaaaaarrrrrnce. No one where we live uses that sound. All the teachers and his friends called him Lance. She just sounded ridiculous.

CuffsAndCollar · 21/10/2015 19:17

It's a shame you find southern English accents so 'intrusive'. I quite like Irish accents but would be too polite to insult them if I didnt.

EmpressKnowsWhereHerTowelIs · 21/10/2015 19:17

Xander. I immediately think Buffy too and that's an excellent connection!

mrsschu · 21/10/2015 19:13

Xander. Zander looks ridiculous.

OvO · 20/10/2015 20:36

Xander.

I have an Alexander who I (and his DBro) often call Xander. Though he's trying out Lex as a NN at the moment. Grin

celtictoast · 20/10/2015 20:32

Xander

VocationalGoat · 20/10/2015 12:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sophronia · 20/10/2015 12:05

Xander

AuntieStella · 20/10/2015 12:02

I'm with your DBros. Zander is a fish.

Xander is a great name.

F0xChat · 20/10/2015 11:59

haha, good joike about exploding in to coal dust!

F0xChat · 20/10/2015 11:58

......and it's not just working class people or northern people who find it jars. You would never hear somebody with a genuine cut glass crisp accent (you know the one I mean?!) over stretching that vowel to the extent some people do.

But I must be tolerant, I'm sure some people dislike my accent

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 20/10/2015 11:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Micah · 20/10/2015 11:47

Foxchat- I hate it too. I'm stood there thinking, it's your child, your childs name, and I should really be polite, suck it up and pronounce it how you/the child want it to be said.

I just can't bring myself to say it. My northern working class roots just won't let me. I may explode into coal dust if I do :)

F0xChat · 20/10/2015 11:40
Grin Brew
Original poster
Oysterbabe · 20/10/2015 11:13

Oh I'll be saying Xan to rhyme with can don't worry Smile

OP posts:
F0xChat · 20/10/2015 11:06

And although I'm Irish, I'm well used to the South of England intrusive 'ah' by now and I don't even hear it most of the time. But there is the odd word/name where I think 'wrap that vowel up now, closing time, last orders, ding a ling' and the mtoher is still busy saying Xaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaandah
so, sorry for that rant. Just be careful you're not one of those mothers Wink

StormyBlue · 20/10/2015 11:04

YY, the only people I have heard say (Alex/)Zaahn-der are from southern England, everyone else says Zan-der.

Micah · 20/10/2015 10:58

Milk wagon- I'd pronounce Xander Zan-der (Zan to rhyme with Van).

I'd pronounce Alexander with the Zan sound too.

I'm northern- If I heard someone say Zaaan I'd think they were southerners, long a along with Barth, darnce etc.

F0xChat · 20/10/2015 10:55

Xander

Don't pronounce the a sound in the first syllable in too long drawn out a way! I know a woman whose son is called Xander, or as she says Xaaaaaaaaaaaahndah. Oh it hurts. I feel like saying 'saythatquicklyffs'