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Baby names

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

North/south divide - girls names pronounced dramatically differently?

59 replies

Stulbam · 23/11/2017 17:46

Like Sandra, Alexandra - they'd be pronounced with a 'sand' sound up north, but a 'sarrnd' sound down south. Not just a subtle difference in emphasis - a black and white divide.

I've spent the last month straining my brain in disbelief that I can't think of a single other example for girls (I've come up with Grant/ 'Grarrnt' for boys). My husband claims there's no other examples (exarrmples!) - surely this can't be?!

Help me prove him wrong Mumsnet?!

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MonkeyJumping · 23/11/2017 19:54

I know an Elle whose very northern grandparents add a sort of "eh" noise at the end so it sounds like Ellie.

Rarotonga · 23/11/2017 19:53

I've noticed that Michelle is often pronounced very differently in the north compared to the south. In the north the stress is on the second syllable 'shell', whereas in the south the first syllable is stressed (ME-shell).

ChocolateCherries · 23/11/2017 19:53

Marie. Mar-rie down South, like marry up North

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 23/11/2017 19:49

Alexander

Lancelottie · 23/11/2017 19:49

And Clara, though I'm not sure that's such a clearcut north/south divide.

We actually ruled out two of these on the grounds that we'd be forever battling over how to pronounce them.

TheNoseyProject · 23/11/2017 19:49

Charlotte. It’s regional but I know a lot of middle englanders who say ‘shar-LOT’ which makes it a rather ugly name with that much emphasis on the LOT.

Lancelottie · 23/11/2017 19:47

Also Tanya

Lancelottie · 23/11/2017 19:47

Francis/Frances (there you go, two examples in one).

Brokencrayonsstillcolour · 23/11/2017 19:45

Marrtthhew if you’re really posh😂