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Baby names

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

Original poster

Names you aren't sure how to pronounce

387 replies

whatausername · 10/04/2020 20:22

Since we're all inside for the foreseeable future...

What are some names you're not quite sure how to pronounce? We'll see if we can help each other. But do take answers with a pinch of salt given the wide variety of accents we all have!

For me: Hebe (hee-bee?) and João leave me feeling uncertain.

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Verily1 · 10/04/2020 22:37

Mairead
Chlodagh
Carey
Sian
Andrea

MarieQueenofScots · 10/04/2020 22:31

Jaime is Jamie

I know a spanish Jaime who is Hy-mie.

Calliope is Kuh-Ly-Oh-pee

Samtsirch · 10/04/2020 22:31

There is a google facility for this.

ShrimpSymphony · 10/04/2020 22:30

Hebe
Sian

CharlottaCarlotta · 10/04/2020 22:29

I have two friends with daughters called Esme but they pronounce them differently. One is Es-me & one is Es-may. Woe betide anyone who gets it wrong.

Scarletoharaseyebrows · 10/04/2020 22:25

Cal eye OP

Lobsterquadrille2 · 10/04/2020 22:24

How about Odhran - with an accent on the "a"?

Blursula · 10/04/2020 22:22

I would pronounce Saoirse as Seer-sha, Gislaine as read but with a silent s, and Elise as El-eese.

Lila I would usually say Lie-la but I have a Polish friend with the name who pronounces it Leela.

Jaime is Jamie

isabellerossignol · 10/04/2020 22:21

How is the name Calliope pronounced?

SallyWD · 10/04/2020 22:21

Evelyn - is it pronounced Eve-lyn or Ever-lyn ?

SpokeTooSoon · 10/04/2020 22:19

I know two girls called Elise. Both pronounces Eleez.

invinovvv · 10/04/2020 22:18

I get confused with Eugenie and Gigi.

Greenvilla · 10/04/2020 22:15

Surely Elise is elle-eese?
Not elle-eeze?

Oakeyy · 10/04/2020 22:12

Dugald.

EggsFried · 10/04/2020 22:12

Helena can also be Hel-ee-na, as some pp have said.

Tinkhasflown · 10/04/2020 22:12

I added the y to the sound for Maeve too but it's hard to write how I say it! Also spelled Meabh.

It's Mave as in wave..... if that makes more sense.

Talcott2007 · 10/04/2020 22:10

I think a couple of these have a couple of accepted pronunciations, for example:
Helena: "Helen-ah" or "Hel-lane-a" (I know 2 of each who pronounce it differently)
Elise: American/Australian "El-eese"
French/European "El-eeze"

Tinkhasflown · 10/04/2020 22:09

What is the name that is pronounced Neeve in Ireland?

Niamh

Onesailwait · 10/04/2020 22:08

Joao - sounds kinda like jo wow

Guttersnipe · 10/04/2020 22:07

Angharad is Ann ha rad. You don't pronounce the g.

AngelaScandal · 10/04/2020 22:04

Grainne = Gra (as in straw) -n-ya
Gaelic form of Grace

onlyreadingneverposting8 · 10/04/2020 22:04

Same for all Greek names starting with H btw! So Hermione is actually Er-mi-on-ie

SpokeTooSoon · 10/04/2020 22:02

Maya is one that gets me.

One of my children has a May-a in their class.

The other has a Miy-a.

I always have to stop and remember which pronunciation to use.

Lucygucy · 10/04/2020 22:02

Angharad (not sure of spelling).
In my head it's ann-ger-rad but I've only ever seen it written down

Original poster
whatausername · 10/04/2020 22:01

@MikeUniformMike Niamh, I believe

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