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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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Gwenhwyfar · 14/04/2020 08:44

"It's osh (rhymes with tosh) uhn. Osh-uhn"

No, in Welsh it's an anne sound at the end, not uhn.

MikeUniformMike · 13/04/2020 17:00

Osh is like in gosh, tosh or Josh. an is like the an in pan and tan (not pun and tun).
It's spelt Osian and is a popular name in Wales.

Ocean would be like Oh-shun

missmouse101 · 13/04/2020 16:51

It's osh (rhymes with tosh) uhn. Osh-uhn. So nothing like ocean (rhymes with lotion!)

Verily1 · 13/04/2020 16:48

Osh-an is ocean to my ears!

missmouse101 · 13/04/2020 16:45

Jolyon is pronounced Joe-li-uhn.

SospanFrangipan · 13/04/2020 13:11

DS is Osian, pronounced Osh-an. A lot of the time he gets call Ocean!

MikeUniformMike · 13/04/2020 12:58

Jol-yon

AngelaScandal · 13/04/2020 12:50

Jolyon?

Heygirlheyboy · 13/04/2020 11:32

Alo-wish-us!

Original poster
whatausername · 13/04/2020 11:27

Aloysius? That one always gets me!

OP posts:
LizzieAnt · 12/04/2020 20:56

I'd say it's more widely pronounced Shov-awn though.

LizzieAnt · 12/04/2020 20:53

@Mummyamy123
Siobhán is Shov-awn or Shoo-awn depending on dialect.

MikeUniformMike · 12/04/2020 20:48

Is Naiomi a name? Looks like a typo.

LizzieAnt · 12/04/2020 20:46

Ah thanks @HarrietM87, I wasn't sure as I'm in Munster. I pronounce Mairéad like parade too. My mother pronounces it My-rade though. Maybe a generational thing? It's hard to communicate sounds when people have different accents, isn't itSmile. (Unless you know the IPA system, which I'm afraid I don't.)

Mummyamy123 · 12/04/2020 19:47

Hera
Naiomi
Siobhan

HarrietM87 · 12/04/2020 19:46

@LizzieAnt I’m from NI and Mairead rhymes with parade here (bearing in mind the NI pronunciation of the “aid” sound is more like “eead” generally).

I’ve always wondered about Etain too - I’ve got a friend Eadaoin pronounced Aideen, and seen Etain described as an alternative spelling, but don’t see how that works?

DjMomo · 12/04/2020 19:09

Laphroaig.

IsThereNothingLeft · 12/04/2020 19:08

Archewell.
How do you say Archewell?

MindyStClaire · 12/04/2020 19:04

Ashling.

Some people in NI will say Ashleen, but they would use een for lots of English words ending in ing anyway .

SeaLettuce · 12/04/2020 18:59

Ashling.

Pudding01 · 12/04/2020 18:58

How do you all pronounce Aisling?

Was my auntie's name, but she called herself Ashley, which I know it isn't :)

LadyEloise · 12/04/2020 17:52

I much prefer Thady to Tadhg.
I can't stand Tadhg.
My grandad was Thady but he died when i was a baby.

LizzieAnt · 12/04/2020 11:52

@Heygirlheyboy
No bother. Happy Easter too Smile

Heygirlheyboy · 12/04/2020 11:16

Sorry LizzieAnt I thought op said it last night! Happy Easter!

Potatobug · 12/04/2020 10:51

Joao is pronounced with a zh sound which is like the sound in the middle of leisure.
Geneviéve (starting with the same sound as in leisure) Zhen-vyev

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