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Baby names

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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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LizzieAnt · 11/04/2020 18:21

@Margo34
Sometimes there's a hint of the first 'a' being pronounced too.

LizzieAnt · 11/04/2020 18:18

@Margo34
I've only ever heard the first syllable of Nuala being pronounced as you say it, with Nu to rhyme with Boo.

Original poster
whatausername · 11/04/2020 18:14

@Margo34

It's Noo-la.

OP posts:
Margo34 · 11/04/2020 18:09

Nuala.

DH pronounces it Nola, I would want pronounce it Nula.

DH loves it for our DC1 due Sept but I hate it! Poor child will always have to correct pronunciation/spelling!

LizzieAnt · 11/04/2020 16:16

@CaffiSaliMali
I know, lots of people do pronounce Madeline like that in the UK, and in the USA too. It's not the original pronunciation though. A number of reasons the pronunciation may have changed have been mentioned upthread. The original French pronunciation seems to have been retained in Ireland for some reason. Madeleine spelt with the extra e has a different pronunciation, although they're used interchangeably by some.

Userwhatevernumber · 11/04/2020 16:15

Asa

Most people say Aye-Suh but in the Hebrew (it’s a Hebrew name) I believe it is Ah-Sah

Similarly Eli - I believe that one is actually EE-Lee not Ee-Lye as it is always pronounced.

Also Levi should be pronounced ‘Lev-ee not Lee-vye

LizzieAnt · 11/04/2020 16:04

@PerditaProvokesEnmiry
@IVflytrap
@Boscoismyspiritanimal (love that name btw)
I've just remembered there's the river Bride in Co. Cork/Co. Waterford. It's pronounced as it is in English, though the Irish, An Bhríd, would be pronounced differently. I also vaguely remember a rhyme starting with 'Saints Patrick, Bride and Colmcille...sorry, don't know the restSmile. I guess that Bride was often used in times past, as was the pet form Bridie (Bride-ey), but it's seen a steep decline. All the Bridies I know personally are elderly, though I know a Bríd (Breed) and a Breda (Breeda) in their forties. The Chalet School books are quite old too. So I'd guess the consensus is that the name in the book title is pronounced as in 'bride and groom'. I know it doesn't rhyme as well Smile

midsomermurderess · 11/04/2020 15:59

Schemiswaf. Sort of.

Heygirlheyboy · 11/04/2020 15:37

I'd say it's pronounced as it's spelt! With a slav at the end.

SeaLettuce · 11/04/2020 15:19

I teach a polish boy called Przemyslaw!

How is it pronounced?

CaffiSaliMali · 11/04/2020 15:15

I would pronounce Madeline as Mad uh line to rhyme with mine, like the film from the late 90s.

StellaDelMare · 11/04/2020 15:15

I teach a polish boy called Przemyslaw!

Imagine my panic at seeing that on the register!

LizzieAnt · 11/04/2020 13:54

@IVtrap
Yes, maybe that's it too. I just love PG Wodehouse btw. Thanks for the reminder. Think I'll go and dig out a few for a re-read!Grin

IVflytrap · 11/04/2020 13:29

@LizzyAnt I admit I only know Madeleines (that spelling) here in the UK, and they are mostly Mad-uh-lins, with one Mad-uh-laine.

My pronunciation of Madeline probably does come from literature, so I think you may be on to something there with the literary thing. Maybe PG Wodehouse, in my case!

Alternatively, it could be a remnant of the past tendency in English to use that hard letter I in names, even ones that we've adopted from other languages who have different pronunciations (as with Bride, Sophia, Maria mentioned above).

missmouse101 · 11/04/2020 13:24

My housemate's girlfriend was called Keziah. It was pronounced Kee-sha (rhymes with belisha!)

Heygirlheyboy · 11/04/2020 11:54

Oh yesthere's that too Grin

The Pawrick we know is Páraic

All the same name as such.

margotsdevil · 11/04/2020 11:53

@Heygirlheyboy yes, she's an islander Smile

Gwenhwyfar · 11/04/2020 11:52

"Padraic: Paw-rick
Padraig: Paw-drig"

I know one who is Porrig.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/04/2020 11:52

"Joaquin

Wa-KEEN. (In the US)."

Based on Latin American rather than Spain Spanish.

Heygirlheyboy · 11/04/2020 11:51

Padraic: Paw-rick
Padraig: Paw-drig

Gwenhwyfar · 11/04/2020 11:45

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

Not correct. The 'ng' is like the English 'ng' in singing so it's pronounced how other pps have said.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/04/2020 11:43

"My faves are

Padraig - Porrick"

The one I know has a 'g' sound at the end.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/04/2020 11:37

"Waugh = War."

You see, that will confuse those with rhotic 'r's. The r in war is not pronounced to give the sound for waugh.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/04/2020 11:36

"Rhydian
Is it Ry-dan?"

Rh is its own letter in Welsh - the r and the h pronounced together, although not all Rhydians will do this and some might just pronounce the 'r'.

RHID-IAHN is the closest I can come to describing it without phonetics.

We really should have a key to phonetic symbols at the top of these threads with all the misunderstandings around the rhotics' r's etc.

Gwenhwyfar · 11/04/2020 11:31

"Jaime is Hime I thought with a sort of hawking 'h'."

In Spanish the j is pronounced as Scottish ch so CHAY-MEH I think. That sound would be a H in Latin America.