Opinions on Ivan (pronounced Ee-vahn)

No one is disputing that, but in an English speaking country it will be pronounced in the normal English way when people see it written down - it may be an Eastern European name, but it is also perfectly common elsewhere. It's not worth "getting the rage" about

They ARE disputing that, rtft. Hence the rage

You'll probably end up with a school name and a home name, OP. I see it a lot, particularly with Eastern European names, partly because they look so similar to the British equivalent (so Isaac gets pronounced eye-zac instead of ee-zac, for example) and partly, sadly, because a lot of staff presume that they're saying it correctly because the child doesn't correct them when small. By the time the kid is old enough to correct people they've been called the wrong name for years and have gotten used to it, so it doesn't seem to occur to them to challenge it. Some secondary school kids will actually react quite negatively if you use the proper pronunciation of their name when they're used to people butchering it. I've had kids actively ask me to use their 'school name' because they like having a different one at home.

Go for it unless the English version bothers you, OP.

Gives me the rage!!!!

It's an Eastern European name. The op is suggesting to pronounce it CORRECTLY.

No one is disputing that, but in an English speaking country it will be pronounced in the normal English way when people see it written down - it may be an Eastern European name, but it is also perfectly common elsewhere. It's not worth "getting the rage" about!

SIL is Ukrainian and BIL is English. They each pronounce their DS's name differently but they also speak entirely different languages when talking to him (SIL only uses Russian when talking to him, BIL knows around 7 words in Russian so speaks in English around him). I'm sure he'll be fine with the difference.

Gives me the rage!!!!

It's an Eastern European name. The op is suggesting to pronounce it CORRECTLY.

My little lad is Evan pronounce EhVan, but so many people get that wrong too and call him Ethan, Euan, Even etc....and the cutest little lad in reception at school who insists his name is Heaven!!!😂😂

I always thought it was EyeVan (pronounced) but we have a Russian family member whose little boy is indeed Eevan and its very cute - I like it!

Now you’ve given the background I say go for it! It’s a great strong name and has a family history. 💗 Like a PP says, with an Eastern European surname people will be more likely to pronounce it correctly.

I wouldn’t spell it Ivan if you want pronunciation to be anything other than phonetic in English. Also Evan not the correct spelling for pronunciation you want. Yvan? Think it’s french but pronounced the way you want and would force someone to think about how to pronounce it rather than assume

This is such an English way of thinking. Adapt to fit! Don't use your own culture, spell it the French way to suit english people who won't bother to ask you how to say or name, or listen when you tell them.

He will spend his life telling people how to pronounce it correctly.

Can you call him Ivan but make his middle name 'pronounce it in a Dracula voice'?

I wouldn’t spell it Ivan if you want pronunciation to be anything other than phonetic in English. Also Evan not the correct spelling for pronunciation you want. Yvan? Think it’s french but pronounced the way you want and would force someone to think about how to pronounce it rather than assume.

Probably will need initial correcting - although an Eastern European surname would automatically make me look for confirmation of pronunciation.

It's a good name and you have a nice reason for choosing it, OP. :-)

We have a friend pronounced as you suggested spelt Evan though ( he is south American) So that might work better ? I would of said Ev an if I'd seen it written, but when he said it's Eeee van then that's what it is.

*ie

It'll be fine. I teach a Theo who uses the French pronunciation (is Tayo). I called him Thee-o the first lesson, he corrected me, jobs a good un.

Don't be ridiculous, most people have read it as the poster is from the UK, where the pronunciation is as most people have said and most UK citizens would (unless corrected or introduced) have pronounced the name as such.

Saying “that’s not how it will be pronounced in the UK” is different to “that’s not how it’s pronounced you can’t just decide to change the pronunciation.”

However late in the day OP has said she is EE with and EE surname, which puts a totally different complexion on things, and makes her preferred pronunciation one which will be easily adhered to

Hey, if you have to be specifically told that someone might not be whiter than white English back to the Doomsday book, thats on you. Anyone with half a brain would have thought, hey, I bet OP has a good reason for pronouncing that way, rather than telling her that she's wrong and thats not how its said.

It's sheer stupidity and an inability to consider other languages and cultures exist and are just as valid.

@DTIsOnlyForNow

Don't be ridiculous, most people have read it as the poster is from the UK, where the pronunciation is as most people have said and most UK citizens would (unless corrected or introduced) have pronounced the name as such.

However late in the day OP has said she is EE with and EE surname, which puts a totally different complexion on things, and makes her preferred pronunciation one which will be easily adhered to.

Please please pick up on my reference to 'complexion' and call me a racist. I really need a good laugh today.

Can’t believe all the people announcing that that’s just not how it’s pronounced. I’d probably automatically pronounce it the way OP is intending because I’m a tennis fan and therefore the association I have with the name is Ivan Lendl. Plus I think that sounds nicer.

I lived in France and people did not use my pronunciation of my name. They adapted it. I didn't take offence.

The ethnocentrism on this thread is painful

Yep!

With eastern European heritage then your pronunciation would make sense and be nice, but you need to weigh up whether constantly having to correct people (and your ds constantly having to correct people) is worth it.

In the UK most people will read it as eye-van. If that's likely to annoy you then maybe use it as a middle name. If it's not going to annoy you then go ahead.

That's not how it's pronounced. confused You can't just decide to change the pronunciation

Ouch. The ethnocentrism on this thread is painful