Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

How would you pronounce ...

138 replies

iwantknowyouropinion · 21/09/2021 20:03

Mey/Mei

Would you pronounce it like May or My?

Which one do you prefer if you had to choose?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Shortandsweet20 · 21/09/2021 20:39

I think it seems a bit strange to not like the normal spelling? I teach many children whose names have been spelt in a unique way and they hate it. Job applications etc they just hate not having a normal name. If you like the name, use the name IMO

santabetterwashhishands · 21/09/2021 20:38

May

ElvisPresleyHadABaby · 21/09/2021 20:37

May but would assume Japanese, otherwise a bit cringe.

FuckingFlumps · 21/09/2021 20:35

There are different spellings for most names so that's not a concern of ours.

Of course there are different spellings but if you're trying to go to such lengths to avoid one spelling and the end result is that people default to the spelling you couldn't use for some reason anyway why not just use the spelling people are going to end up using and save the poor child a lifetime of explanations?

DoucheCanoe · 21/09/2021 20:31

There's a Mey (May) castle.

Original poster
iwantknowyouropinion · 21/09/2021 20:31

@whatausername

I'd pronounce it as "bullshit." You're about to do an epic dripfeed or you're trying to stir up an argument. There, I helped you ;-)
Asking others for their opinion on my daughter's name is stirring up an argument?
OP posts:
Whinge · 21/09/2021 20:31

Mey is an actual name.

Perhaps so, but it's rare enough that Darkgreener doesn't have any statistics for it since 1996. So people will ask questions, and she / you will have to explain you picked it just because you didn't like May / Mae

whatausername · 21/09/2021 20:29

I'd pronounce it as "bullshit." You're about to do an epic dripfeed or you're trying to stir up an argument. There, I helped you ;-)

KidneyBeans · 21/09/2021 20:26

Mey is an actual name.
Is it? Where from? What does it mean ?

R0tational · 21/09/2021 20:25

I think your choices are cute. Love Mei :)

WoozySnoozy · 21/09/2021 20:23

Mei if you don't want to use May or Mae.

WoozySnoozy · 21/09/2021 20:22

I'd use Mae if you don't like May.

I hate Mey. It's like Meh. Or a bleating noise a goat makes.

DoucheCanoe · 21/09/2021 20:22

I'd pronounce Mey as May and assume it was a yooneek spelling.

I'd pronounce Mei as May because it reminds me of Chow Mei(n).

I prefer May/Mae.

Original poster
iwantknowyouropinion · 21/09/2021 20:21

@ChimChimeny

Mey just isn't a word, id pronounce Mei as My.

Not sure why you want to saddle your child with a name they'll forever be explaining/spelling to people Hmm

Mey is an actual name.
OP posts:
KidneyBeans · 21/09/2021 20:20

@IamnotwhouthinkIam

I'd pronounce both as "May" - but I would guess a Mei to be of East Asian descent if that matters (I think it's a well used name in China for instance).

Mey just looks odd to me, sorry.

Mei Mei is a common term of affection and means 'little sister' in China
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 21/09/2021 20:19

cross-posted with pp!

Original poster
iwantknowyouropinion · 21/09/2021 20:19

@FuckingFlumps

I'd pronounce both as May.

If using May isn't an option then using a name that is pronounced as May and which people will inevitably spell as May seems daft.

There are different spellings for most names so that's not a concern of ours.
OP posts:
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 21/09/2021 20:18

I'd pronounce both as "May" - but I would guess a Mei to be of East Asian descent if that matters (I think it's a well used name in China for instance).

Mey just looks odd to me, sorry.

KidneyBeans · 21/09/2021 20:18

Mei is a Chinese pinyin name
It's pronounced May (roughly)
I'd assume you have East Asian heritage or your child will spend their life having to explain it.

Mey - I think looks ugly and the pronunciation is ambiguous but at least they'll only have to spend their lives spelling it and correcting pronunciation, rather than explaining that no they don't have Asian heritage (unless they do of course)

ChimChimeny · 21/09/2021 20:17

@Strandliv

I know a Mae (girl) pronounced May. So there’s another spelling for you.
At least this is an actual name
ChimChimeny · 21/09/2021 20:16

Mey just isn't a word, id pronounce Mei as My.

Not sure why you want to saddle your child with a name they'll forever be explaining/spelling to people Hmm

FuckingFlumps · 21/09/2021 20:16

I'd pronounce both as May.

If using May isn't an option then using a name that is pronounced as May and which people will inevitably spell as May seems daft.

Strandliv · 21/09/2021 20:15

I know a Mae (girl) pronounced May. So there’s another spelling for you.

katieg03 · 21/09/2021 20:15

May

Strandliv · 21/09/2021 20:14

Mei is short for Meilir (boy) and Meinir (girl) in Wales and is pronounced May. So that would be my guess.
Mey… I wouldn’t know but probably also guess at May.

Swipe left for the next trending thread