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Baby names

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

Original poster

unusual name pronunciation

34 replies

ButterRose · 28/03/2022 08:51

How of curiosity as I'm not pregnant but we are trying and hence the names topic came up... If we like a particular name that we heard pronounced a certain way ie rhyming with: sebastian, tristan or christian, but it is another more popular as a name in another country and almost unheard of here and when it is the 'tian' ending is pronounced shn instead of ti-an... Would we be incorrect to correct people to our preferred pronunciation would the name cause to much grief to others, ourselves and our future son/daughter? I'm happy to share the name but wanted honest opinions first...

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PAFMO · 28/03/2022 10:05

It's a flower and it's pronounced (give or take) "jenshun" in English.

ApolloandDaphne · 28/03/2022 10:04

I would pronounce that as Gen-shn. It is a very lovely violet coloured flower.

Original poster
ButterRose · 28/03/2022 10:02

The name I'm thinking is Gentian for any who are interested, we would pronounce it gen-ti-an as that is how we first heard and loved it and I personally love the nature meaning as well and the cute nickname Genti. What are your first impressions of the name on seeing it?

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Original poster
ButterRose · 28/03/2022 09:57

I agree on the pronunciation of Chris-ti-AAAN that is how I personally say all those names but I guess that is just my up bringing I always try to clearly and cleanly pronounce everything I love how proper they sound like distinguished gentlemen in a club... I'm not so worried about those close to us as most would like myself and husband pronounce it as we would but as a grown adult or a kid in school would our child end up hating us for constantly having to repeat their name.

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RedTangerine · 28/03/2022 09:38

I think all those examples could be pronounced with shn too. I'd go with your preferred name but only if you are not too bother about correcting people...

Wailywailywaily · 28/03/2022 09:25

If how it is pronounced by others is going to bother you then don’t use it. People mispronounce or miss say even the simplest of names - Maria is a good example, I have heard it said 10 different ways but it’s a simple name.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 28/03/2022 09:24

I liked Christiaan, which in my mother's country is pronounced "Chris-ti-AAAN" rather than how the name of the religion is pronounced in the UK. I had a DD, bit if I had a DS I would have hesitated due to the potential pronunciation issues.

MartinMartinMarti · 28/03/2022 09:19

You can ask people to pronounce it however you like. But correcting people will get very dull very quickly.

Thewheelsfalloffthebus · 28/03/2022 09:14

I’m confused because in English I pronounce all your example names with an unstressed final syllable (like shn is). Eg Suh BAS djn, TRIS tn, CHRIS djn.

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