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Baby names

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

Original poster

Name that can be said two ways

83 replies

RuthW · 04/09/2022 21:39

Just for fun as I'm never going to be naming another baby.

Some names I would avoid as I like them said one way but others say another way.

Aaron
Evelyn
Megan
Esme
Michelle
Clementine
Naomi
Rene

There are loads more, but can't think of any more at the moment.

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ChessieFL · 23/09/2022 06:17

Ralf or Rafe
Clar-a or Claire-a
Layla or Lie-la

BungleandGeorge · 22/09/2022 23:54

user478965227857 · 22/09/2022 23:28

How are these pronounced differently?

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www.howtopronounce.com

user478965227857 · 22/09/2022 23:28

BungleandGeorge · 05/09/2022 08:53

Ralph
clara
leila

How are these pronounced differently?

ZimZamZoom · 22/09/2022 11:20

I'm giggling at the strong E sounds at the start of names. My Nan has a tendency to stretch the EEE sounds. So she'll talk about MEEEEshell, EEEElaine and even EEEvonne. Luckily, not all at the same time 😬

One I remember from school was a girl called Marcia. We all pronounced it Mar-sea-ah. But it wasn't until I was much older that I heard the Marsha pronunciation.

Interesting thread, thanks OP

TangoTizer · 22/09/2022 10:59

Nadia.

Nah-Dee-a
Nad-ee-a

BruceAndNosh · 22/09/2022 07:03

Marie.
I think most people say Ma-ree but it was my mums name and all her family said it like Marry

Mymoneydontjigglejiggle · 22/09/2022 06:57

Mya/Mia/Maia/Maya - these names are all pronounced and spelled interchangably. As a teacher I find it incredibly irritating and now dislike all these names! To me Mya should be My-a, Mia is Me-a, Maia and Maya are May-a but I am apparently completely wrong. I never say them correctly!
I find the Es-mee pronunciation very weird but it seems to be the most common one now. I swear it used to be Ez-may.
Bernard is one that can be said differently. Some people say BER-nerd while others say Ber-NARD. Not that I'd name a baby that anyway!
Oh and I'm always confused by Anastasia. How are you supposed to say it? I'd always sad Anna-stay-zha but then heard Ana-star-zee-ya (like the make up brand) and I think there's another one too. It's a nice name if I knew how to say it Grin
Also Anaïs - love the French pronunciation but it gets A-nay in England.

Hownowhappycow · 22/09/2022 05:50

Adrienne - some pronounce it exactly the same as Adrian, some as Adri-EN

Sara - to rhyme with Zara, or said the same as Sarah

Dinoteeth · 22/09/2022 05:37

Smyth - S-my-th v Smi-th

bevelino · 22/09/2022 05:25

Ayesha can be pronounced Eyeesha or Eyesha

DanaScully53 · 22/09/2022 04:09

Deborah

Moonlaserbearwolf · 22/09/2022 01:27

It’s the correct way.
Michelle is a French name and that’s how it is pronounced in France.*

French speakers still emphasise the second syllable. Some English speakers pronounce it Mee-shell with the emphasis on the first syllable.

TangoTizer · 22/09/2022 01:15

Rosalie. I grew up with a Rose-a-Lee but on MN it’s always Roz-a-Lee.

CallMeLinda · 22/09/2022 01:05

Calmontheoutsider · 21/09/2022 23:10

Claudia

The Claw-dee-ah pronunciation really grates on me!

CallMeLinda · 22/09/2022 01:04

Lauren (Low-ren vs Law-ren)
Charley (girls name, heard it Shar-lee and Charlie)

stitchinguru · 21/09/2022 23:46

Nadine

Also Sara and Sarah are 2 different names, likewise Stephen and Stefan.

Calmontheoutsider · 21/09/2022 23:10

Claudia

TrashyPanda · 21/09/2022 23:08

mathanxiety · 05/09/2022 05:54

Does anyone actually say Mee-shell or was that just a once off to fit with the song?

It’s the correct way.
Michelle is a French name and that’s how it is pronounced in France.

BuwchGochGota · 21/09/2022 22:58

Megan (Meg-ann vs Meg-un)
Dylan (Dull-ann vs Dillon)
Seren (Ser-ren vs Ser-un)

UnclePastuso · 21/09/2022 22:56

Sara
Keziah
Ralph
Evelyn

soulinablackberrypie · 21/09/2022 22:52

Marynotsocontrary · 18/09/2022 18:34

Not sure about Halle, but I think the former US secretary of State Colin Powell pronounced his first name as Coe-lin, ie with the first syllable to rhyme with Oh/doe/foe.

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I've heard that he originally pronounced it the same way we do in the UK, but the media were constantly getting it wrong and he just went with it. I know of an American boy, or young man now, whose name is spelt Collin so people will definitely pronounce it the way his parents intended.

Marynotsocontrary · 18/09/2022 18:34

Y7drama · 18/09/2022 13:07

What are the two pronunciations of Halle and Colin please?!

Not sure about Halle, but I think the former US secretary of State Colin Powell pronounced his first name as Coe-lin, ie with the first syllable to rhyme with Oh/doe/foe.

sevenbyseven · 18/09/2022 16:15

Cheryl - can be pronounced with a CH sound or SH.

Y7drama · 18/09/2022 13:07

What are the two pronunciations of Halle and Colin please?!

kuvira · 18/09/2022 12:55

Naomi - Nay-omi Vs Nigh-omi (I've also heard someone say Nee-omi but I'm not sure if that's a genuine alternative pronunciation or just that one person mispronouncing it)
Sara - Some rhyme it with Zara, others pronounce it the same as Sarah.
Elisha - uh-LIE-sha (Biblical male pronunciation) Vs uh-LEE-sha (modern female pronunciation)
Helena - There are at least three or four different pronunciations out there!
Lucia - Ditto