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Original poster

Thoughts on the name Alejandra and how you would pronounce it

68 replies

KarolGFan · 04/04/2026 07:46

Alejandra, wdyt
i pronounce it aley-han-drah or ale-han-dra
...
I've always loved Spanish names and culture, and this name is particularly good in my opinion so far! Elegant, passionate yet recognisable
Thoughts Not asking if you would name a kid that, just ur opinion on the name and if you know anyone with that name

OP posts:
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Fafner · 04/04/2026 10:29

Mischance · 04/04/2026 10:26

I am not sure it is wise to choose a name that you are not sure how to pronounce.

The OP is choosing names for a fictional character for a novel she hasn’t actually started — she’s also posted on Creative Writing. So it’s in fact completely pointless her posting ‘What do you think of the name X?’ on either board, because it’s irrelevant whether anyone else likes or can pronounce any name because a real child is not involved, and because naming a fictional character needs to be done primarily to be appropriate for someone of that age, sex, background etc. A UC English octogenarian from the Home Counties isn’t going to be called Taylor-Leigh.

Mauvish1 · 04/04/2026 10:29

Well it's not just the J sound, is it; in Spain the D would be softened and the R rolled too.

I think the last syllable (-dra) would actually be pronounced -jruh by English speakers. Combining that with the softened J would sound very clumsy to me.

Mischance · 04/04/2026 10:26

I am not sure it is wise to choose a name that you are not sure how to pronounce.

Soontobe60 · 04/04/2026 10:23

Flickitspinittwistitbopit · 04/04/2026 07:53

Pronounced al-eh-han-drah, IME, but unless you've any familial or geographical links to Spain it's a bit wanky to do this...

Also, by the number of people I've heard pronounce jalapeño, well, jalapeno 😂 I'd be very wary!

Edited

Why is it ‘a bit wanky’? Because it’s a name associated with a different country? Do you think the same about names like Siobhan or Cerys or Michael?

Needspaceforlego · 04/04/2026 10:15

Thanks for the heads up that this is market research.

TimeDoesntStandStill · 04/04/2026 10:08

Id pronounce it Ally-jan-dra, saying the j.

Its up to you, theres lots of unique names where people have to correct others on pronunciation.

Whatever you like best.

TulipsDaffsAndSunshine · 04/04/2026 10:00

Al-ay-han-drah

MovedlikeHarlowinMonteCarlo · 04/04/2026 09:56

Alla handra is how I'd say it.

RoseField1 · 04/04/2026 09:56

NigellaDelia · 04/04/2026 09:55

She said she's writing a book in her last thread!!!!

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So this is all market research without declaring it? How annoying

NigellaDelia · 04/04/2026 09:55

RoseField1 · 04/04/2026 09:26

OP isn't having a child. She posts lots of threads asking peoples opinions on names for reasons known only to herself.

She said she's writing a book in her last thread!!!!

FruAashild · 04/04/2026 09:32

WestwardHo1 · 04/04/2026 09:02

"Al-eh-CHandra" with the CH being a soft version of the CH in loch or Welsh words. A voiceless velar fricative, I believe it's called! And the R rolled. Which is why I wouldn't call a British kid with no Spanish connections Alejandra.

You do realise Scottish people can make all the correct sounds in Alejandra?

I love the name but had a beloved relative called Alexandra and have married into a Spanish speaking family so am used to both pronounciations.

Burritoplease · 04/04/2026 09:31

It’s Ale-ch-andra and really wanky unless you have Hispanic connections which I guess you don’t.

a bit of a throaty ‘ch’ sound not a hard K

RoseField1 · 04/04/2026 09:26

OP isn't having a child. She posts lots of threads asking peoples opinions on names for reasons known only to herself.

WestwardHo1 · 04/04/2026 09:02

"Al-eh-CHandra" with the CH being a soft version of the CH in loch or Welsh words. A voiceless velar fricative, I believe it's called! And the R rolled. Which is why I wouldn't call a British kid with no Spanish connections Alejandra.

Needspaceforlego · 04/04/2026 08:54

Like Ali-jan-dre-ah, I don't think I'd use it unless I had a Spanish connection.
I wouldn't have a clue that its meant to have a ch sound in there.

Millions struggle to get loch right even if they get Bach right.

NigellaDelia · 04/04/2026 08:54

Oh, you're back again! It's VERY strange all the names you ask about for the book you're writing are girls names. Are there no boys in the story?

I'm really not sure what you're trying to achieve by asking other peoples opinions about all these strange names . . . .

Let us know when your book gets published ~ we will all be intrigued to read about the characters with all these Indian and Spanish names

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 04/04/2026 08:50

I don’t think it matters because this name would almost certainly get shortened to Ali 🤷‍♀️

ThunderCatsHooo · 04/04/2026 08:49

Like the Gaa Gaa song, only with dra on the end not dro. The j is a "h" sound, but a I imagine it will be pronounced as it reads by many unless you live somehwhere Spanish speaking, you'd probably get Alexandra a lot too. A bit of a weird choice unless you live in Spain/somewhere Spanish speaking or are Spanish. Don't make life difficult for your child.

LastHotel · 04/04/2026 08:47

It’s lovely name if you are Spanish. I would assume most people in the UK would know how to pronounce it, but perhaps that’s optimistic.

TubeScreamer · 04/04/2026 08:44

Your child will not thank you for this

CurlewKate · 04/04/2026 08:12

I don’t believe in making life more difficult for children than it needs to be. Unless you’re Spanish then no.

MightyFlow · 04/04/2026 08:12

Alay-han-dra

Tacohill · 04/04/2026 08:11

I like the name but unless you’re living in Spain/spanish speaking country, then people will just use the name Alexandra.

That might get frustrating for your DD.

EmpressaurusKitty · 04/04/2026 08:11

Are you the one who’s trying out names for book characters?

Bristolandlazy · 04/04/2026 08:10

I would have no clue how to pronounce it

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