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Baby names

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Original poster

How would you pronounce and spell...

58 replies

ceb80 · 18/02/2009 19:29

the name of the guy out of buffy the vampire slayer (played by Nicholas Brendan) and the main character played by Vin Diesel in XXX.

MIL is convinced that if we call our child this name he will constantly be asked to spell it and it will be mispronounced.

OP posts:
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Hulababy · 18/02/2009 20:44

I am in Yorkshire so short a is the norm here.

Am also a Claire, and have had the other two spellings on occasions.

Original poster
ceb80 · 18/02/2009 20:43

cross post Amapoleon!
Am in Suffolk, think you're right, could be a north south divide!

OP posts:
Monkeygi · 18/02/2009 20:43

OMG. Are you me? Am also Claire (proper, most excellent spelling) and had the same debate when deciding our ds2's name. (Also a Buffy fan).

In the end we went for Alexander and use Alex for everyday. But I favoured Zarnder. Zander sounded too much as though we were trying to be American and sounded very peculiar.

Oh. YOu're obviously not me. I don't live in Suffolk.

Amapoleon · 18/02/2009 20:38

Where in the world do you live Op? I think this might be an accent thing. I'm a southerner and I would pronounce it zarnder

Original poster
ceb80 · 18/02/2009 20:38

Yay comes out of sulk! Some people agree with me! MIL will not get 100% of the vote.
We live in Suffolk so not too many northern or cockney accents! (or Americans for that matter!)
I'm a Claire and have put up with Clare and Clair spellings but has never really bothered me

OP posts:
Hulababy · 18/02/2009 20:38

Spelt Xander
Pronounced Zander (short a) here; never heard it said as Zarnder.

Alexander said with short a here too.

shakennotstirred · 18/02/2009 20:34

Another one here who read it as Zarn-der. I think it's a lovely name, for what it's worth, but obviously one of those that reads differently for different people. I experience this daily, having an Esme (pronounced EzME, not EzMAY)

Blu · 18/02/2009 20:33

And (ladyGlen) it would sound bloody awful - imo! Imagine Zaaaarnder said in extreme Fools and Horses whiny dipthong. Not good.

Xander - fine
Zarnder...no, don't do it!

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 18/02/2009 20:31

Or Cockney, Blu!

Longtalljosie · 18/02/2009 20:31

I would say "Zarnder" too. I think this is an accent thing.

Call him Alexander and then if you shorten it to Xander pronounced Zarnder, it's up to you.

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 18/02/2009 20:31

I would say Xander with a short a. And so would everyone else I know who isn't American.

Blu · 18/02/2009 20:29

Could be also cockney, LadyGlen...

diedandgonetodevon · 18/02/2009 20:28

Spelt Xander said like Alexander with out the 'Alec' bit.
Zarnder is about right - who would say Zander?? with a short 'a'? odd

CarGirl · 18/02/2009 20:28

If you've got a nothern accents you pronounce Alexander

Alex zand er so no way can you call a child zarnder

Blu · 18/02/2009 20:27

If I saw 'Xander' I would pronounce it 'zan-duh'.

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 18/02/2009 20:25

Surely Zarnder is just Zander with an American accent?

2pt4kids · 18/02/2009 20:25

Well everyone who posted before me for a start plus I've never heard it said Zarnder before (and I know a couple of Xanders, my brother being one of them)

Blu · 18/02/2009 20:24

If you want it pronounced zarnder, perhaps you should spell it Tsarnder?

Original poster
ceb80 · 18/02/2009 20:24

Poo

OP posts:
LuLuBai · 18/02/2009 20:23

?

I would pronounce it ZARN-der.

Who would say zander 2pt4?

LuLuBai · 18/02/2009 20:23

?

I would pronounce it ZARN-der.

Who would say zander 2pt4?

LuLuBai · 18/02/2009 20:23

?

I would pronounce it ZARN-der.

Who would say zander 2pt4?

2pt4kids · 18/02/2009 20:17

Alexander is pronounced Alek zarn der
but shortened to Xander pronounced Zander

Most people would definitely say Zander rather than Zarnder, sorry

Original poster
ceb80 · 18/02/2009 20:15

But is Zarnder not the pronounciation of the abbreviation of Alexander but still spelt Xander (IYSWIM?!)

OP posts:
RealityIsMyOnlyDelusion · 18/02/2009 20:09

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