Ever met anyone who (you thought) pronounced their own name wrongly?

[ErmineAndPearls]

Inspired by a few posts on the Secret Confessions thread. I once met a woman called Leigh. She insisted that everyone must call her “Lay”. Also, a whole family whose surname is Onions, but they pronounce it “O’Nyons”. Like, just own it or change the spelling. There are more.

I don't think you can pronounce your own name wrong can you? Your name is your name, whether said/spelt traditionally or not.

I have this argument with my DP as I have a friend called Tania (Tan-ya) and he insists that's wrong and always refers to her as Tarn-ya in conversation with me. I think it's mad - names are pronounced differently in lots of different places, I don't think there is any right or wrong when pronouncing your own name.

Wouldn’t it have to be Helené to be pronounced ‘Helen ay’?

What a bizarre take on it. You’re entitled to your view, but it comes across as very small-minded.

@Friffle There you go then - every day’s a school day! Of course, I have always called her Nee-Eff, because I’m not rude!

Niamh is pronounced Nee-uv in Irish. (Lots of Irish people do say Neeve though.)

I met someone called Debbie who pronounced her name Dibby. She was from NZ though!

But it's been in use as Alistair or Alastair for about a hundred years!

Oh and Big’s first wife in sex and the city who called herself Na-tarsh-a. Rather than Natasha. There’s no r in it.

Some names will sound different depending in someone's accent and some names are pronounced differently in different countries
I used tonhaveca manager from South Africa who was called Karen ,I would pronounce the name Ca ren ,but she pronounced it Care en I assumed it was how it was pronounced in South Africa?

Worked with a woman called Sara who insisted we pronounce it sarah.
Grumpy old bugger she was 🤣

I don't know that's necessarily incorrect. It should be, it's confusing. Though it's probably safe to stick to the usual pronunciations as I've encountered very few people who've 'swapped' the pronunciations.

Sarra was the most popular version/spelling at one time, very early on (Eng). I'd imagine that would be a bizarre mix of both pronunciations.

Mrs Woof. She insisted it was Mrs Woof (rhyming with roof) rather than Wuff. Unfortunately she was a teacher so I don't need to elaborate further 🤣🤣

Think I worked with her as well! 😂

My very own sister. It's a perfectly normal name which my parents and sister insist of pronouncing exactly like another (similar) name with with a different spelling. Obviously my sister spends her life correcting people. But it's not my problem.

I do think it's quite ignorant if you decide to give your child a welsh/ Irish name for example and pronounce it the way its spelled learning the correct pronunciation.

Many British Indians, especially second generation, do not pronounce their names the way they are meant to and it robs them of all meaning.

That was about the pronunciation of Sarah and Sara. Pp quote fail!

Same for many Pakistanis as well, there are to children called Avani in my sons ballet class, both pronounced incorrectly.

I wonder if it's right to try correcting someone on the pronunciation of their own name.

Maybe saying it politely with an "unsure" attitude & look.

More like letting them know about your confusion and asking them for correct spelling rather than try correcting them.

Cause there are no good narcissists out there, amongst us. Know what they do?
-Even when they know the truth, they drive you nuts trying to explain things to them cause their ego will not let them admit they are wrong.

That will just be regional accent? There's no 'r' in glass but that's how I pronounce it.

Not as ignorant as Welsh or Irish people trying to tell the English how to pronounce names of other English people.

Priti Patel, for instance. Her name should be pronounced PREE- thi with the emphasis on Pree and the th pronounced like in Ruth ( that is the best I can explain it). Not to sound like pretty. Priti means pleasure or joy.

@catfunk
Niall is an Irish name- it's pronounced Neil.

Yes a colleague Sheila who calls herself shy-lah

I know a Leila. I thought it was ‘LEE la’ like In Doctor Who, but I guess it might get pronounced ‘LIE la.’ The one I knew pronounced it ‘Lee EYE la,’ which seems all sorts of wrong