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Original poster

To pronounce this name differently

321 replies

babynameconfusion · 01/01/2017 12:19

DH and I like the name Felicia. But we would pronounce it 'Fuh-liss-ee-a'
rather than like Feleesha. What would you think if you saw a baby with this name? Would people always pronounce it wrong?

OP posts:
FrostyWind · 01/01/2017 12:49

If you're going to use it then at least pronounce it properly to save DD a lifetime of irritation.

TheVermiciousKnid · 01/01/2017 12:50

I always thought the way you want to pronounce it is correct. I've never heard it pronounced the other way. I assume both are correct?

Marcipex · 01/01/2017 12:52

I would say Fel is see ah.

Also Mar see ah. Etc.

I don't think Feleesha is the default pronunciation at all.

lljkk · 01/01/2017 12:53

I wouldn't have a clue how to say it so may as well go with whatever you say, OP.

Bit close to Fellatio for my liking, but that's a different problem.

PolarEspresso · 01/01/2017 12:53

I would also assume Feli-see-a is the standard pronunciation. Is Felisha more common in America?

MikeUniformMike · 01/01/2017 12:54

Why not pronounce it Felisha? It's a lovely name. I don't get why Alicia is often pronounced Al-ISS-ya. Nobody says Pat-RISS-ya for Patricia do they?

Soubriquet · 01/01/2017 12:55

I would hate you for it too

This is where the annoying unique spelling would have to work

You can't call her Felicia and not pronounce it correctly. So you will have to come up with a spelling that does

Felissia would work

TheHiphopopotamus · 01/01/2017 12:57

I would say Fuh-liss-ee-uh too. I think it's nicer pronounced like that.

I would never pronounce Marcia as Marsha either. It's seems I'm in the minority but that looks all kinds of wrong to me.

LobsterQuadrille · 01/01/2017 12:57

I can't see the issue. Pronounce it as you want and anyone who knows her will pronounce it the same way. I have a friend called Lauren and the first syllable is as in Laura. Different but it's what her parents wanted. I also know someone with an Esme, pronounced Es-may.

TheVermiciousKnid · 01/01/2017 12:58

But it's not an incorrect or 'unique' pronunciation, it's an alternative. And really not all that uncommon.

Meeep · 01/01/2017 12:59

I don't think your way is wrong, it's just one of the two accepted ways!

Jux · 01/01/2017 12:59

I would say Felisha, not Feleesha. Just to add another pronunciation Wink

My (rather grand) grandmother would say that Feleessia was pretentious, but don't let that bother you, she's very old-school.

SoupDragon · 01/01/2017 12:59

I think names like Felicia, Alicia and Marcia can legitimately be pronounced Felisha, Alisha, Marsha or Feli-see-a, Ali-see-a, Mar-see-a.

Me too.

Fuxfurforall · 01/01/2017 12:59

Just use this spelling - Fuhlisseea.

Isadora2007 · 01/01/2017 12:59

Lauren is the same as Laura but with a "en"???? Isn't it??

TheHiphopopotamus · 01/01/2017 13:00

Nobody says Pat-RISS-ya for Patricia do they

I dunno. I know someone who pronounces it Pat-treeee-ce-yah, with the emphasis on the treeee.

Beebeeeight · 01/01/2017 13:03

To me it can be pronounced either way.

I think Felissia looks made up.

HSMMaCM · 01/01/2017 13:05

It can be pronounced either way. It's fine.

SoupDragon · 01/01/2017 13:06

Lauren is the same as Laura but with a "en"???? Isn't it??

Not quite. To me, Laura starts with Lore and Lauren with Lo (short o so Lorren)

LobsterQuadrille · 01/01/2017 13:07

Isadora Lauren is usually pronounced with the first syllable as in "lorry". This Lauren is Law-ren.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 01/01/2017 13:07

Is it Law-ren rather than Lo-ren?

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 01/01/2017 13:08

Cross posts.

I know a Nic-oh-la and a Carr-en as well as Nicola and Karen

BravoPanda · 01/01/2017 13:09

Who the bloody hell pronounces it Feli-sha? It's Feli-ci-a anyway, OP.

Call your kid whatever you want. Half of this board seem to be very ignorant when it comes to saying names correctly so I wouldn't even listen to those rattling on.

They'd have everyone's kids called Sarah or bloody Lucy just for an easy life.

"Your child would be on the back foot for the rest of their life" Jesus fucking wept. One of my mates is called Rebecca and constantly has to tell people how to spell it (1 B, 2 C's etc) because the average person is an idiot.

SVJAA · 01/01/2017 13:10

I would see that and automatically pronounce Fell-iss-ia.

DinosaursRoar · 01/01/2017 13:12

lljk - I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's mind is in the gutter!

OP - it is too close to Fellatio. Children are cruel. If she does any sports, her 'hilarious' nickname will end up being BJ.

Plus it might not actually bother her which way it's pronouced, but if it bothers you enough that you'll correct people, then you will become "that mother" who's telling all her DCs friends how to say their name properly. (My otherwise lovely and non-bonkers MIL hates the shortened version of DH's name and would tell friends calling up and asking for it "no one by that name here." - I still have to remember to use the long version at their house, even though he always uses the shortened one.)

I would say if you like Felicity, it is still perfectly usable even if your DH knows someone with a DC with that name, they aren't the same age, it's not unusual enough to expect not to meet anyone else with the same name ever, and your DH could always 'blame' you saying you'd always had your heart set on it, if they are difficult enough to get upset.