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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to feel annoyed that people constantly mispronounce my baby's name?

100 replies

Busybee1234 · 31/01/2017 22:06

She's called Beatrix. People constantly call her Beatrice. Even when I correct them the conversation ends with 'Bye Beatrice'. Why? They're two different names! Question 2: How to go about correcting people in a nice way so they remember? I try saying "Beatrix, like the author Beatrix Potter" or "Beatrix with an x". Help!

OP posts:
HeddaGarbled · 01/02/2017 00:03

They aren't doing it deliberately. As PP said, acquaintances will default to the most common pronunciation. Friends, family and teachers will get it right once they are used to it. You are not helped by the existence of Princess Beatrice as she is much more in the media than Beatrix Potter!

For what it's worth, my late father pronounced my daughter's name differently than we did (gave it 2 syllables rather than the normal 3). She remembers that with affection as grandad's way of saying her name.

Spaghettihoops23 · 01/02/2017 00:09

My daughter is named Beatrix also and we have the exact same problem! Annoys me that they say BeaRTRICE! There's no R between the a and t!
We usually just say she's Bea or Beattle!

NowtAbout · 01/02/2017 00:09

People will always get it mixed up. Just say it's Beatrix it's like Beatrix potter and they will remember. I have an unusual name with two pronunciations, I no longer hear the difference.

ILiveForNachos · 01/02/2017 00:18

I spent today googling. 'changing my babies name at 8 months old' because yet AGAIN someone couldn't get it right even after being told. The name can be said 2 ways but one way, the way we say it, is the 'proper' way but people say it how it's seen not how it's said iyswim.

My FIL is the worst he just can't get it at all and it's starting to upset me. He's not a stupid man. It drives my OH so mad he's started calling his dad the incorrect version of his name to try and show him how annoying it is!

There's still a part of me that thinks we'll change it but it suits her so much......

paxillin · 01/02/2017 00:26

I'm in my 40s and people say my name wrong all the time. Something like Alice for Adelaide. I've given up, I answer to some sort of approximation of my actual name starting with the same letter. It's OK although I do have credit card/ passport/ bill issues with spelling.

Teaholic · 01/02/2017 00:26

I love Beatrix

My dd's name is much simpler and I've been astonished at the different ways people have got it wrong.

I couldn't have believed there were so many ways to get it wrong.

selsigfach · 01/02/2017 00:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

diamantegal · 01/02/2017 00:33

I'm Clare. People regularly call me Claire - even at work when they've presumably had to type Clare into the address book to find me Hmm It sort of annoys me and I correct the people who I think should know better, but on the whole I suck it up and accept that it's a side effect of having a name that can be spelt/pronounced in different ways.

That said, I made sure there was no mistaking/mispronoucing with DS's name!

SugarLoveHeart · 01/02/2017 00:47

I get the Clare / Claire thing. Or Sarah / Sara. My name is very close to two other much more popular names & often gets mistaken. Luckily, it's a strong name on it's own, though...

TheDowagerCuntess · 01/02/2017 04:13

I think you kind of have to make your peace with the fact that people will confuse it, otherwise the ongoing frustration is going to do your head in.

There's no point in getting wound up by it.

DD has a well-known name that can be pronounced at least three accepted ways (think Bonham-Carter, Christiansen - though I honestly think it's the third way that people seem to say the most).

Even a few people I know well forget and default to one of the 'incorrect' pronunciations.

The point is - the people that really matter all say it correctly, and getting riled up about it only affects you.

sofato5miles · 01/02/2017 04:24

My niece is Clara and my sister's and my Dad just can't get his head around it. She's now 9 and he calles her 'claire - uh'. Drives SIL potty but i find it amusing.

AllTheLight · 01/02/2017 04:35

I know a Cleo, and it's amazing how often she gets called Chloe. I mean they are two completely different sounds!

faithinthesound · 01/02/2017 05:23

bummymummy
Your son's name is gorgeous. I've never heard that before but I've just fallen in love with it! (Don't worry, not expecting, probably never will be, not planning to steal, just wanted to tell you how much I love your choice!!)

enfru · 01/02/2017 05:29

**SugarLoveHeart- Eloise is pronounced Ell-o-weez so a shorter o sound than you get if you were to say eh-louise Smile

MarilynWhirlwindRocks · 01/02/2017 05:34

If you get really desperate, visual reinforcement may prove your friend:

"Beatrix" very clearly spelled out on a top, using [[https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/504361987/embroidered-iron-on-patchwork-alphabet?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=iron-on%20applique%20names&ref=sr_gallery_37
eye-catching, patterned, iron-on letters?]]

Personalised name story book? (Expensive, but would definitely hammer home the point!!)

A toy just happens to wear an "I belong to Beatrix" t-shirt example here

reallyanotherone · 01/02/2017 05:45

Clare and claire are pronounced the same though aren't they?

I would pronounce sara and sarah differently. Sar-a vs sair-a

FrancisCrawford · 01/02/2017 05:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SallyGinnamon · 01/02/2017 06:17

We have an Alex in the family that FIL calls Alec. It's so common at school that they're referred to by surnames! But it's not the end of the world. FIL is lovely so we're not bothered.

I'm Julia and all my life I've been called Julie by some people, sometimes written July! I can't get worked up about it though and answer to any of them.

Boulshired · 01/02/2017 07:47

My dad had trouble with Aaron using Alan I ended up with AlanarrhN trying to correct midway. His parents found it funny luckily. I blame my mother for the spelling of my name woes an originally Irish name but has a well known English spelling, so living in England constantly having to spell it out.

QueenArseClangers · 01/02/2017 07:56

Snap OP!

We have a Beatrix and people still say 'Beatrice'. When she was small we used to say 'Beatrix with a kiss on the end'.

Our Beatrix is 11 now so just rolls her eyes in that special pre teen way Grin

quarkinstockcubes · 01/02/2017 08:10

Beatrix looks so wrong to me without the accompanying Potter

One of my dc has never been called by the correct name by my family. Every birthday/christmas the running joke is "Let's see how it was spelled this time" It is mispronounced by everyone, we just laugh about it, it isn't a big deal.

Original poster
Busybee1234 · 01/02/2017 10:17

"Beatrix with a kiss on the end"
QueenArseClangers that's adorable! I'm stealing that phrase if you don't mind! Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Busybee1234 · 01/02/2017 10:18

"If you get really desperate, visual reinforcement may prove your friend:

"Beatrix" very clearly spelled out on a top, using patterned, iron-on letters?

Personalised name story book? (Expensive, but would definitely hammer home the point!!)

A toy just happens to wear an "I belong to Beatrix" t-shirt example here"

Great idea Marilyn! Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Busybee1234 · 01/02/2017 10:21

ILiveForNachos, I'm really curious to know your baby's name now?

OP posts:
han01uk · 01/02/2017 10:28

My mother still spells my daughters name wrong...and she is nearly 8!!!
And my nanny won't even call her her name,they have "renamed" her angelina (which is nothing like her actual name!) as they don't like it!! Hmm
I think correct people,it's so annoying people can't have the decency to call somebody by their actual name!!