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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think my son's name isn't that hard to pronounce?

563 replies

SailorByTheSea · 02/09/2017 22:57

Or is this an acceptable pronunciation!?

We live in London, so 'fear' is 1 syllable (this is relevant!)

My son is called Theodore... You know, 3 syllables, 'The-uh-door'?

All he gets is 'fear-door' Angry please tell me that this isn't an acceptable pronunciation? It makes me regret his name massively Sad

OP posts:
MuddlingMackem · 02/09/2017 22:58

YADNBU. Very easy to pronounce. But I guess you're dealing with a regional dialect issue.

Maryz · 02/09/2017 22:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Maryz · 02/09/2017 23:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EdmundCleverClogs · 02/09/2017 23:01

First I'd be saying 'Thee-ah-door' myself. Secondly, that name and a London/South East upbringing was always going to be a.... contentious issue. People can't help it, it's their dialect (as I've had to learn, living with my partner's accent and limiting what we can call our own children).

Enidblyton1 · 02/09/2017 23:01

You'll have to move (seriously...it would annoy me massively too)

WorraLiberty · 02/09/2017 23:01

Accents and regional dialect (as Muddling mentioned) will always come into play with names.

Anyway, his mates will probably shorten it to Theo or Feo

JustHereForThePooStories · 02/09/2017 23:01

I think you were being unreasonable for naming you son Theodore and expecting it to be pronounced correctly when living in London!

Luncharmstrong · 02/09/2017 23:03

Yanbu

I loathe with every fibre of my being when people pronounce th as f.
Not regional, just sloppy

squoosh · 02/09/2017 23:03

You'll be fighting a losing battle if you're expecting people to speak against their natural accent. There was a looooong thread about the name Frances recently and some people just couldn't get their heads around the fact that people in the SE pronounce it as Frahn-ces rather than Frances with a flat A sound.

WorraLiberty · 02/09/2017 23:03

And if you lived in Ireland (or at least the part my parents come from) he'd be known as Tee-a-dor Grin

Original poster
SailorByTheSea · 02/09/2017 23:04

I'm so use to the 'th' being a 'f', it isn't the end of the world to me Grin not ideal, but I can live with it.

Having it sound like a completely different name is just SadSadSad 'fear-door' is so unpleasant.

OP posts:
ForgotwhatIcameinherefor · 02/09/2017 23:05

I agree with Maryz - I'm sure you would have considered whether you liked "Theo" as well when choosing the name so even though you might prefer his full-name was used everyday I'd say Theo (which I think is lovely btw) would be the better option for now x

Ummmmgogo · 02/09/2017 23:06

sorry yabu. Theodore and feardoor sound the same! you will get used to it xxx

EdmundCleverClogs · 02/09/2017 23:07

Not regional, just sloppy

It is bloody regional, more to the point people can't help it. Like many English people can't roll their 'r' sounds, therefore unable to pronounce Welsh names like Rhys and Rhiannon (not that it stops them giving Welsh names to their kids).

Original poster
SailorByTheSea · 02/09/2017 23:08

Theodore and feardoor sound the same!

ShockShockShock

OP posts:
Dawnedlightly · 02/09/2017 23:09

Mind. Blown.
Of course it's a London thing Shock
My eyes are permanently at the back of my head at educated people you DD who can't say th.

WhatInTheWorldIsGoingOn · 02/09/2017 23:10

Ha ha. My friend has similar with their daughter Marfa. She's old enough to correct them now though. I'm afraid the 'th' sound doesn't exist to proper Laaandaners. I think regional accents are brilliant though and would just rock it if I were you. Or move...

Original poster
SailorByTheSea · 02/09/2017 23:11

But it's not even the 'f' I have a big issue with!

OP posts:
bruffin · 02/09/2017 23:11

Not regional, just sloppy
Actually its not, neither dh nor dd can pronouce th
Dh is a south londoner, but actually speaks well, apart the "th"
Dd 19 again speaks nicely, but cant say the "th"
She kept telling me about a film called "four" turned out she meant "Thor"

cardibach · 02/09/2017 23:11

Um Edmund the r sound in Rhys and Rhiannon isn't rolled. Rh is a sound of its own with no rolling. You would only roll an r if it didn't come with an added h.

Ummmmgogo · 02/09/2017 23:11

sorry sailor I'm am literally say here like an idiot Saying them both over and over and there really isn't much difference. if I put on an American accent (and sing the chipmunk song 🙈) they sound different but I'm not sure if that will be practical lol!

nancy75 · 02/09/2017 23:12

I struggle with th, born & raised in SE London f & th sound much the same in my accent. I find it easier to say Theo with a th sound than Theodore - not sure why!

Original poster
SailorByTheSea · 02/09/2017 23:13

@nancy75 - but do you say it with 2 or 3 syllables?

OP posts:
nancy75 · 02/09/2017 23:14

I agree to my ears Theodore & feardoor sound much the same

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 02/09/2017 23:14

I think I say Thee door. Lived in London for years and don't say Fear but you'll be fighting a loosing battle imo.

There was a looooong thread about the name Frances recently and some people just couldn't get their heads around the fact that people in the SE pronounce it as Frahn-ces rather than Frances with a flat A sound

Oh don't,I'm still having flash backs about that thread !

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