To think that if you have to ask how to pronounce a name, you should not use it for your baby?

[FlyMaybe]

Just that really.

Nobody could pronounce my maiden name. I have an unusual forename too which, although the pronunciation seems obvious, people mistake it for a different but similar name.

As an introverted child, I used to cringe when my name was incorrectly called out by teachers, doctors etc.

Why would you knowingly inflict that upon your child?

I have a really bog standard south Asian name that no one ever had any trouble pronouncing. I chose to emigrate to the UK and I can’t think of one time when anyone has managed to pronounce it correctly. It’s not even that hard - something like Archana (arch like your worst enemy and ana like the start of anaconda). It’s pronounced (according to me) exactly the way it’s written. But somehow the combination of consonants people aren’t used to seeing means they just stumble and fumble.

But, I’m pregnant, and we’re thinking of names for DD. We can’t possibly call her Anna or Amy. She’ll be a little cappuccino coloured brown girl. So she’ll have a south Asian name. And will probably be on a similar thread in 30 years time griping about how her parents gave her an unpronounceable ethnic name.

Fwiw I think names that reflect who we are and where we come from are beautiful and worth the extra effort of having to spell it out etc. Life’d be boring if everyone was a Jenny or James.

@HolyShmoly I haven newborn Sadhbh - we live in NI and it's still very very unusual. I get my fair share of confused "What the fuck?" Faces when strangers ask DD's name when I take her out in the pram 😂

Missing the point entirely here but Zaphod, wanting to use a name from your own culture is fair enough but saying a brown skinned child can’t be called Anna or Amy is utterly daft.

But even common names are often mispronounced. My nick name was not very common and never mispronounced. My real first name is an ancient, very much used in English properly popular band and yet it was regularly mispronounced. You can't win often.

See I agree op! My friend has just given her baby a name I think is beyond ridiculous!!! I've given mine one she probably finds beyond lazy and dull!! It's the ultimate all to their own!!

Huh, never heard it pronounced Elle-en-er. Oh well, guess I'm wrong

Mar-re-a Ter-Ree-Sa?

I’m guessing there won’t be many babies names Eleanor after this thread!

I know an Eleanor, Elinor and Elena (Portuguese) who all pronounce their names the Eleanor Rigby way.

Also an Elinor, who pronounces her name to rhyme with door, and an Elena (British) who pronounces her name Eh-lay-na.

No one ever asks how to pronounce Eleanor - not in the UK or France anyway. HTH.

I remember the shame of a supply teacher getting it wrong and everyone laughing

I'm a supply teacher. I always apologize before I take the register and ask people to correct me if I get it wrong.

ZaphodBeeblerox

Whilst there are some names more common to certain groups of people they are not exclusive. I have come across a blond haired Ebony and Indian sisters Sharon and Karen.

@dinosaurkisses - I think Sadhbh is becoming more popular at the moment as my niece has that name as well

I gave my Irish child an Irish name. No I won't be apologising for it, people should learn to pronounce it and deal with it. I learn how to say names in lots of different languages all the time, a five letter name shouldn't be a big deal.

I don't mind when people double check with me for the pronunciation/spelling - it's polite.

I know a little girl called Niamh whose whole family call her Nee-am. As far as I know correct pronunciation is Neve, no?

Ma-ree Tuhreeze

nyx it's not really a joke! I knew a Marry Trays

More usually it's Marry Ter-Ays here though (Ireland).

Mupflup - yeah it's pronounced Neve, that was the backup name for my daughter!

Niamh is definitely pronounced Neeve. A perfect example of the OPs. post.

I know a little girl called Niamh whose whole family call her Nee-am. As far as I know correct pronunciation is Neve, no?

I know someone who called her daughter Sian, but pronounced it cyan, like the colour. She was adamant that she was right, and that the correct pronunciation of Sian is spelt Shan.

Mupflup's Niamh example is what I thought OP meant. Even worse if they then decide to spell it 'Neem' to 'be more interesting'.

Absolutely agree that heritage/traditional/foreign names should be embraced, but IF you choose one do it knowing people will need to learn it- although they should be able to do this and subsequently get it right!

Niamh in Irish is a two syllable word: Ni-amh.

So there's actually many people who pronounce it Nee-iv, or Nee-uv, depending on accent.

There's also many who say Neev (more so in Dublin than the rest of the country ime).

That part was mostly lighthearted.

I would be a bit at a brown-skinned non-Christian girl with such an anglicised name as Sharon/Karen/Amy etc though. Anyway, not meaning to derail the thread, and I could have probably made my meaning clearer in my original post as well. Most of the “easy to pronounce” names are from a majority culture and religion - not just in England but everywhere in the world. And if you don’t fit into the majority culture and religion you have to either choose to give up on your own culture (which carries a fair bit of angst for expats like me) or live with your child having what is considered an odd name.

This obviously doesn’t apply to people who just want yooneeq spellings to commonly accepted names etc, which I find unnecessary too. But just struck a bit of a nerve given how often I get strange comments from people who probably didn’t even realise they’re being rude or mocking my name. Anywhoo!

My first attempt at Gia would be with a hard G.
Unless I knew it had an Italian connection and then I would think more like Ja with that Soft jzoishy j, as Gi in Italian seems to be that. E.g Giovanni is ‘Jovanni’ not ‘Jee-o-vani’

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

All the people giving their children weird and wonderful names were probably called Sarah, Dave, Anna and James, and hated their boring, common names. They thought they were doing their kids a favour by giving them an unusual name.

Those people then hate their unusual names, and give their children staid, common names.

And the cycle continues!

Why would Helena be Helayna?

Helena Christensen.

Dowager, why would Eva be Ever? Little Eva. So many names with a variety of pronunciations.

Niamh is Nee-ev with a half syllable which English doesn't have. Aine is Aw-in-ya again with a half syllable. Some regions do draw them out and IME in Dublin it can be the most exaggerated!