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 do try saying, "Is it x or y" if I have come across a name with two distinct ways of saying it, Sara and Ionna I would do the Sarah or Sara (last one like Sari) is it I-O-Na or Yonna?

These days there are lote of Eastern European names that are actually very similar or maybe the children are anglosising the names themselves.

I have developed a habit of ignoring the Z and just saying, "Thomas? or Sebastian?"

@mikeuniformmike yes actually, I have. My first name AND surname.

Funny that

And the Beatles couldn't pronounce shit all.

McCartney's dodgy nose holding accent. Total meff.

And I'm bloody scouse! El-eh-na is only because of his accent ffs.

And I'm bloody scouse! El-eh-na is only because of his accent ffs.

True!

I'd only ever hear Eleanor pronounced Elle-eh-noor until I left NZ. I mean, it's 'or' at the end, so it's not an illogical pronunciation.

I did hear an Italian pronounce it Ee-lee-ah-noor, which was kind of sweet! Incorrect, but sweet.

My daughter is called Eleanor. I hate El-en-nor as a pronunciation, mainly because the English pronunciation is El-en-a. It's an Americanism. I'd never heard anyone in the UK use the -nor ending until DD went to nursery and they all started to use that pronunciation. Couldn't really understand why because I'd be talking to them about her and they'd literally mis-pronounce it back to me . In the end I just told them to call her Ellie. Sigh.

Well to answer the OPs question

I have 2 dd's with unusual names 1 because it has an a instead of the usual e at the end and 1 because it is Irish.

"I" can pronounce both their names no issue. I don't have to ask how to pronounce them and I am fully able to hear the difference between the e and the a sound at the end and I also know how to say the Irish name..

I have spent several parents evenings correcting the teachers for not bothering to use dd2's (a end) name Why is that acceptable ? Her name is Christine its Christina (not her real name) Its really NOT hard and frankly I think its lazy of people who can't be bothered to read it right.

I am aware that by choosing to name DD3 a Irish name we have gone for something more unusual. I also know it is hard to spell.. However that to me does not excuse the teachers who simply can't be bothered to learn how to say it.

I work with a guy who has a rather unusual name I had never heard it until I met this guy.. (He is not English the name is middle eastern) I have struggled hugely to learn to say his name right. However I asked over and over and told him several times " correct me I WILL learn" and I have.. Took some time to learn how to bend my tongue to get the sound his name needs but I got there. To me thats just basic manners you learn peoples names..

Oh and as for why did we name our dds what we did?
I happen to like the names. I think they are beautiful and wonderful. I dont much like Elinor/Olivia type names.

@Happydoingitjusttheonce I also know an Eva pronounced Ever - her family are Spanish and it's the Spanish pronunciation.

It doesn't matter what your default accent is, you ought to try and say it the way that person actually wants it to be said.

I agree to a point (say Elehna / Elinor) but you can't just mimic someone's accent. I have a friend from Blackpool who pronounces his name Jaw but I say Joe.

I know an Eva (Ever); her mother is Polish and that's the Polish pronunciation. Another one is Erena (Ereena), again with a Polish mother.

Whoops, that last should be Erayna.

I have an Elinor and I pronounce it El en er.

Always have, same as everyone else where I come from

Dp however pronounces it Elin OR, he is from a different part of the uk.

We just call her Ellie instead

My name is unusual as in I do not know anyone with it, but it IS JUST 2 common names together, no hyphen. People get it wrong ALL the time.

My married surname is unusual, so made sure my kids names were quite traditional with traditional spellings. Our surname is always spelt wrong, oh doesn’t bother me I will answer to anything ... my first name is a typical 80s name (although hyphenated) but it can be abbreviated and I use that abbreviation as my name, but people insist on spelling it the makes way, again, I am not bothered, but when you add both misspellings together then you have just names someone entirely different person!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=d6r6nhBcIbA

I think the Swedish pronunciation of Eva is Ever, based on watching Jordskot

My name is Marie Therese, How do you pronouce it?. xxx

Unless you're French or German, I'd assume it's MARRy terEZ.

For what it's worth, I've never met an Eleanor who preferred the pronunciation with a distinct "nor" at the end, but I have known one who got very upset if people pronounced it that way. They've all, including the American one, been Ellen-a. I was nearly called Eleanor myself and my parents wanted that pronunciation too (with Nell for short, now that would probably have caused a few problems).

My friend Aisling lived in the US for a while. Americans had a terrible time with her name, they called her A i's ling. (A eyes ling). Even people who knew her for years called her that

My Irish friend Aisling has alway pronounced her name Ash-ling.

My name is Marie Therese, How do you pronouce it?

My friend's sister shares your lovely name, she pronounces it MAH-ree TE-rayze

Eleanor! My name too! Yep, a life time of hassle! I would have like to have been called Jane if my parents would have kindly left me nameless until i was about 6. This was when i became aware of middle names, yes, aware because i dont have one!!!!!! So a name nobody can pronounce or spell correctly and no middle name to fall back on 😭! When as a kid i explained it was pronounced El-a-nor, i got comments about it being 'oh so posh' saying the 'nor' instead of 'a' 😣

Still, i think its better than a little girl called Penelope, whos parents thought it was pronounced Pen-e-lope 😁😉

shegotbette That's the point that poster was making.. it should be Ash ling not eyes ling

I am amazed to hear that there is controversy about how to pronounce Eleanor ! Clearly certain names have multiple accepted pronounciations and that is to be taken on the chin by the parent choosing the name.
I feel very strongly about the responsibility of the parent choosing a name for their child.
Think of your your DC please rather than yourself.
As OP suggests, pick a name that is familiar to you and to your family, your peers or has a story to be proud of so that DC can live it and live up to it.
I know many more people who resent their parents' whimsical choice rather than picking 'top ten' popular names.,

El-eh-na is only because of his accent ffs

It’s El en a in RP.

I'm so intrigued by people's names (wishing people would inc their names with their posts!) my name is so easy Anna but I get called Hannah all the time! I've given up