How child's name is pronounced

[OnlyAThought]

Hey all

Just a quick opinion, my LO started school yesterday. When I asked how his day went, the first thing he told was, they are saying my name wrong.

I advised him to correct them, but he feels he can not.

Again, today, at pick up (only part time for the first couple of days as he is in reception), the same sort of conversation and he tells me his name is pronounced incorrectly and stamped his feet said it's not my name.

Should, I ask/tell his teacher, I don't know?

Let me know your thoughts

@CaptainMyCaptain , some people think they know better than you do what your name is. I've had something like 'Why do you say your name is Kate when it's really Caitlin'?.

Absolutely tell them! In primary school DS2’s teacher kept calling him by the wrong name, it’s close to his name but a different name. He’s always been quite confident and told her a couple of times his name was x not y. She carried on calling him by the incorrect name so he stopped responding until she got it right.

Having worked in education visiting different settings I found spelling and pronunciation were often different. Yes correct the teacher I think they will be pleased you have. I often found children corrected adults themselves think Maya/Miah type names.

Just tell them. Though I'm a bit baffled by the 'wrong' accent comments. Who decides which is the correct accent?

@Dottymug my children have Japanese names. Perhaps it is everyone else who could broaden their horizons and realise there are more names than Jack and Eva.

If it’s an accent issue from just the teacher, I probably wouldn’t bother.

Without the details it’s difficult to call really.

She doesn’t even need to say that much. Just explain the pronunciation on the door and check with him that they got it.

Well, it depends on what the name is and how it is being pronounced...if iwhat is being said is something very different, fair enough, but if the teacher's first language is not english, she may not be able to reproduce some sounds exactly as you say it. You can tell her politely anyway but her pronunciation may never be good enough.

If she is not British and has a non british name I am sure lots of brits are pronouncing hers wrong too (my case!)

Yes, tell the teacher. Not one of my DCs teachers even tried to learn to say their last name last year. I will making sure they do this year. But they wont know unless you tell them.

I'm from South Yorkshire and taught in London for 15 years. Alexander would always be pronounced with a short a by me and no amount of parental telling would get me to mispronounce it.

It might be that the teacher is British but the name isn't, or that the teacher has a strong regional accent.
Maybe the name is something that has 2 valid pronunciations.

I'd struggle to say Alex-a(r)nder.

I'm sorry. I just have to.... I still love this.

OMG !!!

My daughter has a friend called Caoimhe. It's pronounced "Kweeva".
If I hadn't asked the child I would be lost. I suppose teachers often are lost with names.

My childrens' names are pronounced in Scandinavian style - they have to tell their teachers.
How should they know otherwise?

And you'd be right not to change your pronunciation. Same with Naomi as mentioned upthread, they're both valid pronunciations. As for Eve-lyn, Ev-lyn or Ever-lyn I think you also have to accept all three are valid.

My nephew is Alexander and his parents don't say it the same as each other.

I don't think OP is ever going to come back and clarify if it is an accent issue like that or actually a name that is being definitely mispronounced so we'll never know!

I love the (Spanish) name Ofelia (ie the way they pronounce it) and would have loved to call my child that but if I did everyone would pronounce it the English way which is completely different and nowhere near as nice

My child used a shortened name at school for first 2 years and then decided to use her normal name. She told me, I told school and they were amazing to change it and embraced it. Think Tilly to Matilda. I was quite impressed. I'd mention it.....its fine!

I agree about names where it is an accent issue but I think it’s a completely different situation when there is a name like Evelyn that has numerous different accepted ways to pronounce it, and people should then make an effort to use the one that the person themselves uses.

I heard from an old teacher about a child who came to school. Name written "Guy". Child adamant his name was "Gooey ". Mum confirmed. She'd read it in a book. Also heard a Siobhan (Shi-von) called by her mum the way it's written.

@Billcosby , it's Balonz. Pronounced Jim.

I'm an ex-teacher...

Have taught a Shuvorne (Siobhan)
And a Sigh-oh-ban (also Siobhan)
And a Pheobe (Phoebe)

And (as it was mentioned above) Keef-uh, Kweeva and Kwayva (Caiomhe) - nothing wrong with that mind, all legit regional Irish pronunciations, so always checked.

I agree. I'm a teacher; it's central to him forming good relationships and not something for anyone to be getting wrong.

Someone gave the example of Cormac. A rhotic accent would pronounce the 'r' but I wouldn't. I would feel as if I was faking an Irish accent if I did. It's not about being wrong.

If he said it with a rhotic accent, then I would too. Having said that, I already have posted that I'd struggle to say Alexander with a long a.