What do *you* consider to be "horrible" names?

[HappyWifeandMum]

I was reading another thread here, where many people referred to a particular name as being "horrible". So it got me to thinking... What constitutes a "horrible" name, and how does that perception change from region to region?

Please... This is NOT to offend ANYONE... I just truly want to get a feel for what you think are truly awful names. Opinions vary greatly across the globe, and I would love to be able to compare them.

Here's the deal... I would be very grateful if each poster would post (as nicely as possible) the names they dislike the very most, and why, without taking merciless jabs. Also, if you are comfortable with it, would you please list the continent or country you are from as well. I am hoping this will be fun and informative!

Here goes... My uncontested, most disliked name of all time is "Nevaeh". Why? Because I think it is beyond senseless to reverse the spelling of a common word and call it a name. (North America)

[othersideofchannel]

"Louis, pronounced Lou-ey, just sounds so poncey."

"No it isn't. That is the correct way to pronounce it - think Louis Armstrong, Louis Vuitton, king Louis I - XVIII of France. Pronouncing it Lewis is simply incorrect."

No, the FRENCH way of pronouncing Louis is without the 's' (so obviously Louis Vuitton and King Louis of France pronounce it the French way ).

In all other languages (German, Spanish etc) it is pronounced as written. It is a top 10 name in Germany for example and is pronounced Lou-is. It is actually a name derived from the old German name Ludwig. And even Louis Armstrong has emphasised that his name is Loo-is. The town of St Louis in the US also gets pronounced St Louis.

And, no I don't have a Louis but have lived in different countries and just find it odd that the English always like to pronouce names 'the French way' rather than how it would be pronounced in English. Just like Margot - it is Margott in all other countries but again it seems to be fashionable to pronounce it the French way (Mar-gaux).

[mayanna123]

I'm not keen on cutesy type names that are very trendy these days - Archie, Alfie, Charlie, Ellie, Tilly, Milly, Poppy, Daisy, Molly, Polly etc. I think they will date as people look for stronger sounding names.

Agree about Louis, fine to pronounce it Louie if you're French but would definately pronounce it Lou-is in English/American (like the city of St Louis).

[NotaMopsa]

Louis ( Lou ee) sounds just right to me

Louis (lewis) is a bastardisation isn't it?

[usualsuspect]

Its pronounced loo-is by all the boys I know called louis

[Prunnhilda]

I really dislike names which have a 'normal' pronunciation, and a rah-rah pronunciation. Principally these are Charlotte and Helen. There's a certain kind of person who says shar-lott and hellinn and they are the sort of people who tend to wind me up.
Also I was forced to spend a year living in a flat with a hellinn (Helly-welly for FUCK's SAKE) and I am scarred.

[usualsuspect]

I know 3 boys called louis who pronounce it loo-is including my DS and SIL

Maybe it depends where you live

[mayanna123]

Bastardisation

Since when do we English not pronounce our 's'? Just because the French don't doesn't mean we have to follow you know. Most languages would pronounce the 's' and say Louis (German, Spanish, even the Americans as in St Louis in Missouri).

[CheerfulYank]

I've only ever heard Margot pr Mar-go!

Also what other way is there to pronounce Helen Prunnhilda ?

[evamummy]

If I were to ask someone for their name and they said "Louis", I'd write "Louis". If they said "Louie", I'd write "Louie". The exception would be if they had what I might identify as a French accent; in that case I'd ask them to spell it for me.

[evamummy]

I have a German aunt called Margot and her name is pronounced Mar-gott.

[xstitch]

How are you supposed to pronounce Charlotte and Helen?

[bananamom]

Lol Mayanna probably pronounces it Mar-got.

Louis is pn Lou-ee in the same way that Margot is pn Mar-go.

[Prunnhilda]

There's Helen, and there's a very crisp-sounding hel-linnnnnn with a clear short 'i' instead of a more relaxed schwa sound. It's like pronouncing Oven as 'uh-vinnnnn'. It makes my teeth itch.

[evamummy]

"Louis is pn Lou-ee in the same way that Margot is pn Mar-go."

Yes, in French it is!

But there are other languages as well you know. So there is no right or wrong way, just different ways.

[WorzselMaamage]

Malcolm is mentioned 3 times on this thread as being 'wet' and I need to say, my Dad is Malcolmand he's the most amazing man! Champion in several things, musician, engineer and writer, manager and designer, pioneer in his field, leader in his trade .. Great husband and the most fabulous and interesting father.

You might not like names but to label people as something because of there name is really, really, sad.

[usualsuspect]

lou-ee is the MN way apparently

[Prunnhilda]

Charlotte: if you think about the stress, most people pronounce it with the stress on the first syllable and the last syllable is quite relaxed, like it is in ringlet.
Some people pronounce it with equal stresses on each syllable and the 'o' is really clearly an 'o', like in 'got'.

[bananamom]

"Louis is pn Lou-ee in the same way that Margot is pn Mar-go."

Yes, in French it is!

But there are other languages as well you know. So there is no right or wrong way, just different ways."

You are hilarious. So you are telling me that people (actually, don't tell me.. you do don't you?) pronounce the t in Margot?

Louis is a FRENCH name so other languages are irrelevant.

[xstitch]

I am now sitting here saying Charlotte to myself trying to workout how I say it. Probably just as well I am alone.

[bananamom]

I know tonnes of boys called Louis (in London it is very popular) and every single one pronounces it the French way. I have never ever come across or heard of a Mar-got either.

[evamummy]

bananamom, all these Swedish and German Margots indeed pronounce their name Mar-gott:

Margot Hellwig (* 1941), deutsche Sängerin
Margot Hielscher (* 1919), deutsche Sängerin und Schauspielerin
Margot Honecker (* 1927), deutsche Politikerin
Margot Käßmann (* 1958), deutsche evangelische Theologin
Margot Klestil-Löffler (* 1954), österreichische Diplomatin
Margot Trooger (1923?1994), deutsche Schauspielerin
Margot Wallström (* 1954), schwedische Politikerin
Margot Werner (* 1937), österreichische Balletteuse und Chansonsängerin

[Prunnhilda]

The thing is, I really like the name Charlotte, but I cannot bear when people pronounce it like that.

I do realise this is completely unreasonable and personal (but the thread is about personal prejudices...).

I also really dislike Jo pronounced Jay by yahs. I cannot tell you how much I hate this. Hellay Jay.

I wonder if you can only understand this if you've been a pleb at an Oxbridge reject university.

[evamummy]

And you know, I don't really care how you all pronounce Louis or Margot or any other name. I just thought it was helpful to point out that there are indeed other ways of pronouncing a name.

The OP has specifically asked about different countries and I thought this might be helpful. But please feel free to ignore my comments .

And no, I don't have any children named either name.