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Original poster

Would you find this name difficult to pronounce?

80 replies

AladdinOnRepeat · 14/02/2013 10:16

I've got a beautiful 2 week old little boy and have named him Séamus.

When I've texted people to tell them his name I've had texts back asking how to pronounce it and whether I meant 'Shaymus' but had spelt it wrong Hmm and also had someone asking me how sea-mus is.

And alot of people have given me the Hmm face when I've told them his name and a couple of people have just been rude about it.

(Have had some nice comments too)

So, would you be able to read/pronounce/spell his name or have I set him up for a life time of having to correct people?

OP posts:
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MrsMushroom · 14/02/2013 12:59

I'd know but only because I'm very well read as far as Irish literature goes!

badguider · 14/02/2013 14:38

When you write it down I would know to pronounce it shay-mus.
But if somebody said the name out load before this thread i'm not sure i could have spelled it right i'd probably have assumed just Semus without the a. can it also be spelled like that?

bulletwithbutterflywings · 14/02/2013 17:00

Haha! me too McKayz Blush

VBisme · 14/02/2013 17:02

It's not that much of an uncommon name, I would have known how to pronouce it.

Sashapineapple · 14/02/2013 18:02

I would have thought it was pronounced sea-mus.

Vexedbybook · 14/02/2013 18:07

It is my favourite boys name and I really wanted to call DS it but DP doesn't like it :(

Congrats op!

Btw it's also Gaelic for James so works in Scotland too.

Merl0t · 14/02/2013 18:09

It's a well known name, so I wouldn't anticipate problems. I'd say you'd have more trouble with something like Tadhg or Diarmuid. eg, tadgh, diurmiad.

Please, please don't spell it shaymis as that looks a bit c-wordthat we're not allowed to sayy on here.

Merl0t · 14/02/2013 18:10

ps my children have English names and people misspell those too.

MortifiedAdams · 14/02/2013 18:10

I know how to pronounce it but only since Harry Potter Grin Im not IRish but want to call next dd (if I have one) Aoife, and can just imagine the attempts at pronouncing that!!

McKayz · 14/02/2013 18:14

Bullet I love it Blush it's my guilty pleasure.

Yay4may · 14/02/2013 19:49

Stopped for a quick second in my head to look at it and then did the pr as you intended. Am from North America, get lots of pr wrong but not this one.

Merl0t · 14/02/2013 19:55

Aoife is about the 3rd most popular name here now. it's actually easy. because aoi is always eee and f is f and fe is fa. so, there, easy !

Original poster
AladdinOnRepeat · 14/02/2013 20:13

I'm definitely spelling it properly, I get all twitchy about mis-spelt names Blush

I just have to think of a middle name for him now.

OP posts:
SummerRainIsADistantMemory · 14/02/2013 20:17

I'm Irish so yes I'd know. And yes you've spelt it right.... Shaymus would make me very twitchy!

MortifiedAdams · 14/02/2013 20:19

Do another 'sounds different to how its spelt' name, like Iolo or Oisin.

Grin
Emilythornesbff · 14/02/2013 20:28

Congratulations.
Good poet's name. No probs with pronouncing it.

AlwaysHoldingOnToStarbug · 14/02/2013 21:12

I know how to pronouce it as I knew a Seamus years ago, I know the spelling too but didn't know you could put an accent over the e. Is it always there? I wouldn't put it on if I was spelling it, I don't know if that is something that would bother you?

Anyway, it's a perfectly lovely name.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 14/02/2013 22:03

Terrific name , was on my list. Thought everyone knew how to pronounce it.

Original poster
AladdinOnRepeat · 14/02/2013 22:14

The é changes the vowel sound so from sea (like the ocean) to Séa (shay) I like the fada, and it will be on his birth certificate, I will use it when writing his name but I doubt anyone else will remember too and I don't think I would point it out to them as I'd feel a bit of a knob. There is a fada in two of my other children's names but only I and their dads family use them.

OP posts:
squoosh · 14/02/2013 22:41

I'd do the same as you put the fada on the é, because it's correct. A French person would never spell Hervé as Herve. I wouldn't however care a jot if the accent got lost along the way as it more than likely will amongst English people, which is fair enough.

I'd rest easier though knowing that the fada officially existed however! Grin

AmandaPayne · 14/02/2013 22:46

It is a lovely name. I lobbied for it (unsuccessfully) for the bump who turned out to be DD1.

I really can't imagine that many people can't manage it. As others have said, presumably people who think Sean should always be Shawn (though that adds a strong w sound that isn't there IMO).

Lovely, lovely.

Love middle name games. You can be totally wild if you want to, or dead straight. Come on, what are your criteria? Family names? I think Seamus Falcon has a ring to it Grin.

AmandaPayne · 14/02/2013 22:47

Sorry, clearly can't do a fada on this keyboard.

Catchingmockingbirds · 14/02/2013 22:52

I read it as sea-mus.

ballstoit · 14/02/2013 23:01

I have had the same issue with my DD who is Siobhan...people usually only need telling once though (particularly if accompanied by a 5 year old's eye rolling Grin)

steppemum · 14/02/2013 23:08

I would say Seamus, and think that spelling it Shaymus would be strange. I am the same about Sean. It should be spelt Sean and not Shaun (unless you are a sheep of course!)

No irish blood here and I think it is perfectly normal name. Congrats on your lovely bundle

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