Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Names you aren't sure how to pronounce

387 replies

whatausername · 10/04/2020 20:22

Since we're all inside for the foreseeable future...

What are some names you're not quite sure how to pronounce? We'll see if we can help each other. But do take answers with a pinch of salt given the wide variety of accents we all have!

For me: Hebe (hee-bee?) and João leave me feeling uncertain.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Fanciedachange1 · 10/04/2020 21:12

Neve

Would you say it as Neeve or Nev? And then there’s the traditional spelling version that I can never get right!

Verily1 · 10/04/2020 21:20

Saorise
Aoife
Helena
Sara
Caoimhe
Lila
Dana
Catriona
Jeane
Vivienne
Margot
Lena
Maeve
Cherie
Grainia

kate1800 · 10/04/2020 21:21

Ciara

Thefaceofboe · 10/04/2020 21:21

Ottillie

Magicbabywaves · 10/04/2020 21:21

Mia. Is My-ah or Me-ah?

missmouse101 · 10/04/2020 21:22

Bodhi. Sara.

Scarletoharaseyebrows · 10/04/2020 21:23

Yes Heebee. Like the plant
I've accidentally annoyed a few LeeLa / Layla (Leila) over the years.

Forgetaboutme · 10/04/2020 21:23

Being Scottish I can't say Carl without it sounding like Carol!

Also struggle with Dana, Evelyn, Nevaeh and Saorise.

HappyDinosaur · 10/04/2020 21:25

Another one for Saoirse, how is that pronounced?

Greenvilla · 10/04/2020 21:27

I love the name Elise but now wondering how you pronounce it.
Is it El-eese?

OhClover · 10/04/2020 21:30

Saoirse is “saw-sha”, or at least the one I know is!

What about Ghislaine?

Scarletoharaseyebrows · 10/04/2020 21:30

Seer-sher

MikeUniformMike · 10/04/2020 21:33

Hebe rhymes with Phoebe.

Saorise - Saorse (Sorcsha)
Aoife - Eefa
Helena - Helen-uh or Hel-aina, or rarely Hel-eena
Sara - Sah-rah
Caoimhe - Keevuh or Kweeva or...
Lila - Lie-luh
Dana - Dah-nah or Day-na
Catriona - Catry-O-na
Jeane - Jeane and Jeanne are Jean, but in France, Jeanne is Zhann.
Vivienne - Vivien or Vivvy-enne
Margot - Mar-go
Lena - Lee-nuh or Lay-na
Maeve - Mayve
Cherie - Shuh-ree
Grainia - Grainne (Gronia in my accent)

Ciara is Kee-ruh, but Chiara is Kee-are-ah

MikeUniformMike · 10/04/2020 21:34

Correction - Sorsha not Sorcsha. I might be wrong. I'm not Irish.

MikeUniformMike · 10/04/2020 21:35

Ghislaine is Gizz-laine I think. Or is it Gillaine? G as in golf.

MikeUniformMike · 10/04/2020 21:36

Elise is Elle-eeze

ShowOfHands · 10/04/2020 21:38

The Saoirses I know are Sershas.

The Catriona in our family is Catreena

But I know a keeva and a kweeva (Caoimhe)

isabellerossignol · 10/04/2020 21:39

Anyone I have ever met called Catriona pronounces it Katrina.

LightACandleHoney · 10/04/2020 21:39

Saorise is probably closest to Seer-sha, but the vowels in the first half are kind of two vowel sounds - very slight difference between them. Definitely not “saw” at the start or “sher” at the end

Verily1 · 10/04/2020 21:39

Maya can be may-a or my-a I never know.

Yes to all the Keira’s/chiaras

Sunstar16 · 10/04/2020 21:42

Saorise is pronounced Sear-sha in the part of Ireland I'm from.

MikeUniformMike · 10/04/2020 21:42

Still got it wrong. Saoirse. Fat fingers. I can hear it but i can't transcribe.

CoffeeRunner · 10/04/2020 21:43

Saoirse - saw-sha.
Hebe - hee bee.
Aoife - ee-fa.
Helena - Hell-en-er.
Ghislaine - ji-lane.
Elise - Elle-eese.
Maeve - mayv.

missmouse101 · 10/04/2020 21:43

Ghislaine is Ji -lane.

Guttersnipe · 10/04/2020 21:44

This one has lived with me for over 30 years since I was asked to read out a list of names for people to pray for. Could be any nationality.

Jaime.