Names you aren't sure how to pronounce

[whatausername]

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.

Archewell

Cliodhnadh

Mia/Mya/Maya. I thought I knew how to pronounce these names (Mee-a/My-a/May-a) but my job as a secondary teacher has taught me I do not. There are millions of teenage girls with these names that can be pronounced interchangeably, irrespective of spelling. There are also fun other spellings such as Maia and Mayah and Miia, which may or may not alter the way they are said. It's an absolute minefield.

Is it an old Irish Ríona? Pronounced Ree-un-a. If not it's Ree-un-ock (with a nice guttural sound at the end )
Clee-un-a: Cliodhadhna
Cat-ron-a does not sound right as there is an í in there giving the ee sound.
Thanks LizzieAnt tbf I don't know many in Ireland anyway but can only imagine the one pronunciation.

@Sheslikethewind007
I've never met anyone of that name, but I think Rioghnach is pronounced Rio-nach, with nach to rhyme with Bach (sorry, that's the only way I can think to explain it). There's a fada on the i, so it's Ríoghnach strictly speaking. The gh is silent so it's also spelt Ríonach. I think that's right but I'm open to correction smile].

Sorry @heygirlheyboy, cross posted. You explained it better. I think it's Ree-un-ock as you said.

@Poppyfields21
I've never seen the spelling Cliodhnadh before. It must be really old. It's usually Clíodhna or Clíona, and as was mentioned above is pronounced Clee-uh-na.

What about the ancient Irish for Conor? Conchubhair?!

Yes, Ríoghnach is REE-un-och. I was at school with one, and she was a royal pain.

Now you’re talking, @Heygirl. The only Conchubhair I’ve actually known was a total psychopath, too.

A Royal pain

Mine was an Irish language lecturer, definite psychopath potential

@SeaLettuce
Did you actually know someone with that spelling? I wouldn't be able to cope . I though it was Conchúr these days?

@Hey

Which @LizzieAnt? The Ríonach was that spelling and yes, the Conchubhair was the full shebang. I met him when he was just out of prison for not paying his tv licence because he didn’t think RTE provided enough Irish language programming.

Oh stop! Even Conchúr is a far cry from pronunciation.

It was Conchubhair I meant, love the back story.

Really funny story!

Joaquin. I thought it was Jo A Quinn until OH informed me its actually pronounced Wakeen

Angharad is NOT An ha rad.

I'm Irish and my cousin married a welsh person. One of their kids is called Angharad. I experienced a glimpse in to how English people feel when they hear Irish names for the first time although welsh names are harder

I was laughing earlier, somebody who was helpfully explaining how to pronounce Saoirse but an 'r' at the end of it!

One Irish name I'm not 100% sure about is Etaoin - It looks really nice written down I think, but is it Eteen?

Is it an Éadaoin alternative?

Etaoin isn’t the same as Eadaoin (sorry can’t be arsed with fadas on the phone.

As far as I know it’s E-tain. But open to correction!

To clarify, Conchubhair is pronounced Conor? If so that is marvellous!

Mari
Mhairi
Padraig
Angel ( is it Ann kgell or Ain Jell )

I think étaoin is Aideen but Etain, which I quite like, is an anglicised version.

Sorry op no, Conchubhair is pronounced Cru-hoor, which is the old Irish for Conor. Conchúr is less ancient but pronounced the same!

Mhairi is 'varry' according to the few I know. I swear I have heard that some people say 'marry' though.

Angel depends on whether you're a Spanish speaker or an anglophone.

@Heygirlheyboy thanks, still a fabulous rendering of the name though. Having never studied Irish I would never have got that pronunciation.