Opinions on Ivan (pronounced Ee-vahn)

[ttcAlex]

The title says it really. What do you think of the boy's name Ivan (pronounced Ee-van)? Be honest pls.

To pp - tbf I like the EYE-van pronunciation as well and won't mind at all if he decides to use that outside the family when he grows up. It's just that the ee-VAN pronunciation comes naturally to me as an Eastern European and it would feel slightly weird to call him otherwise within the family.

I would automatically pronounce that Ee-van personally and I think it's a great name OP!

@Mrsmorton

That's not how it's pronounced.

That really depends on the language, it is pronounced like the OP said in my language. It's a slavic name originally, isn't it? How do they pronounce it there?

Oops caught up reading the thread now. Funny how so many claim that the english pronounciation is the correct one when it's actually the wrong one.

I would assume ee-van but I would check. Classic name, evidently a sophistication test too, which is useful.

@ttcAlex

To pp - tbf I like the EYE-van pronunciation as well and won't mind at all if he decides to use that outside the family when he grows up. It's just that the ee-VAN pronunciation comes naturally to me as an Eastern European and it would feel slightly weird to call him otherwise within the family.

You're fine, then. If it won't upset you that other people will pronounce it differently, or even that your son might end up being called different things by different people in different contexts, then go for it.

It's only really an issue when parents pick a name with several common pronunciations and then get super offended when people get it wrong. Because it's a predictable occurence and you can't really dictate this stuff in the real world. As long as you're pragmatic about it then it's all good. (And I love names that honour family, personally - so nice to have a connection to the past.)

I think it's a non issue then op.

You call him by the name as you would naturally then by older age range he gets to either point out the pronunciation to new acquaintance or go with the flow and maybe end up called Vanny or something equally tangential!

I love family names with some history attached.

It’s not pronounced e-van though is it? It’s I-van......

I have a daughter who also has a name with the I/Ee sound at the start. We pronounce it both ways depending on where we are and who we're with (DH is German). Could that be an option. It's my English grandmother's name but I don't mind the German pronunciation.

Since you have some EE heritage and you know how to pronounce and spell it correctly it is fine. Better to keep it "Ivan" so that your DS could relate to your grandfather. It is classic and strong

I think you should go for it. With an Eastern European surname as well I think people will be more likely to pronounce it how you want it to be pronounced, once they’ve heard you say it.

A lot of people with non-British names have their name pronounced differently in their family, and with others. I think it’s fine as long as that doesn’t bother you.

By the way, some people on here and the 'why would you change how it's pronounced' attitude, as if the way they're used to something is the ONLY way

This! Unbelievable responses.

Personally, I think the Eastern European pronunciation is much nicer, OP, and while you (and your ds) might have to correct people quite often, it shouldn't be difficult for people to say once they know.

A lot of people will probably realise that it's the Eastern European pronunciation anyway, given that it's paired with an Eastern European surname. I'd assume that personally.

Ah. If it's paired with an Eastern European surname it's more likely to be pronounced Ee Vaan.

I've heard Ivan Ivanovich. (No idea who he is). But my automatic reaction is to pronounce it ee vaan

We have this with DD's name (also E'European family). It's fine, we introduce her as, let's say, Yulia, and she now answers to both Yulia and Julia. Her (actual) name gets mangled by Northerners with short "a"s, but that's the only issue we've found.

That's not how it's pronounced. confused You can't just decide to change the pronunciation

Ouch. The ethnocentrism on this thread is painful

With eastern European heritage then your pronunciation would make sense and be nice, but you need to weigh up whether constantly having to correct people (and your ds constantly having to correct people) is worth it.

In the UK most people will read it as eye-van. If that's likely to annoy you then maybe use it as a middle name. If it's not going to annoy you then go ahead.

The ethnocentrism on this thread is painful

Yep!

I lived in France and people did not use my pronunciation of my name. They adapted it. I didn't take offence.

Can’t believe all the people announcing that that’s just not how it’s pronounced. I’d probably automatically pronounce it the way OP is intending because I’m a tennis fan and therefore the association I have with the name is Ivan Lendl. Plus I think that sounds nicer.

@DTIsOnlyForNow

Don't be ridiculous, most people have read it as the poster is from the UK, where the pronunciation is as most people have said and most UK citizens would (unless corrected or introduced) have pronounced the name as such.

However late in the day OP has said she is EE with and EE surname, which puts a totally different complexion on things, and makes her preferred pronunciation one which will be easily adhered to.

Please please pick up on my reference to 'complexion' and call me a racist. I really need a good laugh today.

However late in the day OP has said she is EE with and EE surname, which puts a totally different complexion on things, and makes her preferred pronunciation one which will be easily adhered to

Hey, if you have to be specifically told that someone might not be whiter than white English back to the Doomsday book, thats on you. Anyone with half a brain would have thought, hey, I bet OP has a good reason for pronouncing that way, rather than telling her that she's wrong and thats not how its said.

It's sheer stupidity and an inability to consider other languages and cultures exist and are just as valid.

Don't be ridiculous, most people have read it as the poster is from the UK, where the pronunciation is as most people have said and most UK citizens would (unless corrected or introduced) have pronounced the name as such.

Saying “that’s not how it will be pronounced in the UK” is different to “that’s not how it’s pronounced you can’t just decide to change the pronunciation.”

It'll be fine. I teach a Theo who uses the French pronunciation (is Tayo). I called him Thee-o the first lesson, he corrected me, jobs a good un.

*ie