Names with multiple pronunciations / spellings

[periwinkle86]

We will find out next week whether we’re having a boy or girl, but either way, some of the names we like have multiple different pronunciations (Lucia, Alicia, Aaron, for example). We definitely have a preference for some pronunciations over others. We also like some with a number of different spellings (all well known and acceptable rather than unusual spellings, eg Katherine/Catherine/Katharine/Kathryn).

For those with names (or whose children have names) with multiple pronunciations or spellings, is this something that causes issues and that you find really annoying, or am I over thinking this? DP and I both have names with no issues in this regard so it’s hard to know whether we’d be setting them up for a life time of annoyance or not!

I have a surname that few people, if any, can spell or pronounce and quite frankly it’s a pain in the rear end!! You spend your entire life saying it and then “it’s A-B-C…..no, C, yes C……” I’d imagine a first name with multiple options would be even worse. Or you become known as things like “Steven with a V” at school / work etc

I have had a lifetime of my name being mispronounced. It used to annoy me, but I now just answer to anything vaguely resembling my name. Sometimes people ask me and then apologise for mis-pronouncing it, and I just say it's fine and it makes a change from being called Mummy.

I think that if you really love a name, then you should use it. You will be using it a lot, so loving it is a very good start.

Obviously some names are a done deal eg Isla Siobhan and Niamh. They look nothing like how they’re actually said but everyone knows how to pronounce them.
But If a name does have varies pronunciations spell it how you want it pronounced.
eg If I saw Lila written down I wouldn’t have a clue if it was pronounced Lie-ler Leela.
or Lill-a. However if it was spelled Leela for example I’d assume it was Leela.

If you love it, use it. Many people have names like that and they quickly adapt.

DD has a name with 6 different spellings, her names is always spelt wrong although she says it doesn't bother her (she's 12).

I've got a name which is easy to pronounce (but gets confused with something else.........) but there are various different spellings. I am fairly relaxed about the spellings but grumpy if I get called by the similar but not the same name.

We have given our son a name with the more common of two spellings. Unfortunately autocorrect thinks the other spelling is more common (perhaps it is in the US).

When close family get it wrong I inwardly eyeroll but at most gently mention it as a by-the-way. I don't mind about others getting it wrong. I'm trying to model a patient and easy going approach to my son though, in the hope that he will have that same approach when people repeatedly get it wrong in future (he's only one).

I really don't want him to end up like an old acquaintance, Meghan, whose name was pronounced May-g'n. She used to get very huffy when people got it wrong or plain forgot. I slipped up once on the second time of meeting her (2 years after the 1st time) and was not easily forgiven!

I have a name with 3 possible pronunciations and to be honest I really dislike it, and wish I had a name everyone could easily say. I'm quite socially anxious which is probably a factor, but I find it really awkward to start almost all meetings with me correcting someone and them apologising, but it's even more awkward if you don't say anything and they find out later and find it weird that you didn't correct them. I don't bother correcting if it's someone I'm never going to meet again, but I've found it easier to say something straight away if it's someone I'm going to see more of. The vast majority of people are fine, but I have had some rude comments with people telling me that I'm pronouncing my own name wrongly or that
I should change it by deed poll to what they consider to be the correct pronunciation I often go by a shortening to help to avoid the issue, and would personally rule out a name with multiple pronunciations for my own DC. Just my experience though, it may not bother some people at all!

My name has 4 spelling variations, mine is one of the least common and I'm often referred to as Abby (not my real name) without an E or they usually just chuck it on there anyway even if it's written Infront of them

I chose simple spellings for that reason!

My name is unusual and most people cannot pronounce or spell it. There are also other similar names which I am often called. It is very annoying.

I had a Mia and a Mia in a class once. I barely survived it and neither liked it if I mispronounced their name. I spent a year saying Mia (then thinking Mir space station in my head).

I have a name which can be spelled in four different ways (but pronounced the same) and is also a common shortening of a longer name, and it annoys me to have to keep spelling it for people, or when even friends and relatives get it wrong, for example on birthday or Christmas cards.

I have a name that can be spelled at least 9 ways. It's a bit of a pain in the arse but I've gotten used to saying "that's X spelled..." The only thing that annoyed me growing up was that I could never get anything from a gift shop with my name on it as they always favoured one spelling (one that I can't stand people to use for me).