Help me come up with a nickname for a difficult-to-pronounce Scandinavian name

[hejdu]

My daughter's name is Mette which is pronounced Meh-deh.

We relocated to the United Kingdom a while ago and have yet to meet anyone who's been able to pronounce her name correctly, hence the need for a nickname.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Not perfect but maybe May or Mimi? How old is she as there be a nickname that she can choose?

Is that that people aren’t reading her name correctly, or that they physically can’t get their mouth around the sound of name? I’ve just been on Forvo and listened to a few different pronunciations and it doesn’t seem like there’s anything that’s difficult to pronounce. So it just seems like people are being lazy and not even trying.

I was thinking Mimi or Mia. By the way, I had to comment and say I love your daughters name. It'sbeautiful!

It's gorgeous. Hmm. Demi?? (Not the way I would go i think...) Ettie? Mim?

I used to work with a Mette but always pronounced it Meh-teh, is it that its a soft 't' in the middle or is it really pronounced as a d? I'm surprised people are struggling and curious as to how, but then if its by using a 't' in the middle like I did I can see why (I will say I pronounce the t very soft in my accent)

I honestly can't think of a nickname that is anywhere near as nice though. Is she in school yet? I would have thought once in school, her whole class and teacher will learn to pronounce it and then it won't be such a big deal.

I’ve just listened to an online pronunciation and it seems like it’s MEH-deh? How about Metty or Etta?

Which syllable is the emphasis on? Is there a nickname for Mette in Scandinavia?

It's not quite a direct nickname but I've always loved Mimi!

I think Mimi would work well as a nn, or perhaps her initials would suggest a nn?

I'd go Metty, but her name is lovely so personally I wouldn't pick a nn I would just go with Mette and keep correcting people.

Emmie?

@leakymcleakleak

I used to work with a Mette but always pronounced it Meh-teh, is it that its a soft 't' in the middle or is it really pronounced as a d? I'm surprised people are struggling and curious as to how, but then if its by using a 't' in the middle like I did I can see why (I will say I pronounce the t very soft in my accent)

I honestly can't think of a nickname that is anywhere near as nice though. Is she in school yet? I would have thought once in school, her whole class and teacher will learn to pronounce it and then it won't be such a big deal.

The correct pronunciation is Meh-deh without the T sound.

Use Mette, it's her name.
Other than having to explain it to every new person, it's not difficult.
She will probably get called Met, Metty Metta, Mayday and things though.

Maddie

Mayday

I like May. It's short, feminine, and there's only one way to pronounce it.

If she wants something young and fancy, there's Mitzi.

Em? I'd say M, but I think Em might be taken more seriously than just the initial. I think people will learn her name once they've been told how to pronounce it though.

Dem

@KirstenBlest

Use Mette, it's her name. Other than having to explain it to every new person, it's not difficult. She will probably get called Met, Metty Metta, Mayday and things though.

Having to explain the correct pronunciation to everyone she interacts with and being called the wrong name even after doing so is why we're looking for nickname suggestions.

You’d be surprised how well four year olds will adapt - DS has been calling his German friend Jonas “Yonas” (with perfect German vowels), despite not speaking German. Her school friends will manage Mette just fine.

It’s the adults you need to train. I also wouldn’t change it - Mette is lovely. Feel free to be “that parent” in correcting people - if they can pronounce Isla and Sinead they can cope with Mette.

I worked with a woman named Mette, it’s not that hard. Stick to it please.

I've never heard of Mette but it's such a pretty name!

I'd use Mia.

How do people pronounce it here? Is it the t/d in the middle or the vowel sounds too?

It seems a shame to Anglecise a lovely Scandinavian name.

I used to know a Mette and everyone pronounced it incorrectly the written way too, I think it’s because of how it looks written down. In English we would always pronounce the TT

We only knew her name was pronounced Meh Deh because of how she answered the phone in Danish!

Can you change the spelling? I know you shouldn’t have to

Is she still a baby?
I would keep the name as it's lovely, nursery/pre school staff, teachers and school children will pronounce it correctly if it is explained how to say it.

Why not informally write it Medda, Mehda, Mehdeh or similar to help others pronounce it properly? Officially she can still be Mette. You / she could sign herself 'Mehde (Mette)' for example