Is this name really so hard to pronouse?

[Fancylike]

We're expecting our first baby boy this summer. My husband has suggested Gabriel, which I love, and so far it's the only name we've both agreed to liking. Thought we could move on to the middle name!

He now has a new co-worker called Gabriel who has started in the last month, and apparently everyone in his office is massively struggling with the pronunciation. He's now put off from using the name, and we're back at square one.

Is Gabriel tough to pronounce? I thought it's quite classic and international.
And any suggestions for names along the same vibe. I like longer names that can be shortened for a nickname (Gabriel/Gabe, Julian/Jude, Nathaniel/Nate), and he likes Evan, Marcus, Vince, none of which appeals to me.

Thanks all! Especially those with their own Gabriels who haven't had issues. My name is one of those that has a masculine version with one extra letter changing the pronunciation, and it's never been a big deal for me. I feel like he will be Gabe anyway, which is why I liked the idea of a longer more "formal" name if he wanted to use that later.

Yes, I think a few precious coworkers are being difficult deliberately, and it's ruffled him a bit, especially as it was his first pick name. And the 'gay' emphasis on the pronunciation has clued him into the bullying possibilities. Just poor timing.

For Julian = Jude, yes, I know Jude is a standalone name, but it's also accepted as a nickname for Julian and I've heard it used for this regularly. Wasn't "Hey Jude" a Julian too?

I would pronounce it as GAH-bree-ehl...

Never heard it differently but I am not originally from the UK.

Not what you are asking but naming them Gabriel and then calling them Gabe (for example) can be a total pain (I know from bitter experience!).

I would just call him Gabe.

Work colleagues are twats, it's not hard to pronounce Gabriel.

Gabriel is a proper name.

Gabe is a noun in other languages pronounced Ga-beh meaning a donation in German. I wouldn't call a child Gabe!?

@Rowrowrowyourboat2

I would pronounce it as GAH-bree-ehl...

Never heard it differently but I am not originally from the UK.

I would only use that pronunciation for a female where it would be spelled Gabrielle rather than Gabriel

Gabe is a still a proper name @purpleroseas , lots of names are also nouns

Wasn't "Hey Jude" a Julian too?

But the song was based on an earlier song McCartney wrote for Julian Lennon called "Hey, Jules."

I have a Gabriel, never mispronounced and he also goes by Gabe.

Love the name, not hard to pronounce at all. Had a Gabriel new starter at work a few years ago and can't recall anyone mis pronouncing it, company had 200+ people.

I’ve know Gay-bree-ell (my assumption of male) and also Gab-ree-ell for some cultures. Both are nice.

It probably depends how multicultural your area is. You think it would be fine in all settings though.

I went to school with twins called Gideon and Gabriel they were lovely lads (from a very traditional Christian family) but both great names they were known as "Deon" and "Gabe"

I think it is a lovely name, and easy to pronounce, so I can’t u deist and why your dh’s colleagues are making such hard work of it.

Please don’t let them put you off using it, @Fancylike.

Gabriel is an easy name to pronounce. I know two of them and both nn Gabs.

It’s very popular now, wouldn’t be a problem

Dominic, Benedict, Benjamin, Gideon, Alistair, Alexander, Joshua, Elijah, Josiah, Tobias, Barnabas / Barnaby, Zachariah / Zachary, Lucian, Lysander. Julius, Christopher, Christian. Tobias, Nicholas, Jonathan, Sebastian, Cassian, Elliot, Damien,,Anthony, Alberic, Frederick, Leopold, all have a similar feel to me.

I like Marcus. Vince is awful.

I hope his workplace are doing something about the homophobic bullying and general shittiness towards poor Gabriel.

It’s a totally normal name. There is no excuse for their behaviour.

I'm starting to think the co-worker aspect is also part of this! New co-worker also has a male partner, and I wouldn't be shocked if there's been a Gay-briel joke thrown around by some genius.

Your husband works with some really awful people and I hope someone puts a stop to this bullying.

What does your H do when he hears all this 'hilarity' going on?

My nephew is called Gabriel and it gets pronounced Gabrielle a lot. So much that he gets responds to it now.

Have any of these Gabriel-challenged people ever seen a movie or TV show with the Irish actor Gabriel Byrne? I wonder if they would struggle with his name after they heard him pronounce it. My guess is not; they are being disrespectful or worse.

@OrangeGrovesAplenty, it's not necessarily disrespect, some people struggle with fairly simple names

I kno someone who would not be able to distinguish between Lise and Louise and someone who can't distinguish between Louis and Louise. Names with several vowels will get the vowels transposed or omitted etc (Gorgio for Giorgio, Rapheal for Raphael etc)

Ok, have gotten more to the root of this sudden move away from Gabriel now. New coworker had brought his bf to Friday afterwork drinks in his first week and made a winky joke that he (partner) puts the 'gay' in Gabriel. Husband felt a bit embarrassed about it, and he's let this fester since and can't shake the association.

And I think the coworkers struggling with pronunciation are just a bit dense with anything longer than two syllables tbh.

I still like the name so much but we'll look at other options now too. It's fair as I've vetoed so many names that give me the ick or that I associate with specific people. Maybe a little space and we will end up loving it again.

@Ccharlotte

Not what you are asking but naming them Gabriel and then calling them Gabe (for example) can be a total pain (I know from bitter experience!).

I would just call him Gabe.

Work colleagues are twats, it's not hard to pronounce Gabriel.

Oh I would have used Gabriel all the time, just understanding that Gabe is a very very likely nickname, especially once at school. Can't force him to use his full name over a nickname if he prefers, but like the option for the longer name if he chooses to go by it later.

@Luredbyapomegranate

It’s very popular now, wouldn’t be a problem

Dominic, Benedict, Benjamin, Gideon, Alistair, Alexander, Joshua, Elijah, Josiah, Tobias, Barnabas / Barnaby, Zachariah / Zachary, Lucian, Lysander. Julius, Christopher, Christian. Tobias, Nicholas, Jonathan, Sebastian, Cassian, Elliot, Damien,,Anthony, Alberic, Frederick, Leopold, all have a similar feel to me.

I like Marcus. Vince is awful.

You've listed some of my other favourites! Heading back to the drawing board with these, thanks.

[quote RippleQueen]@fancylike
Be careful as a friend’s son is called Gabriel and he gets called Gay Boy all the time at school.
Not sure I would want to be named after an angel but then I’m an atheist[/quote]
Best to “ Tease test” any name first for obvious instances like this.
So predictable and unoriginal though. :(

Raphael is an easy to pronounce alternative

Suggestions:
Reuben
Benjamin
Samuel
Leo