Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Sibling Can't Pronounce Name

36 replies

Beccatheboo · 19/01/2009 13:48

I am expecting a baby any day now (fingers crossed the raspberry leaf tea is working!) and we have a favourite name for our new son. However, our 3-year-old can't pronounce it. It's not complicated, just he can't say S (says D instead - don't know if this is common? Also says D for F). Would you still go for the name you like, risking everyone misinterpreting new son's name? Unfortunately, the mispronunciation sounds like another word...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

jasper · 19/01/2009 14:00

Very common.
Don't worry.

he wll learn to say it soon enough.

BUT be prepared for his mispronounciation to stick as a family nickname, possibly forever!

crumpet · 19/01/2009 14:02

my 48 yr old BIL is still known in the family by the mispronounced name dh used to call him. I think its a nice common reference point for them all.

coppertop · 19/01/2009 14:03

My ds has a friend called Sam. My nearly 3yr-old usually calls him Dam.

Your 3yr-old will learn how to say it properly eventually. If you like the name, keep it.

Original poster

Beccatheboo · 19/01/2009 14:13

Well, I'll let you into a secret... I love the name Seth, but my son says Death! Would you still keep it?!

OP posts:

Lancelottie · 19/01/2009 14:14

Friend of mine has a baby called Rebecca. Her 2-yr-old sister refers to her as Baby Bugger.

One of my family (who shall be nameless) called his younger brother Yikes and his sister IssyPiss. It doesn't SEEM to have scarred them too much.

Fimbo · 19/01/2009 14:15

Yes keep it. My ds used to call my dd dada as he couldn't say her name (begins with an R). He eventually learned to say it properly.

purpleduck · 19/01/2009 14:17

My dd used to say TeeTee...my ds's name is nothing like that.

seeker · 19/01/2009 14:21

The other way round I know, but my ds called his big sister Dace and himself Matmick. Guess what they still call each other nearly 8 years on...........!

RubyRioja · 19/01/2009 14:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sonniebonnie · 19/01/2009 14:47

Go for the name you love! Its just a matter of time for your ds to pronounce it properly. Seth is lovely!

jasper · 19/01/2009 14:50

Seth is lovely .
Even Death is cute from a 3 year old!

BennyAndJoon · 19/01/2009 14:53

I know a grandmother called welly. She is called that because her sister couldn't say verity.

Everybody calls her welly, including her Grandkids

so as others have said it can stick.

Death is less likely to stick imo though

MmeLindt · 19/01/2009 14:56

Go for it, it is a lovely name and DS will learn in time.

My DS is 4yo and has only just managed to master his sister's name (it is a lot more complicated than Seth though). I found it cute.

Megglevache · 19/01/2009 14:58

Yes very common. My ds rather proudly announced to the postman, when asked what his new sister was called, "Bitch!"

Well the first letter was right anyway

Helsbels4 · 19/01/2009 15:00

My dd used to call my ds School because I always used to say to her, "Come on, lets get ready to go to the school" when we went to collect him! She's nearly four now and doesn't call him that anymore, so go with what you were thinking!

FAQtothefuture · 19/01/2009 15:01

I@m rather glad there's only 6yrs between DS3 and DS1, as DS3 calls DS1

"DADDY"

Megglevache · 19/01/2009 15:11

Hels, that's funny my dd calls her brother "door!" as that's what we are always saying when he crashes into the rooma nd doesn't close it

Helsbels4 · 19/01/2009 15:19

Megglevache, that's really funny! We used to get so many odd looks when she called him School but I thought it was quite sweet!

FAQtothefuture · 20/01/2009 15:43

not a sibling story, but an incident on the way home from school reminded me of this thread.

There is a TA at the school who has a DD at my DS1's Junior school. They both usually come to the church after school service once a month so DS2 (5) knows the DD quite well.

She walked past us on the way home (heading down to meet her mum at the infant school).

DS2 very excitedly shouted

"hello kerthbert"

she turned round and looked slightly bamboozled but said hello to him anyhow.

I then had to explain to DS2 that her name is kirstin not Kerthbert

Helsbels4 · 20/01/2009 15:45

Kerthbert!!! Bless her for still answering him though!

keels26 · 20/01/2009 17:47

My partner couldnt say his brothers name when he was 3, its Jonathan but he called him Jof. 25 years later and thats still what everyone calls him!

lottiejenkins · 20/01/2009 17:51

My godmothers youngest daughter is called Margaret, her older sister couldnt pronounce it so called her Moggy.......their mothers twin sister was called Yvonne and they(and us) call her Weeone!!

loobeylou · 20/01/2009 18:36

I know an Elizabeth whose 2 yr old sister when introduced to the new born sibling with "this is Elizabeth" replied "a little Biff" and so Biff she still is 50+yrs on, to absolutely everyone!

melpomene · 20/01/2009 20:46

If you love the name, I don't think you should be put off if your ds can't pronounce it yet; it's likely he'll learn before too long. My dd2 (3 and 3/4) can't pronounce dd1's name properly yet, but it sounds cute and hasn't harmed the relationship between them at all.

However, I did feel sorry for a boy I saw on a kids' TV programme once who was 5 or 6 yo and couldn't pronounce his own name; he said 'Jaywoc' but later the narrator said his name and it was actually pronounced Jayroc. With an unusual name like that people wouldn't know what the name was 'supposed' to be when the boy said it.

noonki · 20/01/2009 21:00

I think it is very cute even if it is death!

My DSS had a speech impedement and went to a catholic school called 'Our lady of perpetual succour'

unfortunately he said his 's's as 'f's

sounded terrible on the bus..

just say 'our ladys' we would say
'no no' he would shout as only a 4 year old can

'she is a perpetual f**ker'

to this day I don't not what Succour is but we giggle everytime we drive past his old school.

Flip

1 2