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Original poster

Alessia - It's not *that* hard to pronounce, surely ?

25 replies

StantonLacy · 04/01/2010 14:17

Hoping for some encouraging words, ladies !

I gave birth to a beautiful girl on boxing day and we decided to call her Alessia. For the whole of the pregnancy DH and I could not agree on a name we both liked, ending up with a "shortlist"(ahem) of about sixteen names.

Finally, two days after she was born, I found Alessia on an Italian baby names list - we both completely loved it.

However, it seems that hardly anyone can pronounce it, or get it right ! It is driving me up the wall and I am starting to doubt our choice. Surely it's quite a simple name to pronounce ? A-less-ee-a. And yet, all we seem to get is blank looks and delightful comments such as "Oh...well, I like Alicia" ??!!!!
Sorry for the rant, everyone. I just feel so puzzled that people can't get it right. What do you all think ? Anyone else had a similar problem ?

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Iklboo · 04/01/2010 14:19

My first thought was 'Al-ess-ee-a'. The double s make me think it was the 'short' e sound rather than Al-ee-see-a (if that makes ANY sense?)

BelleDameSansMerci · 04/01/2010 14:19

I read it and pronounced it as you've said is correct so, no, I don't think it is hard to pronounce properly. Lovely name, by the way.

My DP's name is Kai, which is now very common, but he still gets called Kay sometimes!

Missus84 · 04/01/2010 14:20

Do you live in a very "English" place where people only know Jacks and Chloes?

I have friends called Alessia and Alessio, never noticed a problem with pronounciation - but this is in a more multicultural city.

Beautiful name btw!

juneybean · 04/01/2010 14:20

I said it outloud before I opened the thread and said "A-less-ee-ah"

GetOrfMoiLand · 04/01/2010 14:20

Congrats on your baby girl.

Sorry to say it but you will probably have to grit your teeth and bear it with this one, it is an unusual name.

Just repeat how you pronounce it and ignore any comments. My dd is called Sophia - 15 years later MIL still calls her Sophie (and loads of people mispronounce it, and it is not exactly an uncommon name).

beyondfurious · 04/01/2010 14:22

It's not hard to pronounce once you've heard it.

Until you said it phonetically I just thought "not a real name, probably trying to tart up the name Alicia"

Heated · 04/01/2010 14:24

Would pn it A-less-ee-a and I've just checked back and it's how you do it too, phew!

Only problematic to those with a lisp, I would have thought

Original poster
StantonLacy · 04/01/2010 14:30

Thanks everyone ! I so love the name and it riles me that I would even consider changing it, but you know how hormones get you in the early days (Really had to reign myself in whilst discussing name of DD with very rude lady in supermarket....deep breaths..)

Missus84 - I know, it's bizarre, you'd think that I lived somewhere quite isolated from the rest of the world, if judged by the responses I'm getting - but no, I live in Birmingham! Very, very multicultural.

Competely love it that you all got it right !

OP posts:
Missus84 · 04/01/2010 14:36

Perhaps you just need to resign yourself to saying "no, it's Italian - Alessia not Alicia". The problem is probably just that it's quite close to a more familiar name.

ladylush · 04/01/2010 14:42

Imho this is common in the UK. I also live in a multi-cultural area but find that people struggle with unusual names and try to make them into something that sounds more familiar. It is really infuriating. I have an unusual name so it's a bit of a sore point. We have lovely neighbours who are friendly and chatty, yet despite living here 4 years they still get my name wrong (it's Irish) - one calls me Serena and the other Sandra Needless to say, it's neither. Alessia is a nice name and easy to pronounce for anyone with a basic grasp of grammar.

birdofthenorth · 04/01/2010 14:50

Nice name, I would pronounce it as you do. Congrats! You'll just have to correct people for a couple of weeks, then they'll all have been told!!

BrokenArm · 04/01/2010 14:54

Oooh! Score! Got it in one. The pronounciation OP expects, I mean, my first guess about it was right.
But... dunno what to advise OP, it's an unusual name, ppl will often butcher it. That's the price you pay for a unique name. I think you have to learn to live with it.

boodleboot · 04/01/2010 15:31

Lovely name.....very good choice. Ignore them.

mumoverseas · 04/01/2010 15:36

lovely name, not hard to pronounce at all.
Congratulations by the way, lovely day for a birthday, all the best girls are born on boxing day

hocuspontas · 04/01/2010 15:42

Nice name and obvious when written down I would have thought. I think she will have a lifetime of spelling it out for people though!

TopSop · 04/01/2010 15:48

Alessia is a lovely name! I cannot see why anyone would have a problem pronouncing it. (It's the Italian version of Alexia, isn't it?)

Esmee · 04/01/2010 19:02

I know an Alessia... but she is ah-LEES-ee-ah, not ah-LESS-ee-ah.

If I didn't know her, though, I would pronounce it the way you are. I think it's pretty!

MaggieMnaSneachta · 04/01/2010 19:05

I don't like it. It's like adding an extra spoon of sugar (and cream) to a name.

I could get used to it. It is pretty, but my initial reaction is ooooh bit much.

MaggieMnaSneachta · 04/01/2010 19:07

ps ignore my earlier comment.

I knew it was pronounced AlESSS ee ya . I didn't think it was al eeee see ya or aleee sha.

lola0109 · 04/01/2010 21:12

My SIL is due in March 3 days before me and her choice of name if DD is Alyssia. I think it looks beautiful written down but am too scared to ask how to pronounce it as she has told her brother countless times but he can't remember!

I will, however, remember it forever as soon as I hear her say it! It's just rude not to, and I won't even question her pronunciation.

But unfortunately, as with Alessia, it's one of these names that has to be heard IYKWIM so I think you'll have to grin and bear it at least once. But if people question it again after hearing it then that would annoy me.

FWIW it's a gorgeous name, written and how you pronounce it, so don't change it!

GoddessRidingSantasSleigh · 05/01/2010 00:46

anyone who can't pronounce that is their problem because i read it how you said it i like it too

don't even think about changing it its her name now and you like it!

you just have to get used to people being stupid not being able to pronounce it. no one except doctors can pronounce my dd's name by reading it (i know its the right spelling because clever doctors/consultants get it right every time)

Casmama · 05/01/2010 22:13

I think it is a lovely name and and obvious how to pronounce i. Lola I would assume your SILs LO will be A liss ee a but who knows.

angeltop · 06/01/2018 19:32

We had an Alessia Rose born 2/16. Beautiful name but people insist on repeating Alicia.........noooooooo...

daisypond · 06/01/2018 20:16

It seems obvious to me how it should be pronounced - the way you do. It's a lovely name.

FreddieClaryHorshieLion · 07/01/2018 10:32

The Alessia I know is called A-le-sseuh

So yes, I would have pronounced that differently. But this pronunciation is rather easy as well / shouldn’t be too confusing...

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