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[Opinions] South African names from the 1940s and 1950s
This is taken from the attendance list at an on-line talk presented for and by retired people, but on this occasion open to others. The attendance list only covers retirees, who I guess would be anything from 60 years old upward.The names are likely to be closer to British than American usage, I imagine. I also imagine that the gap is closing.Hennie; Jim; Glenn; Robin; Michael; Rod; Tom; Keith; John; Mick; Phil; Ian; David; John; Peter; Philip; Richmond; Clive; David; Derek; Bob; Pat (gender unknown); Graham; Ed; Allan; Norman; Neil; Malan; Eric; John; John; Klaus; Godfrey; David; Pat (gender unknown); Blaise; Roger; Pat (gender unknown); Pat (gender unknown); GuyDeborah; Leticia; Ann; Christine; Deirdre; Jeanne; Audrey; Dianne; Lori; Kathleen; Daphne; Margaret; Sal; Mary-Ann; Trudi; Jane; Ann; Beverley; Willemien; Marie; Daniela; Peta; Gillan (possible typo); Pamela; Anne; Jenny; Gilly; Diana; Therina; ElaineMalan is a surname. My guess is that Therina is a feminised version of the surname Theron, in which case the h would be silent. Theron (the surname) is pronounced Trawn in US English; in UK English it rhymes with horn but the vowel is shorter.
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I like Marie, Deirdre, Margaret, Anne, Diana, and Elaine. I don’t really like any of the boy names.
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QuoteTheron (the surname) is pronounced Trawn in US English
This stuck out to me, if only because I've only ever heard, in the U.S., Charlize Theron's name pronounced as THER-uhn (with a soft "th").I like:Robin
Michael (too bad it's so overused)
David (ditto)
Derek
Graham
Allan
Eric
Klaus
&
Deirdre
Audrey
Kathleen
Daphne
Jane
Beverley
Marie
Anne
Diana
Therina (this is interesting, I'm almost surprised Therina / Terina never trended in the U.S. in the 60s / 70s)
ElaineIf anybody honestly told me they didn't think John was overused worldwide, I could just point to this class list as evidence to the contrary. It looks like it could potentially be used to argue there are too many Patricks / Patricias, as well...Willemien intrigues me. I'm guessing it's pronounce wil-uh-MAYN?
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I suspect that Charlize found her original ln pronunciation too unfamiliar to most Americans and chose to make life easier for them, and therefore for herself!Willemien is the male name Willem (= William) feminised. And, Afrikaans being close to Dutch and German, the W sounds like a V and the i like an uh, or a schwa. And the -mien is like the Min in Minnie, the well-known Mouse. There's a light stress on vil and the main stress on MIN.
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