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[Opinions] Re: Frustrated by mispronunciation
in reply to a message by Haeri
Rhys is not the most common spelling and just because you spelled it that way doesn't mean everyone is going to know how it is pronounced, you'll just have to deal with it. It really drives me up a tree when parents choose an unpopular spelling or pronunciation of a common name and then get offended when it is mispronounced. I think if you're going to choose an unpopular spelling or pronunciation of a name you don't have the right to be offended when people mispronounce it because it's uncommon and it should be obvious that people will mispronounce a name like Rhys.
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umm...If you look it up Rhys IS the real version.. its not an "unpopular spelling" if they spelt it something like Rheeyse then that would be a silly spelling. Reece or Reese are the anglicised spellings.
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I never said that Rhys wasn't the original spelling, just that it isn't the most common one.
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It is "unpopular" in the states, actually. I have gleaned from BTN that it's a pretty standard name in other English-speaking countries but here my impression is that It's almost unknown. Reese/Reece are way more common. I had never heard of Rhys before I came to BTN and I thought it was totally ridiculous.I sort of agree with Rainbow Dash that it's unreasonable to expect people to be familiar with a spelling counterintuitive to what they're culturally accustomed to. But I don't think the OP should have named their kid Reese instead. However, not being a name specialist a few years ago, when I would have said Rhys incorrectly, does not mean that I was a "moron" despite living in the south, and I basically think OP should suck it up and get over it. Suffer for beauty, right?

This message was edited 8/13/2011, 9:54 PM

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To be fair, I think Rainbow Dash meant to say that choosing a spelling that's unusual in certain locations and then getting upset when people don't pronounce it right (because they're unfamiliar with it) can be a bit absurd.I'm sorry, but I agree (not saying this to Haeri specifically, but in general). I don't know where Haeri lives, but if it's the southern US, or US in general, I'm not surprised. Rhys is not a common name here, especially in that spelling, when most people are familiar with the name because of Reese Witherspoon.
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My aunt/ uncle/ cousins have the last name Reese (like Reese's Pieces and Peanut Butter Cups). I also know of a family that spells it Reece from work. I heard it said REE sees on tv, and it annoyed me. Rhys isn't common here, so there will be an annoying amount of people will mispronounce it. Even one can be annoying- the secretary keeps saying bri SIH dee ah for Briceida (bree SAY da). She should know the name. The kid has gone to school here four years now.
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It's also more present as a surname here than a given name. And I've only ever seen the surname spelled Reese, never Rhys.
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