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Help[Opinions] Names you have mispronounced or misunderstood
Have you ever fallen in love with a name and then found out that it wasn't pronounced like you thought, that it has bad associations, that it's a boys' name, not a girls' name (or vice versa) or something like this?
Here are mine:
I thought that Sorcha was pronounced SORE-chuh and loved this. Then I learned that it's really SOR-uh-kuh, which sounds like the old Gutnish (the old dialect of the island of Gotland) word for boys. Not attractive to my ears.
I thought that Saoirse was pronounced SHORE-suh, which I liked. Then I learned that it's SEER-shuh, which I think sounds shrieking. BTW, I also thought it was Irish for Georgia.
I thought Remedios was pronounced re-me-DEE-ohs, but it's really re-ME-di-ohs, which reminds me of "mass media".
I still like Nayeli, but I thought it was pronounced na-YE-lee. It's apparently more like na-SCHE-li, which I don't really like.
I have always thought of Gemini as a girls' name pronounced JEM-mi-nee, so I don't like the idea of a boys' name pronounced GHEM-mi-nye.
I think Troy is horrible on a boy, but I can't help thinking it's rather cool for a girl.
Here are mine:
I thought that Sorcha was pronounced SORE-chuh and loved this. Then I learned that it's really SOR-uh-kuh, which sounds like the old Gutnish (the old dialect of the island of Gotland) word for boys. Not attractive to my ears.
I thought that Saoirse was pronounced SHORE-suh, which I liked. Then I learned that it's SEER-shuh, which I think sounds shrieking. BTW, I also thought it was Irish for Georgia.
I thought Remedios was pronounced re-me-DEE-ohs, but it's really re-ME-di-ohs, which reminds me of "mass media".
I still like Nayeli, but I thought it was pronounced na-YE-lee. It's apparently more like na-SCHE-li, which I don't really like.
I have always thought of Gemini as a girls' name pronounced JEM-mi-nee, so I don't like the idea of a boys' name pronounced GHEM-mi-nye.
I think Troy is horrible on a boy, but I can't help thinking it's rather cool for a girl.
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Replies
Not anything I've fallen in love with, but names can confuse me sometimes.
A lady in my due date group has a daughter named Eilidh and I've seen it around here, she told me the correct way to pronounce it but I can't for the life of me stop seeing it as eyelid!!!!
A lady in my due date group has a daughter named Eilidh and I've seen it around here, she told me the correct way to pronounce it but I can't for the life of me stop seeing it as eyelid!!!!
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I say Gemini as JEM-in-eye. Never heard GHE-.
I thought Remedios is reh-MEH-dee-ohs.
Evelyn pronounced EEV-el-in or EEV-lin bugs me. It's EV-el-in to me.
Aaliyah looks like ALL-ee-a to me, not a-LEE-a.
I prefer the English prn of Genevieve.
Can't stand Phaedra pron. FAY- or FEE-. Should be FED-ra.
Sarai looks like SAY-rye to me. not sair-EYE
I wasn't aware until fairly recently that Maurice could be prn like Morris.
How the hell do you say Elias. That name is annoying. It's worse than Isaiah. wtf. Eye zye uh? Is eye uh? Eye zay uh? Ee sigh Ee uh?
I thought Remedios is reh-MEH-dee-ohs.
Evelyn pronounced EEV-el-in or EEV-lin bugs me. It's EV-el-in to me.
Aaliyah looks like ALL-ee-a to me, not a-LEE-a.
I prefer the English prn of Genevieve.
Can't stand Phaedra pron. FAY- or FEE-. Should be FED-ra.
Sarai looks like SAY-rye to me. not sair-EYE
I wasn't aware until fairly recently that Maurice could be prn like Morris.
How the hell do you say Elias. That name is annoying. It's worse than Isaiah. wtf. Eye zye uh? Is eye uh? Eye zay uh? Ee sigh Ee uh?
This message was edited 6/25/2013, 1:04 AM
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Elias and Isaiah
The way I've always pronounced them is
El-EYE-us and EYE-zay-uh
Although I have heard them prn various different ways
The way I've always pronounced them is
El-EYE-us and EYE-zay-uh
Although I have heard them prn various different ways
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Yeah. I've only ever heard JEM-in-eye for Gemini.
I've ever heard EEV-el-in for Evelyn, but if I did it would probably bug me!
I also pronounce Aaliyah (and Alia, etc) as AH-lee-uh. Although, if it has a "y" in it (Aaliyah, Aaliya, Aliya) then I'm okay with the a-LEE-a pronunciation. Alia is totally ALL-ee-a though. :P
Haha, I've only ever heard eye-ZAY-uh for Isaiah.
I've ever heard EEV-el-in for Evelyn, but if I did it would probably bug me!
I also pronounce Aaliyah (and Alia, etc) as AH-lee-uh. Although, if it has a "y" in it (Aaliyah, Aaliya, Aliya) then I'm okay with the a-LEE-a pronunciation. Alia is totally ALL-ee-a though. :P
Haha, I've only ever heard eye-ZAY-uh for Isaiah.
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Maurice is always said like Morris here, afaik.
Totally with you on Evelyn. EEV lin makes me wince.
Totally with you on Evelyn. EEV lin makes me wince.
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I have always understood Elias to be pronounced "uh-LYE-is". I have known a couple of people with Elias as a surname who pronounced it this way, and I went to the same high school as an Elias who I'm pretty sure pronounced it that way as well (I didn't know him personally, however, so I may be wrong about that). I'm not sure if this pronunciation is actually the most common/ the most accepted, or it's just a coincidence that it's the only one I have encountered.
As for Isaiah, I have a cousin with the name who pronounces it eye-ZAY-uh. I also grew up in a Catholic household as a child, and always heard it pronounced that way in my religious education classes and at church. Again, I'm not sure how common that pronunciation is overall- there's always the possibility that this is a just a regional pronunciation or something.
I hope this helps you to some extent!
As for Isaiah, I have a cousin with the name who pronounces it eye-ZAY-uh. I also grew up in a Catholic household as a child, and always heard it pronounced that way in my religious education classes and at church. Again, I'm not sure how common that pronunciation is overall- there's always the possibility that this is a just a regional pronunciation or something.
I hope this helps you to some extent!
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I know an Aaliyah (parents are from Pakistan) who pronounces it ALL-ee-a. I think that is the correct Arabic / Urdu pronunciation.
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In Britain the name Isaiah is always Eye-zye-uh but I recently heard an American say Is-ay-uh I think or maybe it was Is-eye-uh. Either way I thought it was odd so now if I met an American Isaiah I wouldn't have a clue how to say their name!
I feel the same about the name Aaliyah too. I think it's having two As at the start makes you want to stress that syllable. Also Evelyn. I grew up saying Ev-lin or hearing Ev-el-in but my friends call their daughter EEV-lin so I have to always remind myself to say it that way.
I feel the same about the name Aaliyah too. I think it's having two As at the start makes you want to stress that syllable. Also Evelyn. I grew up saying Ev-lin or hearing Ev-el-in but my friends call their daughter EEV-lin so I have to always remind myself to say it that way.
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I remembered one more:
Araceli. I thought it was air-uh-SELL-ee before I looked up here to see it's supposedly ah-rah-THE-le or ah-rah-SE-le. But then someone said it could also be ara-CHAY-lee and I thought that was kind of cute.
Araceli. I thought it was air-uh-SELL-ee before I looked up here to see it's supposedly ah-rah-THE-le or ah-rah-SE-le. But then someone said it could also be ara-CHAY-lee and I thought that was kind of cute.
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The first time I read Araceli, I thought it was English and pronounced ah-RAYS-lee. I also remembered it wrongly, as Aracelin.
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Aracelin seems like it would be related to penicillin lol. I could see ah-RAYS-lee working, though. At least, I can see the logic behind it. :)
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Cassia - like it pronounced CAS-ee-uh but not said as "casha"
Corinna - disappointed to find it pronounced REEN and not RIN in the middle.
Georgia - used to think it had three syllables. Still like it, though.
Kezia - used to think it was KEH-zee-uh and don't like it pronounced to rhyme at the end with "higher"
Corinna - disappointed to find it pronounced REEN and not RIN in the middle.
Georgia - used to think it had three syllables. Still like it, though.
Kezia - used to think it was KEH-zee-uh and don't like it pronounced to rhyme at the end with "higher"
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The only Kezia I know pronounces it KEE-zee-uh. I was surprised when I found out it's usually keh-ZIE-uh.
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I was at school with a Keziah who pronounced it Keh-zee-uh so that's how I've always assumed Kezia(h) was pronounced. I've never heard anyone say it any differently. I'm wondering if one is the British and one the American pronunciation? Like I'm sure Cassia would be Cass-ee-uh here, but Americans tend to say Cash-uh.
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Ditto with Cassia. I know it's "casha" but in my head I always say CAS-ee-uh.
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I first thought Thalia was pronounce like it rhymed with Dahlia and started with a "th" noise. I still like that, but I like its actual pronunciation too.
I remember when I thought Sorcha was pronounced SORE-sha (It reminded me of Sacha when I looked at it). I like of like that.
I like Barclay pronounced axactly how it looks "bar-clay," but not like "Barkley."
I like Sian pronounced like "Sharn" as if it almost rhymes with "yarn" or "barn" (This is how it's said on Forvo and that's how I say it). A lot of people here say that they say it differently. Still haven't decided what the truth is or if it really is a dialect thing.
I once pronounce Gillespie as JIL-ess-pee. I like GIH-less-pee better.
Ivaylo / Ivayla was once EYE-vay-lo/a to me.
I used to pronounce Zephyr as ZEE-fer and I was sad when it was said ZEH-fer, but actually, I like that more now.
I remember when I thought Sorcha was pronounced SORE-sha (It reminded me of Sacha when I looked at it). I like of like that.
I like Barclay pronounced axactly how it looks "bar-clay," but not like "Barkley."
I like Sian pronounced like "Sharn" as if it almost rhymes with "yarn" or "barn" (This is how it's said on Forvo and that's how I say it). A lot of people here say that they say it differently. Still haven't decided what the truth is or if it really is a dialect thing.
I once pronounce Gillespie as JIL-ess-pee. I like GIH-less-pee better.
Ivaylo / Ivayla was once EYE-vay-lo/a to me.
I used to pronounce Zephyr as ZEE-fer and I was sad when it was said ZEH-fer, but actually, I like that more now.
This message was edited 6/24/2013, 1:53 PM
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Siân is shaan in all parts of Wales - in non-rhotic accents it does pretty much rhyme with barn. Don't know where these other people are getting their pronunciation from, but they're wrong! :D
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But which pronunciation of Thalia is considered the correct one? I've always said it the way you did, but there's also TAL-ee-ah, ta-LEE-ah, tha-LYE-ah, and THAY-lee-ah.
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I'm told it's correctly said tah-LYE-ah by a family of Greek descent. *shrug*
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Elowen -- I thought it was pronounced EL-oh-wen, but apparently it's supposed to be el-OH-wen. I like my pronunciation better!
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I didn't know that one. I've been saying it incorrectly as well then and I like how we say it better too.
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Ditto
:)
:)
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Tritto
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There are a lot of names I have mispronounced! Here are a few:
Matthias- I always thought it was pronounced Muh-THEE-us, but a friend had a little boy named this and she pronounces it Muh-TEE-us.
Amelie- I used to pronounce this name AM-muh-lee, but then I heard someone say AHM-muh-lee.
Eisley/Aisley- I never know if it's pronounced I-lee or EYES-lee
Imogene- ImoGIN verses ImoGENE
Declan- I've heard it pronounced Dee-Clan
Matthias- I always thought it was pronounced Muh-THEE-us, but a friend had a little boy named this and she pronounces it Muh-TEE-us.
Amelie- I used to pronounce this name AM-muh-lee, but then I heard someone say AHM-muh-lee.
Eisley/Aisley- I never know if it's pronounced I-lee or EYES-lee
Imogene- ImoGIN verses ImoGENE
Declan- I've heard it pronounced Dee-Clan
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Oh, and some more...
I used to like the name Romaine, until I found out that it's salad!
When I was a child, I saw the name Reine written on a wall and thought it was beautiful. In Swedish it's a boys' name pronounced RAY-neh. It's rather unusual, a form of Reinhold I think. Anyway, I thought it was a girls' name! A little strange, since "reine" (pr. RHEN) means "queen" in French, and I didn't know a word of French then!
I used to like the name Romaine, until I found out that it's salad!
When I was a child, I saw the name Reine written on a wall and thought it was beautiful. In Swedish it's a boys' name pronounced RAY-neh. It's rather unusual, a form of Reinhold I think. Anyway, I thought it was a girls' name! A little strange, since "reine" (pr. RHEN) means "queen" in French, and I didn't know a word of French then!
This message was edited 6/24/2013, 12:30 PM
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I agree with you about Sorcha, Saoirse (also can be SAIR-sha), and Gemini.
I've always pronounced Nayeli like nay-ELLE-ee. Where did you hear about the na-SCHE-li pronunciation?
I thought Calista was pronounced ca-LEES-ta growing up until I heard someone say it out loud as ca-LISS-ta. I like my way so much more.
There's so many more but I can't think of any right now.
I've always pronounced Nayeli like nay-ELLE-ee. Where did you hear about the na-SCHE-li pronunciation?
I thought Calista was pronounced ca-LEES-ta growing up until I heard someone say it out loud as ca-LISS-ta. I like my way so much more.
There's so many more but I can't think of any right now.
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Calista is a better pronunciation :) It's nice and Spanish
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You mean the traditional pronunciation is better?
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Sorry, my computer was a bit messed up :/ I meant the one with the EE sound.
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It's cool! :)
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I don't remember where I read about the na-SCHE-li pronounciation, I thought it was here on BtN, but now I can't find that comment. I still pronounce it na-YEH-li, though.
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I think that "na-SCHE-li" may be trying to represent the original pronunciation of the name in the Zapotec language, but that is not how most modern name bearers would pronounce it. They would use a "Hispanicized" pronounciation that would end up sounding like "nah-YELL-ee", "nuh-YELL-ee" or "nye-ELL-ee" to English speakers.
It's like "Xochitl". The original Nahuatl (Aztec) pronunciation of that was "show-CHEAT-ul", but in modern Mexico it usually is just said "SO-chee".
It's like "Xochitl". The original Nahuatl (Aztec) pronunciation of that was "show-CHEAT-ul", but in modern Mexico it usually is just said "SO-chee".
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Hm, interesting. I love its meaning; it'd be sweet to name your kid that. :)
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Joachim confuses me.
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Ganix I thought the X was pronounced KS at first, but now I reckon it's more SH. I like it less now.
I also like Cebrian mispronounced (as SAY-bree-ən), but not said correctly (the-BRYAHN).
I used to think Micah was MEE-kah. For me getting the pronunciation MIE-kə out of it is a little odd. (I find Michael a little odd as well. I mean you don't say NIE-ko-ləs to Nicholas, RIE-kard to Richard, IE-ka-bod to Ichabod, or JER-rie-ko to Jericho either, don't you...)
Those are the only ones that I can think of now. But I KNOW there are more.
I also like Cebrian mispronounced (as SAY-bree-ən), but not said correctly (the-BRYAHN).
I used to think Micah was MEE-kah. For me getting the pronunciation MIE-kə out of it is a little odd. (I find Michael a little odd as well. I mean you don't say NIE-ko-ləs to Nicholas, RIE-kard to Richard, IE-ka-bod to Ichabod, or JER-rie-ko to Jericho either, don't you...)
Those are the only ones that I can think of now. But I KNOW there are more.
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Whoa. Whoa. Wait. How do you say Ganix?
That looks awesome!
That looks awesome!
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GAH-neesh
I think it looks awesome indeed :D
Here's a link to the pronunciation:
http://www.forvo.com/word/ganix/#eu
I think it looks awesome indeed :D
Here's a link to the pronunciation:
http://www.forvo.com/word/ganix/#eu
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