I really like the name [name_f]Annika[/name_f], and the reason I’ve always written it off before is due to the potential mispronunciations. [name_f]My[/name_f] preferred pronunciation is AWN-ih-kuh, but I realize some people might pronounce it ANNE-ih-kuh. I don’t know what the predominant pronunciation would be in our area (northeastern US), as I don’t currently know anyone with this name here. (Two I’ve known in the past were both AWN-ih-kuh).
I have a name that is pretty easy to pronounce (although difficult to spell!) so I’m also curious how much it matters if someone mispronounces a name when reading it for the first time, or how often that would actually be an issue.
So I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on these questions:
How would you pronounce [name_f]Annika[/name_f] (and it would be helpful to give a general idea of where you are in the world if you’re comfortable doing that)?
Would you use a name that might get mispronounced like this?
If you have (or one of your family members) has a name with a potential to get mispronounced like this, how much of a problem has it actually been in everyday life?
I don’t want to automatically dismiss a name I like for something I suspect will be an issue, but really wouldn’t be a problem in everyday life. Thanks!
I put ‘Annika’ in youtube for fun and the [name_f]English[/name_f] pronounciation is so crazy to me! In [name_f]English[/name_f] it sounds like some exotic name. Maybe Asian… Onekha… Awnekah… I honestly didn’t recognise it at all!
It’s a very popular and almost traditional name in my country. ‘A’ as in ‘father’ (not like in ‘apple’ and no ‘w’). The emphasis of the name is on ‘n’ (a bit nasal). So Annnni. And you don’t make the ‘ka’ sound breathy with ‘kha’ or ‘kah’. [name_m]Just[/name_m] hard ‘K’ as in the word ‘king’ + ‘A’ as in the word ‘father’. Put it into Google Translator and make it Estonian. But probably everyone else here will say Awnekah. [name_u]Super[/name_u] interesting to me!
@Parfait_de_Roses How interesting! Thanks for sharing about the pronunciation where you live I just listened to the Estonian pronunciation according to Google Translate and it was exactly what I was imagining from your description! So good job there
It’s also interesting to me that Google Translate pronounces [name_f]Annika[/name_f] in [name_f]English[/name_f] as “ANNE-ih-uh” instead of the pronunciation I was expecting!
I live in the Midwest USA and have known 2 Annika’s, both with the AWN-ih-kuh pronunciation. Both of them also came from strong Swedish heritage. The first time I looked at it written I said it like ANN-ik-kuh, but now I only say AWN-ih-kuh
I know an [name_f]Annika[/name_f] who pronounces hers ANNE-ih-kuh. Wouldn’t be surprised to hear the other pronunciation, though! I know I’ve met one (AWN-ih-kuh), but I think her name was spelt [name_f]Anika[/name_f].
AWN-ih-kuh (actually probably more like AW-nih-kuh, but very similar to your preferred prn) – in the southern US.
In this case, yes. I think the pronunciation is intuitive and shouldn’t take more than one correction for most people.
I know one Annika who uses the AWN-ih-kuh pronunciation, but I don’t know what her general experience has been with the name.
As an additional note: I think the previously suggested Anika might get uh-NEE-kuh, sometimes. I think this is just one of those names that will need initial correction, but those who know and love her will adjust accordingly.
I’m [name_f]British[/name_f] and I’d instinctively say ANNE-ih-ka, but I’ve also heard people say ONN-ih-ka (which I think is probably similar to your ‘awn’ pn?)
I live in the Midwest and everyone pronounces it Awn-ik-ah or maybe even closer to On-ik-ah. I have a name that is often mispronounced and honestly it doesn’t bother me at all!
I’m afraid to say I go between AWN-ih-kuh, an-NEE-kuh and an-ih-kuh so… I’m in the UK, and honestly, I’d just ask.
Yes, probably
the closest experience I have to that is that my mum’s name is a feminization, and she often gets called the masculine version, which she finds mildly irritating but not the worst thing in the world.
It’s common enough in Norwegian and I had a family member with the name. It’s not a drawn-out pronunciation – said “Ahn-i-ka.” There’s a slight emphasis on the “ka” syllable.
Great name, and great TV show starring [name_u]Nicola[/name_u] [name_u]Walker[/name_u], whose character is Norwegian.
I would have said [name_f]Ann[/name_f]- like the beginning of [name_f]Anita[/name_f] but [name_u]Ive[/name_u] never known anyone with this name. Im in the south eastern US
[name_f]Annika[/name_f] is quite a familiar name to me; I‘ve known multiple and they‘ve all pronounced their name ANNE-ih-kah. However, I live in Europe and not the US, where I’d expect AWN-ih-kuh to be quite intuitive. I’d still use such a name! Multiple people with “difficult” names I know get along just fine, they’ll correct people a few times in the beginning and then it’s not a problem
I say it with the [name_u]Anne[/name_u] sound but would not be surprised to be corrected, in sort of west/central US.
For me, multiple pronunciations is a downside to give serious thought to but not an automatic dealbreaker.
I’m not sure how much it would come up, none of my imediate family have a name with two pronunciations.
@ps3114 Editing to add that im in the Midwest US. I love this name as well as the name Anna so much! I can see myself pronouncing it either way, so I just think it’s important to listen carefully to the way the person pronounces their name. Personally, I wouldn’t mind if someone asked how to pronounce my name, and I think the majority of people would prefer to be asked if there is confusion. Yes, I would use a name that could be mispronounced often, especially if it’s easy to spell like Annika. But it would depend upon how much I loved the name. The people I know are so used to correcting mispronunciations that it’s not an issue.
I hope this helps!!
I love [name_f]Annika[/name_f]. I’m in the U.S. Midwest, and I pronounce it ANN-ih-kuh. That’s the way it was pronounced on the movie version of “Pippi Longstocking” that I watched as a kid, and it never really occurred to me that it would be unfamiliar to most people. I was startled when I had a friend tell me about a family she followed on social media and she pronounced [name_f]Anika[/name_f] (one n) “On-EEK-uh”. I asked her if that’s how the family pronounced it, or if that’s what she was getting from reading it, and that’s the conclusion she’d come to by reading only. So, I wanted you to know that THAT pronunciation exists in some people’s minds, too.
I know many Annikas, all spelled differently (Annika, [name_f]Aanika[/name_f], [name_f]Anika[/name_f], Annica) and they all pronounce it AWN-ih-kuh!!
I would pronounce it AWN-ih-kuh and I’m from the US
Yes! One of my favorite names is [name_f]Annalise[/name_f] and I prefer the Awn-uh-LEESE pronunciation despite the fact that most people would say ANN-uh-leese
In [name_f]English[/name_f] it sounds like some exotic name. Maybe Asian… 
But probably everyone else here will say Awnekah.
I just listened to the Estonian pronunciation according to Google Translate and it was exactly what I was imagining from your description! So good job there 
The people I know are so used to correcting mispronunciations that it’s not an issue.
