See the results of this poll: Pronunciation of Bayard
Respondents: 24 (This poll is closed)
- BAY-yard : 21 (88%)
- BYE-yard : 1 (4%)
- another way: 2 (8%)
I pronounce it “[name_u]Bay[/name_u]-erd”
[name_m]Bayard[/name_m] = I pronounce it as bay - urd -same as collmc523
My instinct says [name_m]Bayard[/name_m], especially since it’s of English origin.
As for hound imagery, I have to toss in my top boy name: [name_m]Lowell[/name_m]. I’m a lifelong dog lover, so I adore the meaning as well as the howl-like sound the name creates when it falls off my tongue.
I also thought it was [name_u]BAY[/name_u]-yard.
I’m so happy to see Wolfram on someone’s list! You might also like Valko, Conri, and [name_m]Zev[/name_m]. Great list!
@flaunt - Me too, but NB lists the pronunciation BYE-yard and apparently it’s derived from an old [name_m]French[/name_m] word, baiart, meaning bay-colored (source: behindthename), so then the BYE-yard pronunciation makes sense to me… but I much prefer and would instinctively say [name_m]BAYard[/name_m]. I forgot about [name_m]Lowell[/name_m]! He’s on my long list too 
@pistachio - Thanks! I don’t think I’d ever use Wolfram (at least not as a first name) but I love it in theory. Names that end in -ram ([name_m]Tristram[/name_m], [name_m]Abram[/name_m], [name_m]Bram[/name_m]) are guilty pleasures of mine… I guess I like the rumbly feel I get from that sound at the end. I really like [name_m]Zev[/name_m], it’s so cool and zippy! Thanks