hi i wanted to name my kid theo but i’m afraid that when he goes to europe and speaks english he would pronounce his name the english way Thee-yo and most people won’t understand it cause [name_u]Theo[/name_u] there is being pronounced like [name_u]Tay[/name_u]-o. Should he pronounce his way the english or the european way, when he speaks English:confused: in Europe? what would you advise me?
I would tell you to name your child whatever you love. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t worry about how it might sound in another accent. My daughter is [name_f]Isobel[/name_f] (Iz-o-bell) but we have many Spanish friends who pronounce it Ees-ah-bell…its no big deal. [name_u]Theo[/name_u] will probably think it’s super cool that his name is pronounced differently in different languages/accents.
I actually know a family who used [name_u]Theo[/name_u] because it was an easily recognizable name in Europe (the family spends a lot of time in [name_u]Sweden[/name_u]) and even though the pronunciation is different, it is very similar as compared with most other names. I would just be aware of both pronunciations and use the European one as need be if people are confused and such. I wouldn’t worry about it too much.
Are you going to be raising [name_u]Theo[/name_u] primarily in Europe? Or have a lot of relatives who would be confused by the different pronunciations? If not, then I would not worry about it.
As long as it is not confusing for many friends and family it should be fine. If he meets someone and they mispronounce it, he can correct them, no big deal. Friends and family will learn it quickly. If you want it pronounced Thee-o, then spell it [name_u]Theo[/name_u]. If you want it pronounced tay-o I would spell it Taeo. If you are primarily living wherever you speak english then I would say go with what you prefer as both are easily recognizable here. If you will be primarily in Europe then do Taeo. If he is just going to be visiting Europe and people might mispronounce it, who cares! just correct them. Both names are lovely.
thanks to all of you for the replies. however isn,t it wrong if someone speaks english and does not pronounce his name the english way? it’s somehow awkward isn’t it? and yeah the kid will be raised in Europe.
Well, if he grows up in a non-English speaking country, I’d use the pronunciation that is used in the country you live, simply because the TH sound can be very hard for people whose mother tongue is not English. At home, if you speak English with him, I might pronounce it the English way but at school or nursery, I wouldn’t.
Unless you feel very strongly that his name must be pronounced a particular way, both by yourself and others, then you shouldn’t let it bother you. [name_u]Theo[/name_u] himself might prefer to let others pronounce his name differently to how you say it at home simply to fit in with his environment. The beauty of an international name is that it’s flexible. A friend’s daughter is named Aimée. Her father pronounces it the way it’s spelled, the [name_m]French[/name_m] way, Aim-ay, and her mother says [name_f]Amy[/name_f]. No harm done!
If someone speaks english well but pronounces it incorrectly I think it’s ok to politely correct them. I would imagine some of the mispronunciation will just be due accent and dialogue though. In those cases I personally would let it slide, but that’s just me. Either way I don’t think it will be that confusing for your son.
I guess its however you pronounce it as he grows up. Whichever pronunciation you use, he will use