[name_m]Hi[/name_m], we have a baby boy due in less than 2 months! Our family lives in the U.S.A. but my husband is from South [name_u]America[/name_u]. We both like the spanish name Miqueas which is the spanish version of [name_u]Micah[/name_u] and it is pronounced “Mikayus”. It sounds natural and beautiful to me, but I lived in latin america for many years. I would like feedback from you all how it sounds to those not accustomed to it.
Also, here is my other question. If we do decide to use the name, I am considering changing the spelling to a more Americanized spelling to avoid confusion and people constantly mispronouncing it here in the U.S.A. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you all have any good suggestions? Some of my ideas are: Mikeas, Mykeas, Micheas, but none of them feels quite right! (I want to avoid bringing to mind association with all the McKenzies, Makaylas, or even [name_u]Mickey[/name_u].)
[name_f]My[/name_f] name is [name_f]Micaela[/name_f], properly pronounced it is the Spanish name mi-ka-YEL-ah. After four decades in the U.S. I can honestly say that there is no right way to spell my name such that English speakers will say, correctly, my Spanish name. I have spelled my name every possible way on paper and it doesn’t work. People say [name_f]Mckayla[/name_f] over and over again. I say aloud: mi-KA-YEL-lah. mi-KA-YEL-lah. They still forget and say [name_f]McKayla[/name_f]. The ONLY people who pronounce my name correctly are my close friends & longtime colleagues, and all the Spanish speakers.
No matter how you spell his name it will be mispronounced all the time, constantly. No matter what you say, you will have to correct people many times. A large number of English speakers can’t get it at all.
If you want to avoid the hassle, the frustration, the dreaded 8th time you correct the same person, their embarrassment, your weariness, every day…then give him an American name and a Spanish name. He can use his beautiful Spanish name when he is around Spanish speakers. Around English speakers he can use his English name.
[name_f]My[/name_f] hand on my heart, I want to give you the best advice I can. So that’s my advice.
I really like the sound of Miqueas, and I like that I’ve never met one and yet it doesn’t seem “out there”.
I’m an English and [name_m]French[/name_m] speaker and I don’t know if I would have gotten the right pronunciation on my own without you explaining it (I might have thought the “qu” made the “kw” sound - Mikwayus?), but since you did explain it, I see how it makes sense and I don’t think I’d mess it up again.
If you live in a part of the U.S. with a lot of Spanish speakers, I’d leave the spelling as it is and assume that a fair number of people would get it. If you don’t, I would worry that it would be chronically misspelled and mispronounced - I have a pretty straightforward name of Irish/Scottish descent that is endlessly misspelled and once in awhile mispronounced. It turns out that people’s collective grasp of what different vowels do is pretty tenuous, and I could see the “quea” in Miqueas being really difficult for a lot of people. Of the spelling variations you offer, intuitively I think Mikeas might be the easiest (reducing the number of vowels in a row should help). If people understood the functions of different accents more, I’d suggest Mikéas, but practically speaking I think that would just be more confusing. So I guess my vote, if you’re asking about an anglicized spelling, is for Mikeas, and I definitely think most English speakers will mangle either spelling badly unless you live in an area with a lot of Spanish speakers.
I like the sound of Miqueas. Rather than butchering the spelling, I would choose a nickname that is more phonetically spelled/pronounced for English speakers. And have at the ready something like, “rhymes with [name_m]Andreas[/name_m],” to say when people get tripped up.
it probably depends on where you live. We’re in south [name_u]Texas[/name_u] and even though I’m not Hispanic or speak Spanish I pronounced it in my head the same way you said it is mentioned. If you like it go for it.
I would recommend keeping the spelling the way it traditionally is.
Your husband is South American - a traditional spanish spelling makes complete sense. Also Miqueas looks interesting and different enough that people will feel uncertain about how they pronounce it and therefore 1) might ask or 2) won’t mind so much if they are corrected.
I think trying to Americanize the name won’t fix your concerns and if anything will just create completely different problems and you won’t get the name you and your DH really love. Instead you’ll end up with something that sounds like it but doesn’t look like it.
I got it right on the first try, but in the US, you are going to gave prn problems. I like the name. I also like the way it flows. You just need to determine if you will mind the correction and reminders of spelling. Personally, I would go with the classic spelling or Micaius.
Micaeus would probably be the best phonetic substitute spelling. But then the name looks Latin. I would preserve the Spanish spelling as that is the one you fell in love with and the one that speaks to your family’s cultural heritage.
I like the previous poster’s suggestion of telling people it rhymes with [name_m]Andreas[/name_m]. I think most Americans can manage the pronunciation but will mangle the spelling, if you can live with that. Also be prepared for the likelihood that he will be called [name_m]Mick[/name_m] or [name_u]Mickey[/name_u] at some point.
[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everybody…all of your input has been so helpful! I think we have decided against changing the traditional spanish spelling for the name “Miqueas” since that would cause problems the other way for my husband´s spanish culture. However, a lot of the feedback I am getting makes me think that the spelling and pronunciation would be too problematic naming our baby “Miqueas” in a non-hispanic setting. (Most people I talk to love the way the name sounds, but don’t pronounce it right when trying to read it) So we are considering other options that would work in both languages. What do you think of the name “[name_m]Lucas[/name_m]” ? ([name_m]Lucas[/name_m] is the spanish form of [name_m]Luke[/name_m] and [name_m]Lucas[/name_m] is also used in the U.S. It is spelled and pronounced almost the same in both languages)
I still love the name Miqueas and don’t want to give it up!.. but I also want to choose what my child would like the best. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think a child would feel strange or be teased with the name"Miqueas"? (We don’t have that many hispanics in our area). I like the name [name_m]Lucas[/name_m] too, but it just seems not quite so special since it is actually used a lot in the U.S. and going up on the popularity charts. My husband and I both like the name “[name_m]Lucas[/name_m]” though. Which do you prefer between Miqueas and [name_m]Lucas[/name_m]? Does “Miqueas” impress you as a solo hispanic name such as [name_m]Juan[/name_m] or [name_m]Carlos[/name_m]?..We want a name that has international flavor, but not solo hispanic since that is not our family situation.
He could be named Miqueas and use the ‘English version’ whenever it’s easier for him, telling people to call him [name_u]Micah[/name_u]. A lot of people do that-- I have a relative who’s called [name_m]Marco[/name_m] by his father and [name_m]Mark[/name_m] by his English-speaking mother, and he responds to both names. There are people who go by [name_m]Matias[/name_m]/[name_m]Matthew[/name_m], [name_u]Andrea[/name_u]/[name_m]Andrew[/name_m], etc… The duality isn’t usually troublesome, the English version is just seen like a nickname
That is a good idea (using duality of [name_u]Micah[/name_u]/Miqueas) but my sister’s son is [name_u]Micah[/name_u]! (so that would be a conflict) Also, to be honest I don’t really like the name [name_u]Micah[/name_u]. Miqueas just seems softer and more flowing to me.
I have never heard this, but I love it! Going to add it to my list. I say leave the spelling. I’m from South [name_u]Texas[/name_u] and would have pronounced it correct, and honestly I think most people would.
I am Portuguese so I just read it right the first time (adding a spanish accent). I am also half dutch, currently living in [name_u]Holland[/name_u], and called [name_f]Michelle[/name_f]! So although here they know how to right it instantly (unlike in Portugal), they pronounce it differently than what I am used to. In english it’s also pronounced slightly differently.
So: Mee-[name_u]Shell[/name_u], Muh-[name_u]Shell[/name_u], Mee-[name_u]Shel[/name_u]-luh… All is game. But I don’t mind because in the end they all sound ok in the language that is being spoken.
I wouldn’t immediately identify the sound of Miqueas (Mikayus) as Spanish… more Greek… probably due to the eas ending. But the sound is international enough that everyone will be able to pronounce it which is good!
My opinion would be to keep the Spanish spelling. I have seen so many foreign names lately with so many spellings, I think keeping the original ends up being the most logical. (I have to give my ID when ever someone asks my name but I really don’t mind.)
If the wrong spelling/pronunciation really is a problem I think [name_m]Lukas[/name_m]/[name_m]Lucas[/name_m] is a beautiful name and one of the most international names out there. You can’t go wrong with [name_m]Lucas[/name_m].
I think we are leaning towards using [name_m]Lucas[/name_m] now as an alternative to Miqueas. I have always thought of [name_m]Lucas[/name_m] as a spanish name since that is where I first ran into it, but have since discovered that it has become a very popular name in the U.S. What do you think? Does [name_m]Lucas[/name_m] feel overused or too trendy?
