I’ve realized that of our three favorite girls names, two of them might have some pronunciation issues. One of the names has two perfectly valid pronunciations. The other has an “s” that is said more like a “z”. For both, it seems to me like you could read the name on paper… and then say the “wrong” thing.
That’s a new issue for me! [name_f]My[/name_f] name is hard to spell, but if you see it written you would say it correctly. DH’s name is sometimes misheard, but still very obvious on paper. A name that is not obvious on paper could present some issues we’ve never had to deal with. We aren’t naming anyone right now, but if we ever use either of these names I want to know what the potential pitfalls are.
Has anyone had any serious issues with this? I’m sure it’s annoying to have a phone call/doctor’s office/potential employer/teacher say “Oh, hi Emily” and you have to correct every time with “Yes, hi, it’s actually Amelie”. Are there other issues beyond the “annoyance factor” of having to correct people? Would it be any worse than having to correct a spelling/misheard name? Would it be more difficult for a child to learn to spell their own name if the sounds don’t seem to “match” the obvious phonetics?
Are there some issues I haven’t thought of… [name_u]Or[/name_u] have I already overthought this??
Any insights would be so appreciated, thank you!
I’ve had this issue with my oldest daughter. Her name is [name_f]Noemi[/name_f] [name_f]Xochitl[/name_f], which is the Spanish version of [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] and then the Nahuatl word for flower. Almost everyone who looks at her name calls her [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] the first time (or two). I’ve gotten to the point of ignoring it for people she will never see again, but correcting it for people like teachers and nurses at the doctor’s office.
She is 7 years old now and can spell her first and last names. Her last name is Spanish, so the vowels don’t always match the [name_f]English[/name_f] pronunciation, but she has been able to write it correctly. I haven’t taught her to spell her middle name yet, although I do write it out for her. [name_f]Xochitl[/name_f] does not match with [name_f]English[/name_f] or Spanish phonetics, so it will be mostly memorizing until I can teach her that X says “sh” and tl says “cl”.
@jenni_lynn91 Thank you for sharing! This was so reassuring to read. Your daughter has a beautiful name!
Well I think the most important thing would be that if no one can call her by her correct name and it has to constantly be corrected, it’s probably not worth using since no one can easily say it. <3
@carrington I half want to agree… because it sounds so annoying to have to deal with EVERY time. Only, I think about names like [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] and [name_f]Alicia[/name_f]. They aren’t uncommon, but you could still confidently pronounce every letter and be told by the wearer that they say it differently. It feels to me like it would be one correction for most people.
[name_f]My[/name_f] worry comes more from the potential for first introductions by written word only. Like, would you be less likely to call a [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] back for some reason if they sent you an email? Would you have to debate “s” vs “ch” and then resort to saying Miz LastName? I know that’s a weirdly niche concern, but I want any possible future names to be fully thought out. I would hate for someone to dislike their name because I didn’t consider how it feels to live with the name.
I don’t have this problem but my youngest sister does. Her name is [name_f]Eliana[/name_f] but almost everyone will misread it as [name_f]Elaina[/name_f] when they first see it. [name_f]My[/name_f] mom would correct everyone if they say it wrong, and now that my sister is older, she corrects everyone too. It doesn’t come up as often as you might expect though. It’s annoying in the moment but doesn’t make my mom or sister so annoyed that they regret using the name or don’t like it. It’s just a small issue.
@SparkleNinja18 Ooh, thank you! Obviously how frustrating a situation is can depend on the person (and the day!) but it’s good to know it hasn’t lead to any serious drama. Thanks for sharing!
I have a name with pronunciation issues (Saoirse)! I willingly chose it. If you’re willing to correct people (and you think she will be too), then I would suggest going with the name you love. Also, my birth name was very simple and phonetic, but people still said it wrong out loud sometimes.
@Paxramena You gave yourself a STUNNING name!
You are absolutely right that if you are willing to correct people then a beautiful name is worth it. It would have to be something I get used to doing (and teaching someone else to do!) if we did use either name. Thank you!
Yes I agree. If the name you’re thinking of has two easy known pronunciations like [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] or [name_f]Alicia[/name_f], then I think it’s good and that can be easily corrected right off the bat. I don’t think I would be discouraged calling an “Alicia” by first name just because I could say it wrong. I think that would only be an issue if it was a really uncommon name, but since here it’s just a “z” vs. “s” thing, I think you’re totally fine.