Sometimes I look at names and am frustrated that, while they look so beautiful or interesting, they disappoint when it comes to their sound.
Or the other way around, when names are gorgeous in sound but not at all visually appealing (or just not as you’d want them to be).
What are some names that fit one of those categories to you?
Irish names are the biggest category of this kind of name for me. For example, I love how [name_f]Sorcha[/name_f] looks like it’s pronounced (to me): “SOR-cha” or “SOR-sha”, but I don’t like the sound of “SOR-ka”. I love the look of [name_f]Caoimhe[/name_f] (“KEE-va” or “KWEE-va”) but not the sound. Conversely, I like the sound but not the look of -gh names like [name_f]Clodagh[/name_f] and Daragh. And I prefer [name_f]Neve[/name_f] over [name_f]Niamh[/name_f].
[name_m]Mathis[/name_m] is another one for me. I do like “ma-TEES” but it sounds too close to [name_u]Matisse[/name_u] and, being pretty uninterested in art, I wouldn’t feel comfortable using it. I’d love it if it were pronounced “[name_m]MATH[/name_m]-iss” though. I also like “ma-THY-us” over “ma-TEE-as” for [name_m]Matthias[/name_m], but most people pronounce it the latter way, especially here in Europe.
I like the name [name_u]Micah[/name_u]. But crossed it off our list because it sounds like you’re saying [name_u]Michael[/name_u], and getting cut off.
“What’s the baby’s name?”
“[name_u]Micah[/name_u]”
“[name_u]Michael[/name_u]?”
“No, [name_u]Micah[/name_u].”
“[name_m]Hi[/name_m] [name_m]Mike[/name_m]!”
I think in particular of one pair: [name_m]Tybalt[/name_m]/Thibeault
I love the sound of [name_m]Tybalt[/name_m], but the look reminds me of names that don’t appeal to me like [name_u]Tyler[/name_u] in particular.
On the other hand, I love the look of Thibeault/[name_m]Thibaut[/name_m], but not the Tee-bow sound.
I wish that Thibeault sounded like [name_m]Tybalt[/name_m].
Irish names for me too. [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] is probably the only one whose look I love as much as the sound. [name_m]Tadhg[/name_m] is close, I’m not sold on the spelling though but I love how it sounds. And then [name_f]Caoimhe[/name_f], [name_f]Niamh[/name_f], [name_f]Aisling[/name_f] and [name_f]Eilidh[/name_f]… [name_u]Love[/name_u] how they sound, don’t like how they look. Especially [name_f]Aisling[/name_f]. I could go for [name_u]Keeva[/name_u], [name_f]Neve[/name_f], [name_f]Ashlyn[/name_f] and Aylee which look pretty, but they’re just not the same imo. I echo what PP said about [name_f]Sorcha[/name_f] as well.
[name_f]Griselda[/name_f]
Despina
Valkyrie
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Aurora[/name_f]
Elysande - my only objection is it looks made up
[name_f]Cosette[/name_f]
[name_f]Cressida[/name_f]
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] - I prefer [name_f]Elinor[/name_f] spelling
Gersemi - the meaning is beautiful
[name_f]Madeleine[/name_f]
Of the top of my head, I think [name_f]Celeste[/name_f] and [name_f]Cassia[/name_f] look nice, but don’t sound as great. Also [name_f]Orlaith[/name_f]. I don’t mind how it sounds, but I’d love it if it was said how it looks (Or-layth).
Just remembered, Peregrine! I love how it looks and I feel like it should be on my list, but I always want to say Peh-ruh-gwin and really have to think and force myself to say it right.
I can’t think of any where I feel the opposite, but I really don’t mind how aesthetically displeasing a name looks, as long as it sounds good. I do kind of wish [name_m]Ptolemy[/name_m]'s spelling was more approachable. I love how he looks, but it’s more that I know people would struggle. Not that that would deter me at all from using the name.
For me, it’s:
[name_m]Hector[/name_m] - has a really interesting look but sounds like hectare to me and even without that association, I still fit it to be a bit of a let down every time I actually hear the name.
(Unless they are a really interesting person, then I find it very fitting. I suppose it may be one of those names that sound great on the right person but boring on many others?!)
[name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] - looks super pretty but the English pronunciation just doesn’t capture any of the delicate strength. It’s a name that truly belongs to it’s language.
[name_m]Ferdinand[/name_m] - looks so much better than it sounds.
[name_u]Percy[/name_u] - looks really cool and intriguing but while the sound has it’s own thing going for it, I don’t think look and sound match in style (does that sound super weird?)
[name_f]Josephine[/name_f] - I really adore the look but the sound is just not for me
[name_f]Marigold[/name_f] - same as above - and the more I hear it, the more I notice how much I prefer to just look at it and say it in my head
One that immediately jumps to mind is [name_f]Aurora[/name_f]. I love how it looks, I love the meaning, but, for me, it’s like saying a tongue twister. [name_u]Rory[/name_u], for boys or girls, is the same.
Conversely, as already mentioned, I love the sound of many Irish names but don’t love the look. For example, you wouldn’t look at the name [name_f]Aoibh[/name_f]éann and intuitively pronounce it even / evan / ee-van.
Echoing the opinions about Irish names. For me, the one that stands out is [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. I think it looks just gorgeous, but I’m not a fan of the pronunciation “Mayv”. I liked [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] so much better when I thought she was pronounced Mah-eve!
[name_f]Maude[/name_f]. I like how it looks and its connection to [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and its meaning, but I just don’t like the sound. It reminds me of ‘mort’ (death) or mold. I do like it more than I used to, though, and I’d be pleased to see it being used more.
[name_f]Hermione[/name_f] for me. It looks so sophisticated but sounds a bit strange to my ears. I still like it a lot, but I wish it was “her-mee-o-ne”.
Inès - I love the look of it. The sound, not so much.
Irish names definitely look prettier than they actually sound in most cases. E.g Gráinne = groin-ya; [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f] = cat-leen / coit-leen; [name_u]Fionn[/name_u] = fyun
I love the look of Greek names and [name_m]French[/name_m] names as well.
I hate kreative spelling, Names that end in -ee instead of y or ie.
[name_f]Cressida[/name_f] was mentioned before. It’s a really good example of listen not look for me. Unless you hear the alternate pronunciation of kre-SIDA.
I really like [name_f]Odette[/name_f] but, it sounds like you’re saying, “Oh debt!” 
I love the sound of [name_f]Ophelia[/name_f], but the name just doesn’t look right to me written.
Viceversa is [name_f]Sian[/name_f], which is often pronounced either “sharn” or “shahn” depending where you’re from, and I love the look of it but hate the sound.