Pronounce Graham!

Boy Names
1

See the results of this poll: Pronounce Graham (live in UK yay or nay!)

Respondents: 105 (This poll is closed)

  • gram (in UK) : 4 (4%)
  • gray-um (in UK) : 12 (11%)
  • gram (not in UK) : 75 (71%)
  • gray-um (not in UK) : 12 (11%)
  • other (please comment): 2 (2%)
2

I think regardless of the prn you have in your head, it comes out sound gram. [name]Gray[/name] um said quickly, sounds like gram. I love the name.

3

I agree with @boyandgirl - I have heard that it’s gray-um in the UK, and I just can’t get my mouth (or brain!) around that! It just sounds like an elaboration of “gram” to me–it’s just sort of contracted here in [name]America[/name]. When I try to say [name]Gray[/name]-um it just comes out like GRAAAAAAA-m. I think it’s just an [name]America[/name] vs. the UK/Australia thing. If you live in the UK, though, and are wanting gray-um, I don’t think it’s really a problem. It seems like everyone there says it that way?

4

Great name! :slight_smile: I voted pronunciation as ‘[name]Gram[/name]’. I live in Northeast, USA.

5

Thanks! Interestingly boyandgirl however fast I say gray-um I can’t get it to sound remotely like gram! Must be something to do with different accents. Very interesting!

6

I am in the Southeast USA and I say [name]Gram[/name]. I just recently learned it could also be pronounced [name]Gray[/name]-um, and I have a really difficult time pronouncing it that way.

7

I am in the US and I say “gram,” like the weight - e.g. kilogram.

8

I prefer the spelling [name]Graeme[/name]. Visually, [name]Graham[/name] makes me think of [name]Graham[/name] crackers! [name]Both[/name] come out as [name]Gram[/name] (like Kilogram).

9

I’ve always said “gray-um,” but the two syllables aren’t very distinct. The Grahams I know have all said it that way.

10

It’s sort of in between. Not really as flat as gram, but not quite as distinct as gray-um. [name]Kinda[/name] more like gra-hmm. I’m in the US, but part of it might be that the only “[name]Graham[/name]'s” I’ve ever had any awareness of are from BBC [name]America[/name], so I’m probably just Americanizing the British pronunciation.

11

^^ same for me

12

I voted gram and im from north usa. Though when I actually say it, it sounds more like gruh-am the gruh kind of has the same sound as rough if that makes sense. I have a mixed accent from growing up with one very southern parent and one very northern country.

13

[name]Graham[/name] is gram. [name]Graeme[/name] is gray-um but it’s slurred into one syllable. Kind of like saying game

14

[name]Gray[/name]-um… I’m not in the UK and had a friend when I was a teenager with an alternate spelling ([name]Graeme[/name]) of this name.

15

I’m from [name]Ireland[/name] and I say [name]GRAY[/name]-um.

16

It’s a family surname (I’m in the US, midwest). When I’m feeling pretentious, I say [name]Gray[/name]-um, but usually just [name]Gram[/name].

17

I say it like kilogram, and it’s hard for me to imagine saying it like gray-um without sounding like I’m doing a parody of a Southern (US) debutant accent.

18

I’m with anotherkate–if I try to say [name]Gray[/name]-um it sounds like I’m some Southern beauty queen about to serve sweet tea on the patio.

I don’t say it as abruptly as I say the gram in kilogram–it sounds the same, just elongated. Graaam.

19

[name]Gram[/name] like [name]Graham[/name] Crackers!

20

I voted [name]Gram[/name] (US) because it’s closest to that but I agree with others that there is actually a length contrast. It’s not [name]Gray[/name]-um but it is almost Gra - um. The a in that is short, like in American cat (not sure off the top of my head what the right way to describe that is for British, ha!). I did grow up in the South so there may be an influence there. But I do say the word gram more quickly.