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Help[Opinions] Mispronunciations on real people...
I met someone named Cyril yesterday.
I was really excited when I saw the name written down because Cyril is one of my favourite names and it's not really in use that often anymore.
Then I met Cyril and found out Cyril not only is a girl, but is pronouncing the name like SYE-reel.
She had no idea it was a classic English boys' name and was pronounced SEER-ul. I wanted to hang my head and cry.
Have you ever met anyone who pronounces their/their child's name wrong?
This is the second time something like this has happened to me and it just blows my mind every time.
I was really excited when I saw the name written down because Cyril is one of my favourite names and it's not really in use that often anymore.
Then I met Cyril and found out Cyril not only is a girl, but is pronouncing the name like SYE-reel.
She had no idea it was a classic English boys' name and was pronounced SEER-ul. I wanted to hang my head and cry.
Have you ever met anyone who pronounces their/their child's name wrong?
This is the second time something like this has happened to me and it just blows my mind every time.
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I knew a girl named Geneive (or perhaps Geneieve) pronounced like Genevieve (JEN-i-veev). Her story was that her mother mispelled her name when naming her.
I also know a girl named Katrenia pronounced like Katrina. Not surprisingly, everyone assumes it's pronounced ka-TREN-ee-uh or ka-TREEN-ee-uh. This girl actually spells her name Katrina, and plans on getting it legally changed to Katrina when she's old enough.
I also know a girl named Katrenia pronounced like Katrina. Not surprisingly, everyone assumes it's pronounced ka-TREN-ee-uh or ka-TREEN-ee-uh. This girl actually spells her name Katrina, and plans on getting it legally changed to Katrina when she's old enough.
This message was edited 4/1/2011, 3:13 PM
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That's so sad. Cyril is one of my favorites for boys as well.
While not someone I've actually met in real life, there is a female wrestler on TNA named Sarah Stock (better known as her ring name Sarita). Tazz, one of the commentators, ALWAYS says her name as "Sariter". There was also another female wrestler on TNA who went by Hamada. Tazz would say her name as "Hamader". I think it's just his accent though. What's confusing is that he's from New York, and I've always understood the "substituting 'er' for 'a' sounds" was a British thing. Can someone clarify this?
While not someone I've actually met in real life, there is a female wrestler on TNA named Sarah Stock (better known as her ring name Sarita). Tazz, one of the commentators, ALWAYS says her name as "Sariter". There was also another female wrestler on TNA who went by Hamada. Tazz would say her name as "Hamader". I think it's just his accent though. What's confusing is that he's from New York, and I've always understood the "substituting 'er' for 'a' sounds" was a British thing. Can someone clarify this?
This message was edited 4/1/2011, 10:01 AM
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Some northeastern American accents have intrusive R's like British accents.
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Iv-on-ee for Yvonne is the worst I have encountered.
And kinda OT but I heard (from more than one person, Ireland is a small country) of a girl called Cliona Ramsbotham who everyone called "Clean a Ram's Bottom". She spent her whole life saying her name was Clee-OWN-a Rams-BOW-tham. I don't know what her parents were thinking of.
And kinda OT but I heard (from more than one person, Ireland is a small country) of a girl called Cliona Ramsbotham who everyone called "Clean a Ram's Bottom". She spent her whole life saying her name was Clee-OWN-a Rams-BOW-tham. I don't know what her parents were thinking of.
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I really like the name Seamus, despite the fact it sounds exactly like shame-us.
I came across a spunky little guy, maybe just over a year old, who's name was SEE-mus. If sperm wasn't a word, I would have assumed his name was the plural for semen. I was so upset.
And though this isn't a pronunciation problem, I've gotten paperwork for Cassie repeatedly. Does no one see the difference between Cassie and Casey? (Or, I'll spell his name and still get KC. Arghhhhh!)
I came across a spunky little guy, maybe just over a year old, who's name was SEE-mus. If sperm wasn't a word, I would have assumed his name was the plural for semen. I was so upset.
And though this isn't a pronunciation problem, I've gotten paperwork for Cassie repeatedly. Does no one see the difference between Cassie and Casey? (Or, I'll spell his name and still get KC. Arghhhhh!)
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Fiona pronounced Fye-ona and Leizel pronounced Liesel are my worst.
SYE-reel is ... heavy. Surreal, in fact. (OK, I'm going now!)
SYE-reel is ... heavy. Surreal, in fact. (OK, I'm going now!)
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My father has two sisters: Karen and Sharen pronounced KEER-in and SHEER-in. Bothers me everytime.
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Yet another name might bite the dust! Time for me to bury myself in quicksand!
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If it's quicksand I don't think you'll need to bother burying yourself in it :P
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I know...
I float on it if on my back!
I float on it if on my back!
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Sadness
My poor, poor Cyril.
The only example I can think of are the girls named Ciara but pronounce it like Sierra.
Oh, my husband has several students with names pronounced not the way they're spelled. I just asked him for examples:
Mercades, pronounced like Mercedes
Quicanetta, pronounced kwin-sa-net-a. Apparently there's an invisible n.
Mai'lyjha, pronounced like Malaysia
D:
My poor, poor Cyril.
The only example I can think of are the girls named Ciara but pronounce it like Sierra.
Oh, my husband has several students with names pronounced not the way they're spelled. I just asked him for examples:
Mercades, pronounced like Mercedes
Quicanetta, pronounced kwin-sa-net-a. Apparently there's an invisible n.
Mai'lyjha, pronounced like Malaysia
D:
This message was edited 3/31/2011, 3:45 PM
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Those make me feel sick that these awful names are in my state of Michigan.
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Oh, his classes are full of them. He teaches in Benton Harbor, if you know anything about there. I keep meaning to make him get me his new class lists. There are some cool names, and some really crazy ones like those I just posted!
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I went by Benton Harbor when I was heading to Fermilab in Illinois.
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I know a Ciara "Sierra"! But her name is strange because her parents named her kee-ahr-uh, but her grandpa randomly gave her the nickname Sarah. Eventually they molded together and she became Sierra, but still used the spelling Ciara.
Oh wow... those students' names are scary.
Oh wow... those students' names are scary.
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Yes, I have!
I used to know a family with a son named Jacob, which they pronounced as JAY-cup. That annoyed me to no end!
I used to know a family with a son named Jacob, which they pronounced as JAY-cup. That annoyed me to no end!
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I don't think its usually the actual pronounciation, I think it's just being too lazy or speaking too fast to say it properly. I think its different than like going out of the way to pronounce something like Chelsea as Chel-SAH.
It could also be a dialect thing. I don't even notice it but I'm pretty sure we call my brother's friend JAY-cup/JAY-cub.
It could also be a dialect thing. I don't even notice it but I'm pretty sure we call my brother's friend JAY-cup/JAY-cub.
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This reminds me that my sister's dog Caleb is often called Cay-lup.
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ben-jer-minn
I guess you can add this to the list. I have no idea why people want to put an R in Benjamin. But it's why I could never use the name. So many people say Ben-jer-min instead of ben-jah-min.
I guess you can add this to the list. I have no idea why people want to put an R in Benjamin. But it's why I could never use the name. So many people say Ben-jer-min instead of ben-jah-min.
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Woah! I've never really thought about it before but now that I think of it, I've definitely heard people pronounce it like that.
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Really?! I've never heard it before, although I definitely don't want to.
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Haha, my brother is named Jacob and I've caught myself saying "JAY-cup" sometimes if I'm talking too fast or being too lazy to say the "b". :P
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That is really strange! I'd try not to think of it as using Cyril on s girl and pronouncing it wrong, but as using a contrived girls name based on Cyril (or a made-up girls name that just happens to have the same spelling as Cyril)...
I've seen some strange pronunciations or ones that surprised be... Halea "Hailey", Haelle "Hailey", Chiara "Kira" (the "a" didn't even get half a syllable)... I'm sure I can think of more. Oh, I also know a Patrica "Patricia", because "ca" totally makes a "sha" sound. Caden always bugs me because it looks like the "a" should rhyme with "add". I've also heard Laura "Lara", but I think that's more of a southern accent thing than an actual mispronunciation (?)
I also know a female Jentry. I don't dislike it because I've known her since before I even knew that the boys name Gentry existed, but I expect most namenerds would be devastated by that one too.
I've seen some strange pronunciations or ones that surprised be... Halea "Hailey", Haelle "Hailey", Chiara "Kira" (the "a" didn't even get half a syllable)... I'm sure I can think of more. Oh, I also know a Patrica "Patricia", because "ca" totally makes a "sha" sound. Caden always bugs me because it looks like the "a" should rhyme with "add". I've also heard Laura "Lara", but I think that's more of a southern accent thing than an actual mispronunciation (?)
I also know a female Jentry. I don't dislike it because I've known her since before I even knew that the boys name Gentry existed, but I expect most namenerds would be devastated by that one too.
This message was edited 3/31/2011, 3:56 PM
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Chloe like Joe still takes the cake for me. Makes me sad in my heartspace.
I once read a true-crime book where there was a Joan, said like Joanne. I can almost forgive people who use names that they are not sure about how to say (I'm guilty of liking a few names that I prefer missaid) but when you use really common names that everybody knows how to say properly, you are silly.
Cyril like sye-reel is pretty odd.
I once read a true-crime book where there was a Joan, said like Joanne. I can almost forgive people who use names that they are not sure about how to say (I'm guilty of liking a few names that I prefer missaid) but when you use really common names that everybody knows how to say properly, you are silly.
Cyril like sye-reel is pretty odd.
This message was edited 3/31/2011, 1:30 PM
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I did a recent post about this and got some good responses.
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/baby/4035331
I've known plenty of Madeline's that pronounced the end -lynn instead of -line or -leen. It's not a horrible mispronunciation but I know it annoys many name nerds. Same with Tara being pronounced TER-uh instead of TAHR-ah.
http://www.behindthename.com/bb/baby/4035331
I've known plenty of Madeline's that pronounced the end -lynn instead of -line or -leen. It's not a horrible mispronunciation but I know it annoys many name nerds. Same with Tara being pronounced TER-uh instead of TAHR-ah.
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Oh, I missed that one.
I've been away more than I would like to have been lately.
Thanks for the link.
And I used to have a friend named Madeline (with a -leen sound) who had to deal with mispronunciations all the time. She hated it.
But I've never met a TAHR-ah. I have a neighbor who says her name like TER-ah. Where is TAHR-ah popular?
I've been away more than I would like to have been lately.
Thanks for the link.
And I used to have a friend named Madeline (with a -leen sound) who had to deal with mispronunciations all the time. She hated it.
But I've never met a TAHR-ah. I have a neighbor who says her name like TER-ah. Where is TAHR-ah popular?
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Every Madeline I've ever known pronounces it that way. In English I think that's an acceptable pronunciation.
And Tara I've never ever heard pronounced TAHR-ah, and Tara is a common name. I've only ever heard TER-uh. I think TAHR-ah is a British thing. Like Sara not being the same as Sarah.
And Tara I've never ever heard pronounced TAHR-ah, and Tara is a common name. I've only ever heard TER-uh. I think TAHR-ah is a British thing. Like Sara not being the same as Sarah.
This message was edited 3/31/2011, 3:49 PM
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Tahr-ah is the way it's said here too. TER-ah sounds odd to me when I hear it.
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That's really weird for me to think about. Where I'm from they're both pronounced the same (SAYR-uh).
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That's what the general consensus seemed to be when it came up on this board once before. I say Sara as SAH-ra in my head because I really like that pronunciation (makes me think of A Little Princess), but I've known plenty of Saras and they all said it like Sarah. (I'm really surprised you've never met a Sara! It ranked in the 20s-30s for most of the 70s and 80s, and hasn't been out of the top 100 until 2009.)
This message was edited 4/1/2011, 3:44 AM
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Madeline & Tara
I think MAD-ə-lin is a valid pronunciation of Madeline. I wonder if that pronunciation is more common in the UK; I've seen at least one English film with a character named Madeline, pronounced MAD-ə-lin.
About Tara, I think TER-ə is so common because of "Gone with the Wind" (it is pronounced that way in the movie).
I think MAD-ə-lin is a valid pronunciation of Madeline. I wonder if that pronunciation is more common in the UK; I've seen at least one English film with a character named Madeline, pronounced MAD-ə-lin.
About Tara, I think TER-ə is so common because of "Gone with the Wind" (it is pronounced that way in the movie).
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Ditto. I have heard it pronounced Mad-a-lin in the UK too.
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In my high school, there wre 2 Chelsea's in a class. One pronounced the name correct & the other was pronounced chel SAH.
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