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Help[Opinions] Re: Names pronounced differently in the US and the UK
in reply to a message by molly
Imogen - I think it's more like "imogene" in the US, which almost suggests it's a version of Emma Jean
Coralie - I say coh-rah-lie but I think in the US its more like a version of Cora Lee
Irene used to be pronounced with three syllable in Britain but is almost always pronounced the American way now. I once read that this is because of a musical written by an American composer in which a song containing the name Irene was given only two notes instead of three. When the production reached the London stage in the early part of last century this went ahead with two notes, and made an impact on the way Irene was pronounced in Britain. I do know an Irene (over 90) in Australia who was born in England and pronounces her name with three syllables. It's very pretty that way.
Coralie - I say coh-rah-lie but I think in the US its more like a version of Cora Lee
Irene used to be pronounced with three syllable in Britain but is almost always pronounced the American way now. I once read that this is because of a musical written by an American composer in which a song containing the name Irene was given only two notes instead of three. When the production reached the London stage in the early part of last century this went ahead with two notes, and made an impact on the way Irene was pronounced in Britain. I do know an Irene (over 90) in Australia who was born in England and pronounces her name with three syllables. It's very pretty that way.
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I think that the three syllable pronunciation of Irene is so gorgeous. It's a shame that the two syllable one is so widespread now that it would be impractical to try to enforce the extra syllable. I know it's a subtle difference, but it really makes the name for me.
I'm fairly certain that Imogen is one name and Imogene is a variant that gets some use in the U.S.
I'm fairly certain that Imogen is one name and Imogene is a variant that gets some use in the U.S.
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That's interesting! I know an American Irene (eye-REEN) who goes by Rene (REE-nee). Hmm...
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Imogen is pronounced the same way here in the U.S. I think you're thinking of Imogene which does sound a lot like Emma Jean, but with an "i" sound at the beginning.
So in the U.K. you would use a long "i" sound on the end of Coralie? Interesting. I wouldn't have known that. Thanks.
And your Irene story is exactly what keeps me coming here to BtN. Fascinating.
So in the U.K. you would use a long "i" sound on the end of Coralie? Interesting. I wouldn't have known that. Thanks.
And your Irene story is exactly what keeps me coming here to BtN. Fascinating.
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