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[Opinions] Ascham?
My sister and her boyfriend are expecting a little boy at the end of June, and since they're not married, there has been a lot of debate between the parents' families as to what role their last names should play in the baby's name. This got me thinking about last names as middle names, and then as first names. (One of my professors has a son named Sullivan, just as a random side note). In my Renaissance Literature class today we discussed a scholar whose last name was Ascham. It can either be pronounced Ask-um or Ash-um. When I considered it as a first name, there was something kind of interesting about it.WDYT?
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It is the name of one of the most exclusive private schools for girls in Sydney so I totally associate it with that. I'm talking $35,000 per year private school and Ascham girls have a bit of a snotty rep. I find it hard to see past it! I pronounce is Ask-um.
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If I had to hazard a guess at how to say it on first glance, I'd say "ah-SHAWM". I would also assume it was a Hebrew name. Is it? I mean I'm just curious. It has an alluring depth and smoothness to it, like Escher. Actually it totally puts me in mind of the famous "crazy stairs" print by Escher so that's apropos.
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I'm not really sure about the origin of the name. I googled it because I couldn't find it on here, but I only got information on the scholar or links to Ancestry website.
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Well it looks like it's English, derived from Askham, England. I honestly would not have guessed that! Interesting.
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I would pronounce it ASH-um, which is how I said it in my head when I saw it. Also to avoid what Mareasi pointed out. Anyway, I think it's pretty neat. I suppose I like the look of it more than the sound.I thought it looked Hebrew at first, but I see it's English and possibly has something to do with archery. Being English I'd also expect it was pronounced ASH-um.
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I like Sullivan :)I don't think I like Ascham. I'd be like Ask 'em what?
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Haha, that's true! I think if it were to be used as a first name, Ash-um would be the better pronunciation.
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But Ash-um sounds like a sneeze. :/
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