Picking a name you know will get mispronounced

So my first choice girl's name is one that I know people will mispronounce. I love the name and it means a lot to me so I can accept that. If we have a daughter, she'll learn to correct the mispronunciation and move on. My DH on the other hand, is hesitant to go with this name, he thinks it's beautiful, but he's very concerned with the mispronunciation factor. He feels like we'd be placing an unnecessary burden on our daughter.

I think he needs to get over it. I believe the beauty and the special meaning of the name outweigh the "burden" and that our daughter would be proud to have it.

There is another name that we both love, but thinking of not going with my first choice name makes me really sad.

Can anyone with an oft mispronounced name weigh in here?

Btw, we also have a short, but often mispronounced last name.

Message edited 9/18/2012 9:31:28 AM.

Picking a name you know will get mispronounced

Growing up, I had a very uncommon name (Alyssa). While it is extremely popular now, no one could spell it or pronounce it throughout my school days. I had no problem saying "Melissa without the M sound" to everyone who butchered it with Alyssia, Alisha, Alicia, etc. I liked having a "unique" name (for a while) and I really liked when it became popular and I was able to start finding my name on key chains (when I was close to 16 this happened). With that being said, I no longer have to correct people and haven't had to in nearly 10 years. So, I don't know how I would feel if I was still correcting people on my name.

Out of curiosity, what is the name?

Picking a name you know will get mispronounced

How severe a mispronunciation are we talking about? Like a Mila sort of thing or is it like Andrea on 90210? Or if it's pronounced wrong does it sound like a curse word in another language?

As someone with a last name that was mispronounced my whole life (even my married last name is often mispronounced) I don't think it's a big deal at all. The people who know you and are your friends learn very quickly how to pronounce your name and they do it right. Everyone else, it doesn't matter and she can correct them or not.

My first name is pronounced two ways and my parents actually each pronounce it differently (talk about confusing!!!!) -- I usually say it like Sondra on the Cosby Show because that's what my mom said (my dad more often called me Sandy growing up) but if I'm saying my name to someone who has to type it or write it down, I just say it with the flat A because it's obvious how to spell it.

We gave our daughter a first name she'll have to spell her whole life. It's just how it is. Her friends will get it right.

If you love the name, stick with it!!!! Don't be sad! Tell your DH that it will separate the ones who care from the rif-raff in her life.

Unless it's a curse word... then I'd shy away. I remember the day I brought a stuffed seal to French class with me and the teacher kept saying the french word for seal. Not so good.

Picking a name you know will get mispronounced

my name is Saralyn. it wasn't constantly mispronounced (occasionally) but is almost ALWAYS mispelled. like ALWAYS. i never once thought of it as a burden, and your daughter will grow up knowing that her name constantly gets mispronounced and will get used to correcting it. it becomes second nature. i think if its a name you love that has a great meaning, your daughters love for the name will be more important to her than the constant correcting.

Picking a name you know will get mispronounced

As a teacher in brooklyn.....I often have students whose names are hard to pronounce or mispronounced. I have to say more often than not the students end up getting super annoyed since so many people do not get it right. We have to explain it takes us some time and we have to go with how it is spelled on our paper. So it doesn't bother some....but others maybe not so much.

Re: Picking a name you know will get mispronounced

No advice, but we're in the same boat. My top contender is a name that's definitely going to be mispronounced. I would use it anyway, but the only thing holding me back is my sister. Her name is Elissa (pronounced the same as Alyssa) and people screw it up on a daily basis. She hates her name b/c of this.

Re: Picking a name you know will get mispronounced

i have a last name that often gets mispronounced - and ill admit its frustrating!
its also tough in a work capacity because you give our a work email address and i HAVE to spell out my name otherwise people will get it wrong

i would try to avoid a name that gets mispronounced but thats just me

Re: Picking a name you know will get mispronounced

My name is mispronounced all the time; I find it quite annoying to have to constantly correct people. While I understand you saying that you can accept the fact that the name will be mispronounced, your daughter is the one who has to deal with it.

Picking a name you know will get mispronounced

My name is mispronounced all the time. For DD I picked a name I thought would not get mispronounced, but everyone we tell has been mispronouncing it.

Re: Picking a name you know will get mispronounced

My name is Kristen and I am always called Crystal, Christina, Christine, Christian, Krista, etc. whenever I tell people my name. Sometimes I correct people, other times I do not. It used to bother me but now I just ignore it. The best is when a telemarketer calls looking for Christine and I just tell them sorry no one here by that name

Re: Picking a name you know will get mispronounced

my name is Karin (which is common but the spelling is not). I get Corrine and many different spellings of Karin though it is pronounced properly. It doesnt bother me.

However, I am also very easy going about my name. I am an identical twin and growing up, I learned to respond to my sister's name because people couldnt tell us apart. I got it from every angle

Message edited 9/18/2012 1:40:16 PM.

Re: Picking a name you know will get mispronounced

I have a unique name, and because people are not familiar with it, they call me everything EXCEPT my name...then I got married and got a last name noone pronounces correctly. Honestly, I don't even bother correcting people anymore and just answer to whatever...I guess it depends how easy going you are. I know other people with names that are mispronounced often, and they get VERY annoyed.

I like having a name noone else does, so I love with it