A request when saying a name unfamiliar to you:

[Anaamika]

It's really nice, when you hear a name unfamiliar to you, to have the conversation go like this:

Caller "Hi this is ___, can I talk to somebody?"
Receptionist: 'I'm sorry I didn't get your name, can you repeat it?"
Caller: ____
Receptionist: "Oh, ____ what a lovely name."

RATHER THAN

Caller "Hi this is ___, can I talk to somebody?"
Receptionist: 'I'm sorry I didn't get your name, can you repeat it?"
Caller: ____
Receptionist: (silence) "That's a weird name." or anything like that

It's just nicer to compliment the name rather than insulting it. And I speak as someone who has an odd name as well as someone who's answered lots of company phones.

If you feel like doing it - thanks!

[pokey]

My real name is Fartypie so Amen to that.

[Homebrew]

... but it's pronounced Throat Wobbler Mangrove

[kittenlm]

I had a customer who's name was Evie. I didn't think about any other way to spell it. When we went to go write up a contract, I spelt it just like that. Well, she says "No, it's spelt I V Y". In my head...."what?? that's not said like Evie, that's a sort of shrub...Ivy." Out loud...."that is so unique. I like it...very pretty."

Yeah....I'm a good bull-shitter. :p

[The Great Sun Jester]

At the end of a particularly trying day I've been known to do:

Caller "Hi this is ___, can I talk to somebody?"
Inigo Montoya: 'I'm sorry I didn't get your name, can you repeat it?"
Caller: ____
Inigo Montoya: (silence) "Huh...haven't come accross that one before."

:smack: I manage to play it from there without offense, but not without admitting to being a complete buffoon. Folks know when they got weird names.

[jsgoddess]

Where my husband used to work, he had a customer named Wyvetta. At least, that's how she pronounced it.

Then one time he saw it in writing and her name was spelled Yvette.

He had to feign a coughing fit to cover his laughter.


As for the OP, I usually refrain from commenting on a person's name in any way, positively or negatively. Though I'm afraid I do in the course of my job need people to spell their names for me quite often, and that's really a pain. It would be nice if everyone were named Sally.

[Amazon Floozy Goddess]

I was once putting through a purchase for a girl, and she handed me her credit card. Her name on the card was "Dea D. Blagherhoff". Odd name to begin with, but on first glance I missed that there was a period there and read it as "Dead Blagherhoff". I didn't say anything, but I had to pretend I was coughing to disguise my laugh. :D

[Zog_10]

I used to work with someone who pronounced her name Foe-Ah-Bey.

Spelling: Phoebe.

Seriously.

[Anaamika]

I was once putting through a purchase for a girl, and she handed me her credit card. Her name on the card was "Dea D. Blagherhoff". Odd name to begin with, but on first glance I missed that there was a period there and read it as "Dead Blagherhoff". I didn't say anything, but I had to pretend I was coughing to disguise my laugh. :D

Holy shit I almost fell over laughing. That is too funny.

Anyway, it's not a requisite, just a request! I know it's difficult when we have strange names and you are really trying...just remember, somewhere our name is really common and it's "Sally" that's the weird one.

[Mangetout]

A friend of mine enjoys recounting the time he had to deal with a customer whose surname was Hogsflesh

Friend: (to crowded waiting room) Mr Hogs Flesh!
Customer: (walks to desk) It's actually pronounced ho flay
Friend: Oh, I'm sorry sir, somebody has written Hogsflesh here

[Ashes, Ashes]

Mangetout, that reminds me of "It's Boo-kay" for some reason.

My poor sister has trouble with both her first and last name. Her first name because my parents decided on a different spelling for a traditional name (mistake, we know, but there were good reasons). Her married surname is trouble because it looks like the alphabet threw up.

So, if people aren't 'correcting' her first name, they're mangling her last. I've watched in amazement as people argue with her over the correct pronunciation and/or tell her her name is weird.

[Larry Mudd]

A friend of mine enjoys recounting the time he had to deal with a customer whose surname was Hogsflesh

Friend: (to crowded waiting room) Mr Hogs Flesh!
Customer: (walks to desk) It's actually pronounced ho flay
Friend: Oh, I'm sorry sir, somebody has written Hogsflesh hereYou know, I think if it were me, I'd prefer 'Hogsflesh.' There's honest-trade butchery and then there's serial-killer butchery. Take your pick.

Zog_10 -- safe bet that that girl was surrounded by "Feeb! Feeb! Feeb!"-chanting hellions in the first grade. :D

[OtakuLoki]

So, if people aren't 'correcting' her first name, they're mangling her last. I've watched in amazement as people argue with her over the correct pronunciation and/or tell her her name is weird.


I've experienced that. You'd think with four letters my last name wouldn't be so hard, but the 'au' in the middle is pronounced with a nice Germanic 'ow' not a nice Romance 'aw'. And I've had people argue with me when I pronounce my name, telling me I'm mispronouncing it.

At this point, after 36 years with it, I've basically given up. I'll respond to most any pronounciation of my last name. But I still have problems with know-it-alls telling me, from time to time, I'm mistaken in how I pronounce it. :smack:

[Jayn_Newell]

I'd prefer to be told that I have a different name. I always have people tell me my name is pretty. I know that. And I don't particularly like it, it's too pretty for my tastes (one reason I go by a nickname). So I'm not big on being told my name is pretty.

Like OtakuLoki, I'll respond to almost any pronunciation of my first name, although it's been a while since I've heard any really bad ones. However, I often end up thinking people are talking to me when they aren't. :smack:

[GorillaMan]

I had one young woman do some serious flirting along the lines of 'what an interesting name'. Unfortunately, it was telebanking, and she then saw the size of my overdraft. :eek: :smack: :( :mad:

[Ludovic]

"What an interesting name!"
"Yeah, baby, Would you like to see the size of my overdraft?"
"I'll do anything for you, mr Asswipe!"
"I'ts pronounced Ahh-swee-pay!"

[gardentraveler]

I have an unusual middle name and went by a nickname for it until I was a freshman in high school.

My all-time favorite reaction to my name is: "You're kidding! Is that really your name?" :rolleyes:

How was I supposed to respond? "Just a second, let me do a quick review of nicknames for Guadalupe and see if Lupita is on the list...?" Or maybe bring Mom in to class to explain? (The reaction came from a classmate when we introduced ourselves in home ec class.) Perhaps crack a joke about how my parents never actually named me and I was still trying out names? The teacher handled it well, but I still wanted to melt into the floor. I really don't miss that age.

The comment clinched my decision to start using my first name....

GT

[Smeghead]

I have a really bad last name. I've never met anyone not directly related to me that knew how to pronounce it. So just ask me how it's pronounced, and move on. I really don't need to go through the "Oh, wow, I never would have guessed that. Where's it from?" conversation for the eleventeenth billion time.

[David Simmons]

Writer H. Allen Smith told of a young girl who had the given name of "Pishey." When her mother was asked how she arrived at the name she pointed to a calendar and said, "Off that." The calenday had a picture of Psyche, Cupid's main squeeze.

[Daithi Lacha]

I work in a customer-service environment (thank heavens I don't have to work the phones anymore), and I've started keeping a list of really unusual names - I'm up to 150 or so. First names are "Jew," "Putsie," "Delarious," and "Porn," just to name a few. At this point, if I did have to go back on the pones, I'd probably embarrass myself by saying something like "Oh, I GOTTA put your name on my list!"
To most folk, I have an unpronounceable Welsh first name. Thanks, Mom & Dad... :dubious:

[Daithi Lacha]

... if I did have to go back on the pones...

Okay, the PHONES. Not that I have anything against corn.

[OtakuLoki]

To most folk, I have an unpronounceable Welsh first name. Thanks, Mom & Dad... :dubious:


I thought the secret to Welsh names was to ignore the spelling and just ask how to pronounce it? Well, unless one knows Welsh.

[Odinoneeye]

With me it would go more like...

Me: May I have your name please?

Them: _____

Me: I'm sorry, could you repeat that?

Them: ______

Me: Wow, your parents must have hated you.

:D

[NinjaChick]

Yeah. My first name is long and...well, I'm the only person for about two generations to have it - not in my family, in the world. It's an antique. People tend to stumble on it, for some reason.

My last name is also long, but because it's hyphenated. Break it down, and it's really, really simple to pronounce either part. But for some reason, no one can ever figure it out.

And dear sweet lord, don't ask me what I'm going to do when I get married or anything like that. I'm just going to tell you it's none of your damn business - generally, in a polite way. :mad:

[TellMeI'mNotCrazy]

<Hyacinth>

It's Boo-KAY!!!

</Hyacinth Bucket>

[umop ap!sdn]

Her married surname is trouble because it looks like the alphabet threw up.

Funniest. Post. Ever. :D

I have a last name that's not terribly common. It's a French name, and most people who encounter it will try to pronounce it in French. But among my family, we just pronounce it as though it were an English word. To top that off, some of my more distant relatives drop one of the consonants from the pronunciation. So, people have pronounced it many different ways and it doesn't really bother me.

[teleute12]

My first name is Eliza. You'd be surprised at how many ways there are to pronounce a five-letter name - I've heard "Ahlizah", "E-LEzah", "Ahlezah", "Elza", and "El-iz-ah", just to name a few. And no, it isn't short for Elizabeth, and yes you can call me Liza but it'll take me a while to respond to that, and I don't really care if you call me "E-liza" or "Ah-liza" so stop giving me that look when I can't tell you which one is "right."

And if you sing that "Liza Jane" song to me, I will smack you.

[teleute12]

Um. Pretend I said that in a way that wasn't all ranty, please?

[Homebrew]

"Just a second, let me do a quick review of nicknames for Guadalupe and see if Lupita is on the list...?" GT
*fights urge to make lewd joke about tubing the Guadalupe*

I don't think I could resist Comal, though.

[Martha Medea]

I've had similar problems, as follows:

Me: Hello, I called earlier about my application. My name's ____ ____.

Secretary: Oh yes, you're the one whose name sounds like Abu Dhabi.

Me (icily, through gritted teeth): I beg your pardon?

Sec: Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to offend...

Anyone working the phones should be given basic training to avoid this sort of thing. The job I was doing at the time involved taking phone calls from the public. We were trained in phone etiquette as well as stuff like dealing with tricky callers.

[mrklutz]

It's BigbooTAY! TAY!

[Green Bean]

A question for all of you unusually named folk: Do you mind being asked how it's spelled? (And I don't mean in a customer service situation. I mean if I just met you at a party or something.)

If someone tells me their name and I've never heard it before, I have a lot of trouble remembering it. But if I see it written, I can remember it, and remember the pronounciation, too, even if the pronounciation is totally different than what the spelling would suggest. It must have something to do with my learning style or cognitive process or something. Anyway, if the person spells it out for me, I guess I visualize it as written, and then I can remember it, no problem. So I'll often ask someone how their name is spelled. And I don't comment on the name in that instance. I just say thanks.

Is this rude? I don't want to offend or put anyone off, but I would like to remember their name.

--Elizabeth (who obviously never ever runs into this problem herself.)

[Anaamika]

Green Bean (love your username. makes me want to eat the yummy snack that is your username).

No, I don't mind being asked how it's spelled. My IRL name is Meena, and there's a Korean name spelled Mi Nah, or something like that - can't remember. I'll probably give you a :dubious: look, but I definitely prefer that to "what a weird name!"

[shorin-ryu]

I go by my middle name, which is an extremely unusual family surname. I like it--it's unique, it's catchy, and most people remember it. I'm aware that it probably ends up on lists of weird names like the one Daithe Lacha keeps (I keep one too). I'm okay with that.

That being said, I am a project manager who has to take all the calls from people who won't accept no for an answer from my underlings. Let me pass on a piece of advice--when you are pleading for a favor that only one person (me) can grant, don't make fun of her name. She ain't gonna be helpful.

[Eliahna]

My brother: What's your name?
Person: ___________
My brother: I'm sorry?
Person: ___________
My brother: No, I'm just sorry.

[Ludovic]

My brother: What's your name?
Person: ___________
My brother: I'm sorry?
Person: ___________
My brother: No, I'm just sorry.Actual encounter in my group of friends, one friend being introduced to another. Names have been changed to protect the innocent, but Guy #1 really does have a famous-sounding name:

[and remember, this is the first time they've met]:

Mike: Hi, I'm Michael Jackson.
John: SUCKS TO BE YOU!

for years after that we called the second guy "Sucks to be you" John.

[Rich Mann]

You'd think with four letters my last name wouldn't be so hard, but the 'au' in the middle is pronounced with a nice Germanic 'ow' not a nice Romance 'aw'. And I've had people argue with me when I pronounce my name, telling me I'm mispronouncing it.

At this point, after 36 years with it, I've basically given up. I'll respond to most any pronounciation of my last name. But I still have problems with know-it-alls telling me, from time to time, I'm mistaken in how I pronounce it. :smack:
My sister's married names are Braun and Graf. (No, Texas, why do you ask?) Both have given up on getting anyone to pronounce them properly and have even taken to introducing themselves using the English-sounding pronunciations. Inevitably, of course, some jerk will come along and tell them, "Ya know, it's actually pronounced {correct pronunciation}" Absolutely infuriating!

[Anaamika]

I never understand where people get off telling each other how to pronounce their names. I mean, however I pronounce my name is the right way for me, right?

[Hypno-Toad]

Just tell them it's pronounced, "Sir" or "Maam."

[GorillaMan]

A question for all of you unusually named folk: Do you mind being asked how it's spelled? (And I don't mean in a customer service situation. I mean if I just met you at a party or something.)
Absolutely not. IMO, it's showing polite interest, for exactly the reasons you give.

[Red Stilettos]

My first name couldn't be any easier. It's only three little letters and very common. (It's Amy, in case you're wonderin'). And, still, people mess it up. I always have to stifle a laugh when someone says, "and how is that spelled?" :dubious: :rolleyes: :smack:

[GorillaMan]

My first name couldn't be any easier. It's only three little letters and very common. (It's Amy, in case you're wonderin'). And, still, people mess it up. I always have to stifle a laugh when someone says, "and how is that spelled?"
I ask that with just about any name that does have alternative spellings, even if they're much rarer....I inherited the hatred of people assuming a common spelling from my mother, who visibly seethes when people add an E to Ann.

[Khadaji]

Is 'unique' or 'interesting' offensive?

[Caricci]

My maiden name is five letter and sounds exactly as it's spelled, but people don't want to believe that. It starts FRO, but people have informed me that it's FOR. They glance at it and come up with names that are pretty much unrelated except for the F. My brother just got married and his new wife doesn't believe that she'll have a problem because her maiden name is much more complicated looking. My mom, step-mom, my two sister and I told her to just wait. Anyway, I couldn't wait to get married because I knew it couldn't be worse, name-wise and it hasn't been.

[Anaamika]

Is 'unique' or 'interesting' offensive?

Yes! With the proviso it depends on the tone, of course. If you're saying unique, but your nose is wrinkled up in disgust, well, it's still annoying.

And again, just remember that many times it's really not unique - it's just unique in the current location. My name, for example, is very popular in India - but practically no one has heard of it here.

[Anaamika]

:smack: I meant, that unique or interesting is NOT offensive. Sorry!

[umop ap!sdn]

I don't mind being asked to spell my last name. Usually, I'll volunteer the spelling. :D It consists of two palindromes that roll right off the tongue.

(It's Amy, in case you're wonderin'). And, still, people mess it up. I always have to stifle a laugh when someone says, "and how is that spelled?" :dubious: :rolleyes: :smack:

I've seen it spelled Amie and Aimee also.

[js_africanus]

RATHER THAN
..."That's a weird name." or anything like that.
"Weird?" I wish I had an unusual name. A common name sucks.

[GorillaMan]

My maiden name is five letter and sounds exactly as it's spelled, but people don't want to believe that. It starts FRO....
And please please please admit the other two are D and O.....go on....

[GorillaMan]

I don't mind being asked to spell my last name. Usually, I'll volunteer the spelling.
I do that too. Despite it being really really obvious (Multimap gives 15 separate places in the UK with the name). But that's my own fault, kind-of, through having an accent full of glottal-stops, and a name with a double-T in the middle. :smack:

[Gary "Wombat" Robson]

My first name couldn't be any easier. It's only three little letters and very common. (It's Amy, in case you're wonderin'). And, still, people mess it up. I always have to stifle a laugh when someone says, "and how is that spelled?" :dubious: :rolleyes: :smack:
When I'm doing a book signing, I always ask how names are spelled. I'm not going to mess up a book and have to either toss it or upset the customer! And, by the way, I've met someone who spelled her name Aimee. I've also encountered Donn, Soo, and unusual spellings of many other simple names. It's much easier just to ask.

My last name is simple--just six letters long--but it's similar to a far more common longer name. I spell it for people without even asking because I've gotten so tired of having it written wrong.

[Shirley Ujest]

I was once putting through a purchase for a girl, and she handed me her credit card. Her name on the card was "Dea D. Blagherhoff". Odd name to begin with, but on first glance I missed that there was a period there and read it as "Dead Blagherhoff". I didn't say anything, but I had to pretend I was coughing to disguise my laugh. :D


This could only be funnier if her name was Dea D. Farkerov

[tadc]

My given name is Thaddeus(from a 70's TV western, not from the bible), but I've always gone by Tad.

I realize that my name is fairly uncommon, but not so uncommon as to be unheard of to your typical American (Tad Lincoln, Tad Hamilton, Tad Williams, that Tad from All My Children, etc). I also realize that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between various hard consonant sounds (k, t, p, d), especially over the phone.

So, I am fairly understanding when someone mishears Tad as Ted or Pat, and I politely correct them. What I *don't* understand, is why people are so eager to believe my name is Pad, Tap, Tat, Tab, or any other rediculous variation? Who the hell is named Pad, for chrissake??

[Silver Fire]

"I'ts pronounced Ahh-swee-pay!"
That sounded just like Dory's "es-SKA-pay!", which probably made it a lot funnier than it really is. :D

Sarah Elizabeth (not terribly common German last name which, IMO anyway, ought to be fairly easy to pronounce but quite obviously is not, as evidenced by the fact that no one pronounces it correctly).

I'm not really annoyed by it too much anymore. I've even gotten used to having to say, "That's Sarah, with an "H" on the end" because so many people manage to fuck up even the simplest of names. :rolleyes: ;)

[Telperien]

My name is pretty easy for most people to spell and pronounce. I lucked out there. I'm always very careful about other people's names partly because of that. Since I'm an operator and people ask me for various professors, who come from several different places and have all sorts of names, I try to say people's names as right as I can. I also refrain from making fun of the names, unlike my boss.

[NoClueBoy]

My last name is 6 letters long. A good, old Prussian name. It is also one letter removed from a very popular (over here, anyways) Native American surname. It doesn't help things that most of my relatives have that Amerindian name. So, I always spell my name when first introduced.

What's really funny is that almost all of my friends call me by my last name only, since it is relatively unique in this area. My Christian name is extemely common. Taken right out of the book of Acts. And used in anti-gay marraige arguments all the time. So, calling me by my last name actually individualizes me so much more than using my first name. In fact, I've been called by my last name by friends since I was about 6 yrs old.

Still, with new introductions, I always have to spell it.

[Homebrew]

I've seen it spelled Amie and Aimee also.I had an editor give me advice once about making sure you have the correct spelling of even common names. If someone gives you grief about asking how to spell their names, remark that you know at least 4 ways to spell "Smith".

[Shirley Ujest]

My Christian name is extemely common. Taken right out of the book of Acts. And used in anti-gay marraige arguments all the time.
.

Your first name is " Thou Shall Not Butt Fark?" Man, that is rough.













:)



I failed bible class in school. Go Shirley, Go Shirley Go Shirley!

[NoClueBoy]

My middle name is

Thou shall not use the blood of monkeys to grease your man meat, either




I hated school

[greybeard]

I've got both an unusual first name and last name. It doesn't bother me when I get any kind of response. I just usually joke about it - I've a number of canned responses. On a slightly different tack, how about common names that when combined are unusual? I once new a man who was named (I kid you not!):

Tad Mooredick

[umop ap!sdn]

If someone gives you grief about asking how to spell their names, remark that you know at least 4 ways to spell "Smith".

Smith
Smithe
Smyth
Smythe

Am I right? :D

FTR, my first name is an alternate spelling of a fairly common name. Guess I should have said that when volunteering the spelling my last name, I'll usually also spell out my first name and not even bother pronouncing it.

On a slightly different tack, how about common names that when combined are unusual?

We had a thread about those a while back... here's one from a year ago (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=4422384) coulda sworn there was a more recent one.

[rjk]

MangetoutHer married surname is trouble because it looks like the alphabet threw up.
I used to work with a woman whose last name sounds like the alphabet threw up - "Hrynkiw." Good Ukrainian name, pronounced as it's spelled, but hardly anyone can either spell or pronounce it on the first try.

Mine, on the other hand is "Kew" which ought to be obvious, but I get all sorts of pronunciations. I suppose the large Asian population around here throws people off. I feel better on the rare occasions when somebody says "Oh, like the Gardens (http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/)!" I tell them "It's the old family farm ... I wish." :cool:

[Zjestika]

I've got both an unusual first name and last name. It doesn't bother me when I get any kind of response. I just usually joke about it - I've a number of canned responses. On a slightly different tack, how about common names that when combined are unusual? I once new a man who was named (I kid you not!):

Tad Mooredick


Oh, yeah? I once got into a car accident with a woman named Fonda Cox.

And, judging by the improbable number of children she was able to fit in her car, it was a very appropriate name.

ZJ

[badbadrubberpiggy]

Oh, yeah? I once got into a car accident with a woman named Fonda Cox.

And, judging by the improbable number of children she was able to fit in her car, it was a very appropriate name.

ZJ

I once got a phone call when I worked at a law firm from "Crystal Cox". It was her real name, and was related to a client of my boss's. When I called his line to tell him who was on the phone, he had to leave her on hold while he had a laughing fit.

I don't think she wanted to tell me her name. When I asked who was calling, she said it really fast, so that I had to ask her to repeat it. I honestly didn't hear her the first time, but I think she thought I was making fun of her
:(

[Daithi Lacha]

A co-worker's boyfriend called her from where he was standing in line one day - the gentleman in front of him was named Seymour Pecker!

Maybe he should have hooked up with Ms. Cox...

[Flamsterette_X]

I have a first name with at least two different common spellings, and several more "unusual" spellings.

My last name has no vowels, and is only two letters long.


Guess how many times people have screwed them up over the years.... :rolleyes:

[Dragonblink]

I've found that you can rarely go wrong with "Oh, that's a neat name!" Neat is a good all-purpose adjective, and slightly less overused than "unique".

Awhile back I was hanging out with a German guy with a last name that honestly, I'd be surprised if he heard it pronounced correctly even 1% of the time by non-German speakers (of which there are many here in the States). There's two of those lovely German r's and an umlauted o; I can approximate it fairly well because I've studied some German and a lot of French.

I asked him, "How do you tell Americans to pronounce your name?" His reply was, "I don't. However they pronounce it, I tell them it's right." :D

[MidnightRadio]

My last name is Polish, so I certainly feel the OP's pain.

When I was working in a call center, there was a woman that I and some of my co-workers had to deal with several times over the course of a few months whose last name was either Dichlich or Dicklich and, of course, it was pronounced "dick-lick". The first time I talked to her, I pronounced it "dick-lish", hoping either that it was right or that she wouldn't bother to correct me, but she did in a very low voice that said to me that she'd had to do that way too many times in her life (or at least her married life, as the case may have been). Nice lady, though.

[davenportavenger]

I have a common first name but a very unusual last name--it's only shared by thirty people in the US, and we're all related. However, it sounds exactly as it's spelled, and shouldn't be that hard for English speakers to pronounce. But I almost never get the right pronunciation! You would think, using Occam's razor, that the best way to pronounce an unusual word is phonetically, since that's usually how names are pronounced, but there's so many people who mangle up my name on a daily basis that it's clear some people never learned the fundamentals of phonics. And when people spell it out, it's even worse. I've had people misspell my name with the wrong letter at the beginning. Occam's razor, people--is it more likely that my name begins with an S or a Cz? Think about it.

My first name (Erica) isn't mispronounced, but I do get the other spelling sometime since my last name has a K in it. I figure people think my first name has a K for balance. That's not a problem, though, except if it's someone I've known for years that still does it. Then I get a little peeved.

[calm kiwi]

A question for all of you unusually named folk: Do you mind being asked how it's spelled? (And I don't mean in a customer service situation. I mean if I just met you at a party or something.)


My mum's name is Gay. People seem allergic to that and most strangers spell it Gaye. It drives her nuts.

[davmilasav]

My name is Mikel Lynn. It's spelled phonetically so you can pronounce it.
No it does not rhyme with nickel.
No it is not Michelle. (Please don't tell me what my name is, thank you.)
No my parents did not want a boy.
Yes it is an unusual name. Unless you are Italian. Because it's Americanized for Michaeleane, which nobody can spell or pronounce which is why it is spelled phonetically!
That being said, I've had my name mispronounced at me for 35 years. :dubious:

[MidnightRadio]

Hey, continuity eror, there are probably about thirty people in the country with my last name, too, and my father's side of the family lives in Pennsylvania. It's probably a long shot, but does any of your family live in East McKeesport?

[Nobody]

A question for all of you unusually named folk: Do you mind being asked how it's spelled? (And I don't mean in a customer service situation. I mean if I just met you at a party or something.)
Hell, when I'm talking to anybody about anything official or for business purposes, I'll say and spell both my first and last names.
Although, for some reason, if people just see my last name written without me pronouncing it, half of them get it wrong. It's Saunders, but for some reason people leave the "u" out and pronounce it Sanders. This has happened the last couple of times I shopped at Safeway using my Safeway club card. I've gotten tired of correcting the cashiers, so I've been letting it slide.

[TellMeI'mNotCrazy]

Hell, when I'm talking to anybody about anything official or for business purposes, I'll say and spell both my first and last names.
Although, for some reason, if people just see my last name written without me pronouncing it, half of them get it wrong. It's Saunders, but for some reason people leave the "u" out and pronounce it Sanders. This has happened the last couple of times I shopped at Safeway using my Safeway club card. I've gotten tired of correcting the cashiers, so I've been letting it slide.


This might be the fault of some of the Saunders I've met who have instructed me to pronounce it "Sanders."

[Nobody]

This might be the fault of some of the Saunders I've met who have instructed me to pronounce it "Sanders."
:confused: It's spelled with a u but they tell you not to pronounce it? Strange.
My wife did genealogy a few years back on our families, and found out that the name came from the Scottish Alexanders and down through the years, got shortened and changed into Sanders and Saunders. I've always thought that if the name had a u in it, it was meant to be pronounced. This is the first I've heard of anybody wanting to keep it silent.

[Gadfly]

Substituting Fyodor for my first name, and Bukowski for my last name, and substituting Mr. Delugas for a substitute teacher's name, because that was, in fact, his name:

(note: Mr. Delugas (Day-loo-gaa) has a comically exagerrated French accent)

EARLIER THIS YEAR:

Mr. Delugas: Fyodor? Is Fyodor here? Ahh, Fyodor, that sounds like a Russian name. Are you Russian, Fyodor?

Gadfly: No, actually. There's a story behind that.

Mr. Delugas: Aha. And Bukowski! That sounds very much like Russian, too! Oh, but if you switch a letter, it becomes [this makes more sense with my real name, folks] Bokowski! Very French! I am French, you know!

Gadfly, grinning uneasily: I've noticed. Thank you, though, that's not something I've heard very often.

SLIGHTLY LATER THIS YEAR:

Mr. Delugas: And Mr. Fyodor? I assume he is here?

Gadfly: Yes.

Mr. Delugas: Fyodor, eh? Hmm, that sounds very Russian to me.

Gadfly: Yes, well, you see, my father...

Mr. Delugas: And Bukowski! Russian too! It fits! Although, with a slight modification, it could be a French name! I would suspect that you, Mr. Bukowski, have French roots, as well, no?

Gadfly: Not exactly, but close, it's...

Mr. Delugas: Aha! I knew it!

TWO WEEKS AGO:

Mr. Delugas: Fyodor! Is Fyodor here?

Gadfly, silently sliding towards the edge of his seat as he awaits the inevitable re-dissection of his name, wondering, hoping, if Mr. Delugas will remember how many hundreds of times he's gone over this and over this, and honestly, his ass is getting pretty close to falling off, it's sort of like a cherub on the head of a pin, except his ass isn't much of a cherub, and the pin isn't a pin, moreso a slab of cheap plastic covered in tacky wood veneer: Yes.

Mr. Delugas: Fyodor! That sounds very much like a Russian name! I would place a bet on you having Russian roots, no?

Gadfly, silently kneading his knuckles and slowly sliding back into the chair, but not out of danger yet, as inner turmoil and anxiety threatens to drag him into a yawning pit of dementia, at the bottom of which lies a viscous, bubbling pool of madness and despair, the fumes of which are slowly reaching Gadfly's olfactory devices, smelling much like turpentine and rubber, baked in the fires of Hades: ...Well...

Mr. Delugas: Bukowski! Russian, too! But read another way, it could be French! Very French indeed! Extremely French! Your roots must lie somewhere in France, as well!

Gadfly, as he feels frustration, rage, and the urge to strike out, to flail madly against life's unfortunate circumstance, at Mr. Delugas' continuosly failing memory, indeed, at fate itself, which at the moment seems like a giant, meaty fist, dangling a bundle of dollar bills in front of Gadfly's figure, only to snatch it away and beat him to near-death with it, coursing through his veins: I... I think I need to go to the washroom.

[Little Bird]

I worked at GEICO in a call center. We had to use our first and last names on the phone when introducing ourselves. My first name is Teresa. I've been called Tracy, Patricia, and Jennifer.

My last name is strange but sounds like a b-list celeb's. I had to at least daily say, "No, not at all related. In fact, his name has an 'n' in it and mine clearly does not, which you would have noticed had you cared." (paraphrazed)

Usually I just get "How is that spelled?!" or "That's a mouthfull!" but one charming gentleman blurted "Gee, you must have been made fun of in high school!" Thank you, sir, for reminding me.

[coilycat]

I kept wishing, as I read this thread, that everyone would simply go ahead and tell us their names instead of saying what it is or what people say it is or whatever. You're complaining about how people try to pronounce your name, so maybe you could inform those of us who are INTERESTED!

ahem.

I always marvelled at how people, all across the board, with only one or two exceptions, would always try to add letters to my last name, "C-H-O." Of course I understand that there would be many misspellings & mispronunciations, but jeez you'd think that after a few attempts you'd just try "Cho" rhymes with doe or slow or throw or toe.

You've tried chow and chew, so why not try cho? or alternatively, can I just have three letters in my last name??

Me: "C-H-O"
other person: ........yes,....? that's it?
me: yes, just C-H-O.
other person: Oh!
me inside my brain: eggZACTly!


Then my uncle was visiting from Korea (which is an awfully strange place, where EVERYBODY has black hair, and there are other people named "Cho"!)(is this how it feels to be in the majority?) and I pointed out a ginko tree.

uncle: ginkow?
me: no, gingko - oh. Oh.
uncle: ginkCOW?
me: ginkCOH! Gingko!

me, w/dawning realization: hmmm I'm from Baltimore, MAYBE I have an ACCENT! MAYbe it SOUNDS (if you're not a native English speaker and are unfamiliar with how we pronounce things in English) like I'm saying, "OW" when I'm trying to "OH." OHHHH! :eek:

hence, all the conversations like

me: no that's all, just C-H-O.
person: C-H-L?!
me thinking huh?how'd you get that?: no, O-O-O. C-H-OOOOHHH.

course, it would certainly help if other Koreans before me had spelled things simply and logically instead of CHEOUGH or CHIU or CHOWE and Seoul who in the world would spell something like that? tut, tut. :o

When I'm meeting someone, it's as if I cannot physically hear what the person is saying, until they spell it for me, kind of like the poster above whose post I cannot see at the moment so yes I've forgotten her name even though this is written and therefore spelled out. Oy.

All I hear is "wha-wha(Charlie Brown's teacher talking)" But once they spell it, I can pick out the consonants, at least. oh, Eamon, or Kieran, or Amelie, or Cyara, or Danielle pronounced donel with no i because your father thought it sounded like a boys name! Ohhh!

unless of course it's Irish or Gaelic in which case it has no relationship to any letters I know. OK, I can handle "SheVONNE" for Siobhan, but some of the other stuff....

That said, I agree w/those who favor calling people whatever they (or their parents) want to be called, as long as they're willing to be patient with others. If you're gonna name a Korean kid "Alastair," like my brother & his wife did, don't get all huffy b/c people try "Alice-STAIR" since that's what it looks like, instead of AlastER.

For heavens sake didn't the Korean church folk have a tough enough time with your first son, Stewart? Sssseh tooooo uhh?......??rr?? uhtukheh (how?) yahh, uhrhyup-da! (it's difficult!) They never even got Suzy right. Sssoohjee!

Maybe that's why Korean people don't address one another by their Christian names at all. Other adults are "Bob's mother" or "Mary's dad" even if they're your buddies. Couples don't use each others names, it's yuh-boh! Hey spouse! Actually, it may be hey Wife, I think women usually say "Karen's daddy," even if they're married to Karen's daddy.

Of course, there's also my cousin, who calls her husband, Older Brother.

[Nobody]

I kept wishing, as I read this thread, that everyone would simply go ahead and tell us their names instead of saying what it is or what people say it is or whatever. You're complaining about how people try to pronounce your name, so maybe you could inform those of us who are INTERESTED!

A lot of people here are either scared, nervous, or, for some other reason, don't want to say their real name. If someone posts about their name, without giving it, they're doing it on purpose.

[davenportavenger]

Hey, continuity eror, there are probably about thirty people in the country with my last name, too, and my father's side of the family lives in Pennsylvania. It's probably a long shot, but does any of your family live in East McKeesport?
No, most of us live an hour south of Pittsburgh. That would be one freaky coincidence, though!

[coilycat]

I asked about how Cecil is pronounced in some other forum, and the staff had nothing definitive to say. Most thought it was probably Seesil. That was my assumption, but then I thought that it might be Sessel. Like Basil Rathbone is Bazzel.

After that, every time I thought, "Seesil," I heard Maggie Smith saying "Sessil." Finally, Maggie Smith won out.

Now I like "sessile" because it means staying in the same place on the bottom of the ocean. Like sponges. But come to think of it, there's also sisal, which seems to be a natural grass-fibery thing. Which sounds just like Seesle.

Now I'm going over to this other thread to talk about Keeyoto which drives me up the wall. "Is there a cow in Moscow?"

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=290526