# Popular baby names. Pronouncing "George". **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 23, 2007, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036 "2007-12-23T18:22:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/21 "2007-12-23T23:14:26Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] My name used to be in the top 10 of the world. Now it’s completely vanished from the list; nobody names their boy “Paul” anymore. I don’t know why it fell out of favour, but I imagine it will return eventually, as these things tend to do. [/QUOTE] I love the name Paul…it’s my baby’s middle name. I always wonder why it’s relatively uncommon these days. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/22 "2007-12-23T23:28:51Z")
[QUOTE=Br’er Lapin] If it isn’t Natasha, then consider my entire worldview shattered. [/QUOTE] Looks like we have a winner. 😃 I thought my username would give it away a bit, as it is a bizarre diminutive-based nickname. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/23 "2007-12-23T23:37:52Z")
[QUOTE=nashiitashii] Looks like we have a winner. 😃 I thought my username would give it away a bit, as it is a bizarre diminutive-based nickname. [/QUOTE] Good call, **Br’er Lapin**. Are you a monk? 😃 I’m reading _Brother Odd_. Anyway, I hoped that was it. Some posters here have way too wild imaginations. I suspect drugs. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/24 "2007-12-23T23:45:31Z")
[QUOTE=Celyn] Would it amuse you to know that a recent “popular baby names” thing here - and I cannot now recall whether this was Scotland or the U.K. as a whole - probably Scotland - included the name “Jakey”? [/QUOTE] Can’t see it [here (England & Wales)](http://www.statistics.gov.uk/specials/babiesnames_boys.asp) or [here (Scotland) (PDF)](http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files1/stats/pop-names-07-t1.pdf). ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/25 "2007-12-23T23:47:51Z")
My name has never been all that popular. I was the only Eleanor in my grade, middle and high schools (HS had 3000 students). Supposedly it is more popular now, among the younger crowd (Kindergartenish). No idea. My brother’s name, Carter–was unheard of in the 60s etc. I now know 2 Carters who are 9 years old. My kids are Laura, Robert and John. I’m sure they’ll thank me later. (although Laura is in amongst a huge Lauren contigent.) I’ve never heard George pronounced any way but “rhymes with forge”. Maybe I don’t get out much. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/26 "2007-12-23T23:55:07Z")
Jacob has been popular for over fifteen years now, so long before Jake Gyllenhaal surfaced. When I worked with 3-6 year olds back in 2001/2 there were 13 boys. 4 of them were named Jacob. 4 more also had names beginning with the letter “J” as well. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2007, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/27 "2007-12-23T23:59:34Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] My name has never been all that popular. I was the only Eleanor in my grade, middle and high schools (HS had 3000 students). Supposedly it is more popular now, among the younger crowd (Kindergartenish). No idea. [/QUOTE] According to the thingumy linked to be **Tool of the Conspiracy** , Eleanor ranked no. 30 in the 1920s. It just fell out of fashion, and has come around full circle. Look at the top girls in the England & Wales 2007 rankings: Grace? Positively Victorian. Ruby, Lily, Millie, Daisy? Not long ago these were the names of aunts, not neices. (Eleanor gets into the top 50, and Ellie makes no. 13.) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/28 "2007-12-24T00:05:34Z")
I think that “pronounce” is the wrong term. It implies a difference that’s too strong. Maybe “emphasis” is closer, or maybe they do it more when speaking to me. Imagine **Wallace** , of [_Wallace and Gromit_](http://www.wallaceandgromit.com/characters/) saying "George. That would be one example. BTW; I love those guys. If you click the link, you get to watch a couple short vids. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/29 "2007-12-24T00:16:21Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] Can’t see it [here (England & Wales)](http://www.statistics.gov.uk/specials/babiesnames_boys.asp) or [here (Scotland) (PDF)](http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files1/stats/pop-names-07-t1.pdf). [/QUOTE] Ah, that serves me right for listening to stuff on the television. No, the thing is that I may have phrased my post clumsily. This “Jakey” nonsense was NOT said to be a popular name, but was mentioned as an example of stupid or unusual names. Or I am losing my marbles: that could also be true, actually. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/30 "2007-12-24T00:17:54Z")
Re: the pronunciation of George Are you talking about pronouncing the G more drawn out instead of the hard G sound. Kind of like the J in Jeanne (not pronounced like Gene or Jean but a French pronunciation or the Zs in Zsa Zsa? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/31 "2007-12-24T00:20:05Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] According to the thingumy linked to be **Tool of the Conspiracy** , Eleanor ranked no. 30 in the 1920s. It just fell out of fashion, and has come around full circle. Look at the top girls in the England & Wales 2007 rankings: Grace? Positively Victorian. Ruby, Lily, Millie, Daisy? Not long ago these were the names of aunts, not neices. (Eleanor gets into the top 50, and Ellie makes no. 13.) [/QUOTE] Isla? Is her last name Langerhans? (just kidding…) Imogen? LAYLA? :eek: I had only looked at the USA pink and blue thingy–and Eleanor is still a not so popular name (doesn’t bother me). A friend of mine in UK sent me a bunch of stickers, all with Eleanor on them (I could never get anything with my name on it like all the Lindas, Donnas, Terrys and Sues could), so I knew it was more popular over there. I like my name. It was somewhat offputting to be introduced to old people when I was younger and the more senile would say stuff like, “I knew an Eleanor growing up; she’s dead now.”, but overall, it’s been a good name… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/32 "2007-12-24T00:27:04Z")
[QUOTE=eleanorigby] Isla? Is her last name Langerhans? (just kidding…) Imogen? LAYLA? :eek: I had only looked at the USA pink and blue thingy–and Eleanor is still a not so popular name (doesn’t bother me). A friend of mine in UK sent me a bunch of stickers, all with Eleanor on them (I could never get anything with my name on it like all the Lindas, Donnas, Terrys and Sues could), so I knew it was more popular over there. I like my name. It was somewhat offputting to be introduced to old people when I was younger and the more senile would say stuff like, “I knew an Eleanor growing up; she’s dead now.”, but overall, it’s been a good name… 🙂 [/QUOTE] My ex’s step mom’s name is Elnora. I haven’t looked it up yet, but I’m about to. Could be a related name. Could be just about anything. She’s from Oklahoma. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/33 "2007-12-24T00:33:00Z")
From the SSA’s website, linked above; > [@](#): > > Elnora is not in the top 1000 names for any year of birth in the last 15 years. > Please enter another name. I told you so. 😉 Not always obsessively formal, those Oklahomans. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/34 "2007-12-24T02:12:52Z")
It sounds like a variant of Eleanor. Nora, Elllie, Ellenor, Elinor, Elenore, Elanor… But ONLY one is correct: Eleanor. As it is written, so shall it be done. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/35 "2007-12-24T02:56:00Z")
[QUOTE=Speaker for the Dead] I’ve always said “Jorge,” to rhyme with “gorge.” [/QUOTE] My father’s name. That’s how I’ve always heard it pronounced. ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/36 "2007-12-24T03:27:57Z")
I hear it pronounced “Jawje” a lot. Like the word “jaw”, then a j sound. But I’m in Maine, home of the word-manglers. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/37 "2007-12-24T03:55:17Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] My ex’s step mom’s name is Elnora. I haven’t looked it up yet, but I’m about to. Could be a related name. Could be just about anything. She’s from Oklahoma. [/QUOTE] But I think there was a popular Gene Stratton Porter heroine named Elnora, and people in Oklahoma do read a lot… ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/38 "2007-12-24T03:58:16Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] Can [this](http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/) be true? Three of the top four names surprise me. “Michael” nas always been popular, but “Jacob”? My name, George ranked 153. Down from 15 in 1945, my birth year. Anyway, I came here to discuss why so many people say my name (George) with an odd inflection that’s kinda hard to describe. For one thing, it isn’t consistant. The only thing that is consistant (among those who pronounce it oddly) is that they don’t just pronounce it normally, as it’s spelled. Not just me, of course. I hear the same when people talk about Bush, or that TV guy with the greek last name which I’m not even going to try to spell. I got sidetracked by the above linked site. “Jacob”. Indeed. Is there a handsome celeb with that name? Peace, mangeorge [/QUOTE] Apparently if “George” doesn’t have an e on the end it’s pronouced “Gay-Org.” (Cite: The Sound of Music) ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/39 "2007-12-24T04:02:21Z")
Abagail was the #6 female name for 2006? Seriously?! What next, a resurgence in Prudence, Mabel, and Mildred? ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2007, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036/40 "2007-12-24T04:08:39Z")
Wow. My name was #832 last year, but in the 60s it was #8. Cool site. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-baby-names-pronouncing-george/431036.md?page=3)