# The "how do you pronounce these names?" thread **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 16, 2011, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226 "2011-07-16T07:01:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/1 "2011-07-16T07:01:19Z")
I have questions about three specific names, but everyone is more than welcome to add to the list of names we don’t know how to say. I can’t be the only one who has run across names that have puzzled them… #1 - Pashleigh In an old and infamous baby name suggestion thread, a poster listed several yuppy baby names, including Pashleigh. How do you say that? The first syllable can’t really rhyme with “bash” can it? Because if it’s really pash-lee that’s going on my list o names I can’t believe people think are attractive first names. #2- Islene I found this in a baby name book, and yet to have ever meet someone with the name. Is it Is-lene or as if “I” was plural so more like Eyes-lene (or maybe Ice-lene)? #3 - Kyler I named a character this (well, Charles Kyler, but everyone calls him Kyler), and later discovered that it’s a real surname. I intend for it to rhyme with Tyler, so Ky-ler. But one of the surname pages I wandered across swears that there’s an “a” sound in it, and people say “Kay-ler” to sound much closer to Taylor instead. Ever met a Kyler before? My Kyler wasn’t raised by his birth family, so if the name really is supposed to be pronounced with an a for some reason, his sister can remark on it when they finally meet. So, those are my name mysteries. Any insights? Any mystery names you’d like others to take a crack at? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/2 "2011-07-16T07:52:29Z")
The last two I’m 95% sure are an alternate spelling for Ilene (i.e I-lean), and Tyler with a K (i.e. Kye-luhr). I’m less sure about the first one. But, seeing as I do know an Ashleigh, which is an alternate of Ashley, I’ll assume it’s pronounced like Ashley with a P, what you write as pash-lee. Or, if you prefer IPA: 1. [ˈpæʃ liː] 2. [ˈkaɪ lɚ] 3. [aɪˈliːn] One more thing: Are you sure the surname page wasn’t using “ay” to mean I? You know, like in other languages like Spanish. Note how the IPA uses an _a_, too. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/3 "2011-07-16T10:29:19Z")
Islene looks like an alternative way of spelling “Eileen”. The “s” would be silent, as in “Isla”, or “Islay”, or “island”. (But not “Isleworth”…) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/4 "2011-07-16T15:50:02Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > The last two I’m 95% sure are an alternate spelling for Ilene (i.e I-lean), and Tyler with a K (i.e. Kye-luhr). > > I’m less sure about the first one. But, seeing as I do know an Ashleigh, which is an alternate of Ashley, I’ll assume it’s pronounced like Ashley with a P, what you write as pash-lee. > > Or, if you prefer IPA: > > 1. [ˈpæʃ liː] 2. [ˈkaɪ lɚ] 3. [aɪˈliːn] > > One more thing: Are you sure the surname page wasn’t using “ay” to mean I? You know, like in other languages like Spanish. Note how the IPA uses an _a_, too. I can’t find that page right now, but here’s a different one, claiming that as a first name [it’s pronounced Kayler](http://www.babynamespedia.com/meaning/Kyler/m) too. As a last name it’s of British origin, and the link says as a first it’s is Scandinavian 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Kika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5fc32e/32.png) [@Kika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kika)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/5 "2011-07-16T16:31:36Z")
I know a baby Islene. Her parents pronounce it EES-leen. However, her grandmother’s name is Joan, pronounced like JoAnne, her mother’s name is Debb, pronounced like Debbie, and her brother’s name is Mykill, pronounced MICK-ill, not Michael, so my source may not be the most accurate. There’s a Kyler in my kid’s class, but it rhymes with Tyler, not Taylor. His mom says she made the name up because she wanted a Tyler and his dad wanted a Kyle, Jr. FWIW, when I see Pashleigh, I rhyme it with Ashley. ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/6 "2011-07-16T16:34:07Z")
**#1 - Pashleigh** No idea, but I’ll guess at Pash-leigh **#2- Islene** I’d pronounce that Ish- leen **#3 - Kyler** I’d go with it rhyming with Tyler… ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/7 "2011-07-16T18:08:10Z")
Pashleigh: The only way I can figure to pronounce that is “Pashley.” Rhymes with “Ashley.” How else would you pronounce it? Kyler: I have a cousin named Kyler, and we pronounce it to rhyme with Tyler. Islene: To me, this looks like somebody tried to get cute with the spelling of the name “Eileen.” ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/8 "2011-07-16T23:28:58Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I can’t find that page right now, but here’s a different one, claiming that as a first name [it’s pronounced Kayler](http://www.babynamespedia.com/meaning/Kyler/m) too. As a last name it’s of British origin, and the link says as a first it’s is Scandinavian 😕 What BigT said. The “AY” in that site’s pronunciation key is the sound of long “i” in “hide.” ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/9 "2011-07-17T00:16:36Z")
The one that bugs me is author and historian Jill Jonnes. Is it Jones or Jon-ness or something else? Her web site does not address this question. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/10 "2011-07-17T01:55:31Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > What BigT said. The “AY” in that site’s pronunciation key is the sound of long “i” in “hide.” So…they muddied the water by suggesting through their “clarification” that it’s not pronounced how it’s spelled, even though most people would naturally pronounce the y in Ky as a long i. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Kika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5fc32e/32.png) [@Kika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kika)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/11 "2011-07-17T10:35:53Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > The one that bugs me is author and historian Jill Jonnes. Is it Jones or Jon-ness or something else? Her web site does not address this question. Jones. ([FOF Book Club: Discussion of Eiffel's Tower with author Jill Jonnes](http://vimeo.com/17329819)) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/12 "2011-07-17T13:44:28Z")
The Small One recently received an invitation to a birthday partys for twins named - well, hell, I can’t even figure out how to properly show you: Aine, except there’s a rightward-leaning accent over the A Mairéad Look, I know Celtic names are all cool and stuff, but I don’t speak Celtic and neither do 99.8% of all Canadians, so how do these parents expect anyone, ever, to get these right? Why would you, in an English-speaking country, give your children names that are practically DESIGNED to be totally unphonetic to an Anglophone? Anyway, I have to RSVP to the party and take my kid there so I’d appreciate knowing how to say these names when we sing “Happy Birthday.” ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/13 "2011-07-17T15:08:31Z")
“Anne” and “Mary”? ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/14 "2011-07-17T15:11:28Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The Small One recently received an invitation to a birthday partys for twins named - well, hell, I can’t even figure out how to properly show you: > > Aine, except there’s a rightward-leaning accent over the A > > Mairéad > > Look, I know Celtic names are all cool and stuff, but I don’t speak Celtic and neither do 99.8% of all Canadians, so how do these parents expect anyone, ever, to get these right? Why would you, in an English-speaking country, give your children names that are practically DESIGNED to be totally unphonetic to an Anglophone? > > Anyway, I have to RSVP to the party and take my kid there so I’d appreciate knowing how to say these names when we sing “Happy Birthday.” I don’t think 99% of Ireland speaks Gaelic (Celtic) anymore. I think Gaelic names are uber pretenious, espeically if one isn’t 100% Irish. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/15 "2011-07-17T16:05:48Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The Small One recently received an invitation to a birthday partys for twins named - well, hell, I can’t even figure out how to properly show you: > > Aine, except there’s a rightward-leaning accent over the A > > Mairéad > > Look, I know Celtic names are all cool and stuff, but I don’t speak Celtic and neither do 99.8% of all Canadians, so how do these parents expect anyone, ever, to get these right? Why would you, in an English-speaking country, give your children names that are practically DESIGNED to be totally unphonetic to an Anglophone? > > Anyway, I have to RSVP to the party and take my kid there so I’d appreciate knowing how to say these names when we sing “Happy Birthday.” Aine = Aon-Ya Mairead = just as you read it, Mair-ead ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/16 "2011-07-17T16:50:24Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > Aine = Aon-Ya > > Mairead = just as you read it, Mair-ead Seriously? You’d say them Ay-on-ya and Mayr-ee-ad? I’d say ON-ya and Mar-AID. They’re Irish for Anne and Margaret. They’re not ‘cool’ over here (Ireland). They’re really normal - slightly old-fashioned in that they were more common for kids born in the 70s, but still. ---
**Author:** ![Lobelia\_Overhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@Lobelia\_Overhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobelia_Overhill)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/17 "2011-07-17T18:32:48Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The Small One recently received an invitation to a birthday partys for twins named - well, hell, I can’t even figure out how to properly show you: > > Aine, except there’s a rightward-leaning accent over the A > > Mairéad > Anyway, I have to RSVP to the party and take my kid there so I’d appreciate knowing how to say these names when we sing “Happy Birthday.” An Irish woman says Áine is pronounced Aun-ya Mairéad is pronounced Maur-aid > [@YaraMateo](#): > > I don’t think 99% of Ireland speaks Gaelic (Celtic) anymore. I think Gaelic names are uber pretenious, espeically if one isn’t 100% Irish. Well thanks for the input, I’ll let the townsfolk know, and I’ll change my name to something less pretentious :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/18 "2011-07-17T18:55:47Z")
I’d actually pronounce Islene as Is-lee-nee because it looks like Ismene, Antigone’s sister. My husband and I both really like Greek girls’ names, but they all have such problematic associations. Medea? Ismene? Cassandra? Cressida? All lovely. Can’t be used. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/19 "2011-07-17T19:59:33Z")
> [@eclectic\_wench](#): > > Seriously? You’d say them Ay-on-ya and Mayr-ee-ad? I’d say ON-ya and Mar-AID. > > They’re Irish for Anne and Margaret. They’re not ‘cool’ over here (Ireland). They’re really normal - slightly old-fashioned in that they were more common for kids born in the 70s, but still. Actually, I would pronounce them Aine and Mairead. I just spell them differently phonetically to you ;). I would say they are still common enough over here, using the metric that I have a number of friends of each name. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2011, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226/20 "2011-07-17T22:15:50Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > My husband and I both really like Greek girls’ names, but they all have such problematic associations. Medea? Ismene? Cassandra? Cressida? All lovely. Can’t be used. I know two Cassandras - it’s not that unusual a name. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-how-do-you-pronounce-these-names-thread/589226.md?page=2)