I have been thinking of possible baby names, but run into a concern that people will mispronounce a name?

Question

For instance, if you saw this name, how would you pronouce it:
Seilah

I want my children to have an uncommon name, but don't want them to spend their whole life correcting people. Has anyone dealt with this? What did you do?

Answer 1

With uncommon names correcting people is unavoidable. Your best bet is to ensure, as much as you are able, that people hear your child's name before they get a chance to read it. That way they know how to say it. In school this can be done by the simple expedient of meeting your child's teacher before school starts. You should also teach your child to introduce her(him?)self rather than relying on name tags or roll calls. This won't eliminate the problem, but it will help.

As for the f'rinstance, I would pronounce it "SAY-la," but I can see how "SIGH-lah" would be just as good. "SEE-lah" is also doable, but I would trip over the "i before e" thing. 0:)

At least your not (I hope) contemplating giving your child a silly name like Abcde (pronounced "AB-sid-ee"). My wife met someone who named her child that -- I blame the drugs.

Answer 2

I did any so did my sister. My name is Ava, which of course is very common now but in the 1970's-80's when I was growing up ( I was born i n'74) it wasn't. Everyone called me Ah-vah. As you can see even the simplist name such a Ava can be done differently. I like Seliah. I would say Se-lee-ah. Correct me if I'm wrong! I also ran into this with my husband, who had all these unique names for our kids. My 13 year old is called Caitlin all the time when her name is Cailin - KAY- LNN and my 8 yr old is always called a boy, her name is Avery. Owen our 5 yr old is fine, Decaon is fine, but Nevaeh has some trouble!

Good luck! :)

Answer 3

I would pronouce it See-luh. Why how is it supposed to be pronounced?

Personally, I think that unless a certain spelling is widely understood/accepted and popular, you should go with the most straight forward spelling of a name to give the child the least amount of frustration for his/her entire lifetime of having to spell the name and correct others. I have a very straight forward name but it's been bad enough having a common surname with an unusual spelling, which people always get wrong and needs to be corrected,

Answer 4

I have a Danish name and have had to correct everyone my entire life. I am used to so I do not care at all when they butcher it. It makes some people feel awkward because of those people that do jump down other's throats when they mispronounce. Just raise them to be chill, it is not that big of a deal if someone messes it up.

I have always hated my name and wanted to change when I was moving across the country, but I could think of a better name than the one I was given. Just do not name your kid Banana or something stupid like a celebrity mother would...

Answer 5

To be honest...I really don't know how to pronounce the name you are thinking of.

I have sort of an odd name...Liza.

I have spent my ENTIRE life being called the WRONG NAME. I can tell you that it SUCKS! I don't think it's a hard name (pronounce Ly-zuh...just like Liza Minnelli) But my entire life I have been called LiSA, Liz, and Leeza...I have spent more time correcting people than than actually hearing my name pronounced correctly. I have been called the wrong name at my graduation! I have been called the wrong name by teachers for ENTIRE semesters. It's incredibly frustrating to never hear your correct name. I grew up hating my name and wanting to change it!

I recommend staying away from the uncommon names you don't think people can pronounce...it really gets frustrating. I know from personal experience

Answer 6

My daughter is 12..her name starts with a "Ch" but should be pronounced as a hard "K" sound. Not many people know it so she is constantly correcting people. She does it respectfully.."I'm sorry, but my name is actually pronounced...... It is an unusal name and lots of people get it wrong." She does get frustrated occassionally, but she would never change her name...she loves that she is the only one in her group to have it and that it always gets people talking about it's origins, what it means, etc...it has beena great way for her to start conversations with new people!

Answer 7

c lieah is how i would pronouce it ! dont worry what other people will think be concerned about what you think!~ keeping it in the family is always a good way to go! pick names that are unique but easy to pronounce like

Zoe
Xavier

there are so many beautiful names out there but a name i may like may be sothing that you hate!

all the best

Answer 8

I cant even begin to imagine how your would say that...I would assume its said like Seal-ah. and just so you know...uncommon doesnt have to mean spelled weird. some people change the spelling of a common name so that its said the same, but just spelled weird. that doesnt make it uncommon, just misspelled. I'm not saying this is your intention and I can understand wanting a different name, but just try and keep the spelling of the names you pick relatively normal.

Answer 9

I would pronouce it Seal yah. Well it seems like people mispronounce the most common names even these days. Good luck.

Answer 10

The name is alright.

My son's name is Brennan. He doesn't have trouble when people are reading it off of a paper, but if we say his name, it always gets repeated back to us as Brandon or Brenden.

One exception: Brennan is like the 3rd most popular last name in Ireland, and over there it was fantastic to hear the people say his name with a beautiful Irish accent.