Alot of it can come down to culture. My name is not common in this country and my whole life I have had to spell it and correct pronouciation. But in the country that it originates from its a very common name.
I had someone recently say to me that they cant pronounce their friends kids name properly cause they are Maori names that are too difficult to say. But I said to them, "well only if your not familiar with them or the maori language". I felt like this person was saying these names shouldnt be used cause they are too difficult, but in NZ Im sure most people would even have a basic understaning to pronounce them - why shouldnt they (and other names people consider 'weird' be used? Somethings only strange when your not used to it.
My name is spelt as it is pronounced but I've had heaps of people ask me how to spell it (plus I've been called every other name that sounds similar to it). I also had a really long first name and would have trouble as a little kid spelling it correctly!! Fortunately it was shortened by my mother to another name, so I grew up having a nickname as my preferred name.
I have a slight accent when I talk, and have been corrected by parents who think I am mis-pronouncing their children's name (hailey - Hal-ee, Keiran - can sound like karen), and it positively drives me INSANE!!
I think whatever you call your child, if you provide someone with the pronounciation, then you have to also be willing to accept their accent, and a person's potential inability to pronouce it as you want it to be pronouced. Some people just can't help it.
After almost 40 years with this name, I am to the point where I don't really care what people call me, I understand that they all have their different emphasis, and I answer to most things.
My name is Welsh. It's a nice name (now - I hated it for a while at school when no-one could pronounce or spell it!). But boy do I get nicked off when my own mother, who chose the spelling, can't get it right! My name is NOT spelt with a K! You should know - you picked it! And I don't like the pronunciation of it you use - but then no-one uses that aside from DH when I'm really cross with him, so answer to most pronunciations. My sister calls me Queenie; that's fine, sounds enough like my name. I call her Pam, which isn't her name either, so we're quits.
I also dislike having to spell my name all the time. "No, not a K, a C" or "Yes, a Y and not an E... no, not EY, just Y..." Sometimes I long for a normal spelling just to shut people up! Which is why I've picked normal names for my children. They can have strange nicknames, or go by their middle name(s) if they so wish as they grow up. DS does have a nickname unusual for his name because I don't think the usual one suits him.
I guess "Bus Shelter" will never have to spell his name. But he will get "no, seriously, what's your name?" or "Young Man, if you don't answer the question that will be detention for you!" or the like.
RH - i have one of those super dooper simple first names - but it's one that can be spelt about five different ways, and is also the shortened version of at least five others - so i am ALWAYS having to spell my name too. i think no matter what, people will always clarify spelling (or stuff it up if they don't) and you just get used to it. i had a long surname that had odd spelling, so got used to spelling that one out - married and took on a nice simple surname - and people still stuff it up - i get bridges or biggs - really - it's not that hard!
"My name is Welsh. It's a nice name (now - I hated it for a while at school when no-one could pronounce or spell it!). "
Please let me know what your name is. We are in the process of choosing Welsh girls names and really like Tirion so far.
Bronwyn
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