Strangest pronunciations

[Sequoia]

I am confused by this one - Nicola. I have always pronounced it 'Nickolah' in one mouthful (IYKWIM) but twice recently I have heard people pronounce it as 'Nicole-ah'.

I think 'Nickolah' is for a girl and 'Nicole-ah' is for a boy. Nicola Finetti the fashion designer is a guy and his name is pronounced 'Nicole-ah'.

[sazzafrazz]

I found another irish name I like on tv the other day. Roisin pronounced Row-sheen. I dont know that I would use it though. I do love some of their names but Aussies seem to have no idea how to say them. Probably a hundred years ago when half the population was Irish decended you would have had no trouble...

As for the Grant (Gr-ANT vs Gr-arnt) I think that is to do with the state you are in. In SA we all say the latter but notice the eastern states say the former. NB we aren't ALL Hyacinths here lol.

My married surname is a womans first name and I find it ammusing when people who I dont know all that well try to be familiar by calling me an abbreviated name, except they use the surname not my first name!