Having an Impossible Name

orthodoc · 08-08-2013, 11:41 PM

I still can't pronounce it unless I'm having a good day.

And to think my maiden name was Pitt.

sexobon · 08-09-2013, 12:02 AM

Sounds like taking your married name was a Pitt fall.

sexobon · 08-09-2013, 12:07 AM

Could new user rosemarypitt563 be one of your relatives?

Clodfobble · 08-09-2013, 08:08 AM

Our new Kindergarten teacher's name is weird. Not weird like Wwarvzowicthzq, more like a very simple name that is actually pronounced completely differently than you would think. The memory device I've had to come up with is that the first syllable sounds like the word "plague," so I just keep picturing her as a zombie when I say it.

Sundae · 08-09-2013, 09:27 AM

My surname isn't impossible.
But it seems hard for people to hear/ read/ get their head round.

Given my first name begins with C, I am often called Connelly, because people can't grasp a surname that begins with an O. Either that or I go to collect something and find my name has been registered as starting with an A, despite the fact I always spell it out.

And my maiden name was Robinson!
So easy.
But as I think I've said before, I'd use the NATO call sign when giving a first initial over the phone.
Getting post (mail) addressed to Charlie Robinson was confusing, because he was my Uncle.

orthodoc · 08-09-2013, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sexobon

Sounds like taking your married name was a Pitt fall.

set myself up for that one! And no, I don't know anyone named Rosemary Pitt.

lumberjim · 08-10-2013, 06:32 AM

People at work call me jimhelm. All one word. Not Jim. Jimhelm.

It's tough to get people to hear Helm. It's got soft consonants at both ends. ... I've shown up for reservations to find them under Hell, Helen, Elm. I've gone to saying Helm, like helmet.

You wouldn't think it would be that hard .... It's not that odd a name.

limey · 08-10-2013, 06:40 AM

There is an expectation that there is a silent "e" on the end of my surname, which is only four letters long. Every time I spell it out (there are different ways to spell it) the listener says, with surprise 'No "e"?!?!!'. Sometimes they add 'Are you sure?!?' (well, DUH!).
My maiden name was also a bu&&er to spell out, with people doubling the wrong letter, no matter how long I paused after the doubled letter to allow them to write it down before continuing.

Chocolatl · 08-10-2013, 07:32 AM

My last name starts with "Hra," with the leading H being silent. People writing it down always write "Har," despite my spelling it out. There's also a B which gets confused for a D, and an S which gets confused with an F -- no matter how slowly and clearly I enunciate. I always spell all the consonants out with the NATO alphabet, as Sundae mentioned.

When people are trying to read it, their brows just furrow and they start making an odd gurgling sound as they try to make the "Rah" at the beginning into a "HHGHGHGHHRAH".

As a teacher, my students just called me "Mrs. H."

Sundae · 08-10-2013, 09:00 AM

Limey, I admit your name is unusual in not having an "e". And I would worry that I had heard correctly. But to ask if you are sure about the spelling... [sucks teeth and shakes head]

Choc - I bet you get some fantastic letters...
Who IS this person? She certainly doesn't live here. HHGHGHGHHRAH.

xoxoxoBruce · 08-10-2013, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limey

Sometimes they add 'Are you sure?!?' (well, DUH!).

And so your palm and forehead remain on a first name basis.

08-08-2013, 11:41 PM	#1
orthodoc Not Suspicious, Merely Canadian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3,774	Having an Impossible Name I still can't pronounce it unless I'm having a good day. And to think my maiden name was Pitt. __________________ The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. - Ghandi

08-09-2013, 08:08 AM	#4
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Our new Kindergarten teacher's name is weird. Not weird like Wwarvzowicthzq, more like a very simple name that is actually pronounced completely differently than you would think. The memory device I've had to come up with is that the first syllable sounds like the word "plague," so I just keep picturing her as a zombie when I say it. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

08-09-2013, 09:27 AM	#5
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	My surname isn't impossible. But it seems hard for people to hear/ read/ get their head round. Given my first name begins with C, I am often called Connelly, because people can't grasp a surname that begins with an O. Either that or I go to collect something and find my name has been registered as starting with an A, despite the fact I always spell it out. And my maiden name was Robinson! So easy. But as I think I've said before, I'd use the NATO call sign when giving a first initial over the phone. Getting post (mail) addressed to Charlie Robinson was confusing, because he was my Uncle. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

08-10-2013, 06:32 AM	#7
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	People at work call me jimhelm. All one word. Not Jim. Jimhelm. It's tough to get people to hear Helm. It's got soft consonants at both ends. ... I've shown up for reservations to find them under Hell, Helen, Elm. I've gone to saying Helm, like helmet. You wouldn't think it would be that hard .... It's not that odd a name. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

08-10-2013, 06:40 AM	#8
limey Encroaching on your decrees Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland Posts: 7,016	There is an expectation that there is a silent "e" on the end of my surname, which is only four letters long. Every time I spell it out (there are different ways to spell it) the listener says, with surprise 'No "e"?!?!!'. Sometimes they add 'Are you sure?!?' (well, DUH!). My maiden name was also a bu&&er to spell out, with people doubling the wrong letter, no matter how long I paused after the doubled letter to allow them to write it down before continuing. __________________ Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of

08-09-2013, 12:02 AM	#2
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	Sounds like taking your married name was a Pitt fall.

08-09-2013, 12:07 AM	#3
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	Could new user rosemarypitt563 be one of your relatives?

08-10-2013, 07:32 AM	#9
Chocolatl Glutton for Gluttony Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,409	My last name starts with "Hra," with the leading H being silent. People writing it down always write "Har," despite my spelling it out. There's also a B which gets confused for a D, and an S which gets confused with an F -- no matter how slowly and clearly I enunciate. I always spell all the consonants out with the NATO alphabet, as Sundae mentioned. When people are trying to read it, their brows just furrow and they start making an odd gurgling sound as they try to make the "Rah" at the beginning into a "HHGHGHGHHRAH". As a teacher, my students just called me "Mrs. H."

08-10-2013, 09:00 AM	#10
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Limey, I admit your name is unusual in not having an "e". And I would worry that I had heard correctly. But to ask if you are sure about the spelling... [sucks teeth and shakes head] Choc - I bet you get some fantastic letters... Who IS this person? She certainly doesn't live here. HHGHGHGHHRAH. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)