How to professionally and politely correct people’s pronunciation of my name

[Anonymous]

I’m a woman and climbing the ladder I do not correct but emphasize when I can so people get it they’re saying it wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an Andrea. There are multiple ways to pronounce it. I find that people default to the way that someone close to them pronounces it and have a hard time shaking it.

Some people ask, and I appreciate them asking. If asked, I'll give my pronunciation. But I don't typically correct people on the spot (I will use my pronunciation if I'm re-introducing myself). There are people who persist in the wrong pronunciation even though they've known me for years and have heard everyone else call me the other (correct) name for years.

I think a lot depends on the situation. Like my boss's boss always says it wrong. I don't interact with him much though, so there's not a lot to gain by correcting him. If I hired a new person and they used an alternate pronunciation, I'd wait for a chance to talk with them one-on-one and point it out. I wouldn't point it out in front of other people. But that's a person I'm going to be talking to daily where it's going to get awkward for them if they realize they've been saying it wrong.

As for nicknames, just please tell people what you prefer! I always ask and so many people say "oh whatever" and then I feel weird because I don't actually know if they want to be Dave or David or Jen or Jennifer.

This happens to me so much! I will meet someone who has a name that can be pronounced multiple ways (Andrea, Liza, Cara, etc), and they’ll tell me which way but then after a couple of weeks only interacting with them via email/chat, I always forget which one! I mostly try to avoid calling people by name unless I’m absolutely sure I’m not messing up the pronounciation but sometimes I have to.

My name is ordinary but long — I don’t mind if people get creative with the prononciation but the people who randomly assign me a nickname irritate me. I don’t think anyone should have to edit their name for other’s benefit and I would always prefer to be corrected as soon as possible if I messed up anyone’s name at all (although the likelihood of me being able to learn to roll my Rs or hear/pronounce tones is extremely small; I have a TERRIBLE ear and a hopeless American accent).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have trouble pronouncing hard to pronounce name or spell them. I had people who work for and with me no clue how to say or spell their name.

People should have a work name one guy at work has like a 40 letter name. Something like sdullalllahhh muddalllllahh.

Or you could try. If you can pronounce Alexander and Elizabeth, you can do long names.

Liz and Alex. I would never spell or say their full name. I like one syllable first and last names. Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Bob Hope, Will Smith etc.

Is it OK with you if other people change your name to something they like better?

I know of an Elizabeth who will stab you in the eye if you call her Liz. You are alienating people left and right. It’s an interesting choice.

NP. Alienating these people is a win. You are not the Main Character, Princess Consuela

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have trouble pronouncing hard to pronounce name or spell them. I had people who work for and with me no clue how to say or spell their name.

People should have a work name one guy at work has like a 40 letter name. Something like sdullalllahhh muddalllllahh.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll change my name, which I've had for 44 years, to something else 9-5 so you can go about your life easier.

Sounds great. My first firm we had some of the brokers and bankers legally change their names for work. They had Finra licenses so their legal name on their license had to match name at work. Their wife and kids took the name too. Ensuring future generations spared.

[Anonymous]

If it’s an unusual name they might not have heard before simply pipe up after they mispronounce and say, “Let me help you - the Gaelic spelling is tricky but my name is pronounced Shi-vohn.”
If it’s a different pronunciation of a more common name just clarify, “ It’s nice to meet you. I use the pronunciation Ahn-dray-uh.”

[Anonymous]

What if someone calls you “dear” or “sweetheart”? Anyway to politely tell them to get bent and call you by your name? Asking for a friend.

[Anonymous]

I have seen this happen with the most popular names. Sometimes it is not about your name as much as the person pronouncing it!

Hold your head high and keep your focus! If they "want" to pronounce it correctly, they will learn and if not, it's on them, not you.

[Anonymous]

https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2023/12/share-your-name-pronunciation-across-google-workspace.html

[Anonymous]

Google Workspace has name pronunciation audio recordings.

[Anonymous]

I would truly rather be corrected. "nice to see you again too, actually my name is pronounced blahsey-BLAH, not blahsey-blah" I usually ask if I feel unsure though.