how would you pronounce this name?

Edoyle6 · 14-05-2019 12:40pm #1

Hi guys and gals, looking for first reactions on how you would make a stab at pronouncing the name AnaÃ¯s if you saw it written down? Phonetically I mean.

Due first baby in 7 weeks, with my french partner (I'm Irish). Baby will most likely grow up in Ireland but would like to have french side acknowledged in their name. Love this name just worried about a life time of mispronounciation in Ireland.

worker bee · 14-05-2019 12:42pm

annay?

beans · 14-05-2019 12:43pm

'An Ace', although I'm not familiar with how it 'should' be pronounced.

If you like it, go with it. As a parent of Irish children in the UK, the bad pronunciation isn't much of a thing.

is_that_so · 14-05-2019 12:46pm

Edoyle6 wrote: »

Hi guys and gals, looking for first reactions on how you would make a stab at pronouncing the name Anaïs if you saw it written down? Phonetically I mean.

Due first baby in 7 weeks, with my french partner (I'm Irish). Baby will most likely grow up in Ireland but would like to have french side acknowledged in their name. Love this name just worried about a life time of mispronounciation in Ireland.

Yep Anay. Irish friend had the same issue and they chose names that could not be butchered. Because it's so short not too scope for mangling it but you will have to keep reminding people. Lovely name and best of luck with everything.

Hoboo · 14-05-2019 12:47pm

If you're talking about the French name Anaïs, it's pronounced Ann - eye - eece.

Have a friend in Lyon called Anaïs. Lived there for 3 years, met a few.

I grew up thinking it was Anay, and the perfume Anaïs Anaïs being Anay Anay as pronounced by Irish girls. But it's not.

farmchoice · 14-05-2019 12:48pm

i think i understand the accent but why is the last letter a capital?

is_that_so · 14-05-2019 12:50pm

farmchoice wrote: »

i think i understand the accent but why is the last letter a capital?

It's AnaÏs I believe.

Dravokivich · 14-05-2019 12:52pm

farmchoice wrote: »

i think i understand the accent but why is the last letter a capital?

It's a formatting issue due to the special character on the "I." it's getting distored for me in the OP, but I can see it in a quote of the OP.

OP, I'd probably be wondering how the name gets written or typed out. It could be difficult on a range of applications, where she's giving her name, explaining how to spell it, and the person on the other end of the phone can't type it in.

Donald Trump · 14-05-2019 12:53pm

I can't see your spelling as the accented character is corrupted on my screen. So I am going off other posters pronunciations.

It is difficult to get a name that won't attract obvious slagging, but bear in mind that other kids will likely call the child "anus"

irelandrover · 14-05-2019 12:54pm

I wouldn't give a child a name that they were going to have to spend their life spelling. I just don't think it is fair to them.

Dravokivich · 14-05-2019 12:57pm

Donald Trump wrote: »

I can't see your spelling as the accented character is corrupted on my screen. So I am going off other posters pronunciations.

It is difficult to get a name that won't attract obvious slagging, but bear in mind that other kids will likely call the child "anus"

[mod]

Please don't come here for toilet humor. It ain't the place for it.

Zaph · 14-05-2019 1:06pm

I know someone who called her daughter Anais last year and pronounces it "Anay". Both parents are Irish but I don't know if they use the special character over the "i".

Kingp35 · 14-05-2019 1:34pm

irelandrover wrote: »

I wouldn't give a child a name that they were going to have to spend their life spelling. I just don't think it is fair to them.

I agree with this. My wife's name is Debbi (no e) and it drives her mad when people get the spelling wrong, even after she tells them how to spell it.

Att vara en hest · 14-05-2019 1:49pm

My friend Anaïs pronounces it "Ah-nice" here in Ireland but when she's home in France it's more like how #5 wrote it.

Dial Hard · 14-05-2019 1:49pm

irelandrover wrote:

I wouldn't give a child a name that they were going to have to spend their life spelling. I just don't think it is fair to them.

Life would be terribly boring if everyone adhered to such a low bar, though. I have a very standard Irish name and it still gets misspelled all the time. I'd rather deal with that than witness the continued dumbing down of the world.

OP, for what it's worth, I believe the pronunciation of that name is subject to regional differences even in France. Most Irish people would probably go with An-nay, though.

Infernal Racket · 14-05-2019 1:52pm

Irish people will never get that name right. Don't do it

Hoboo · 14-05-2019 2:08pm

Kingp35 wrote: »

I agree with this. My wife's name is Debbi (no e) and it drives her mad when people get the spelling wrong, even after she tells them how to spell it.

Deb - bye?

mordeith · 14-05-2019 2:10pm

The little sister in The Amazing World of Gumball is called Anais. My only exposure to the name.

shesty · 14-05-2019 2:21pm

"Meditation of Thais"....thai-eece
Ana-ay-eece.
I'd give it a stab at that, but would be happy to be corrected.

irelandrover · 14-05-2019 2:23pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

Life would be terribly boring if everyone adhered to such a low bar, though. I have a very standard Irish name and it still gets misspelled all the time. I'd rather deal with that than witness the continued dumbing down of the world.

OP, for what it's worth, I believe the pronunciation of that name is subject to regional differences even in France. Most Irish people would probably go with An-nay, though.

That's fair enough. I wouldn't give my child an Irish name since i live abroad. A few of my friends have Irish names and they way they are butchered is unrecognizable.

I think there is a difference between a name being unpronounceable and unspellable. I should have been clearer in my original message

i71jskz5xu42pb · 14-05-2019 2:29pm

Edoyle6 wrote: »

Love this name just worried about a life time of mispronounciation in Ireland.

I doubt people will get it right from the spelling, I certainly would not have only for I've heard of the author (Anaïs Nin) before.

I wouldn't let that stop you though, it'd be a boring world where we limit ourselves to names that are spelled phonetically.

Edoyle6 · 14-05-2019 2:32pm

Hi guys thanks for all replies. Im not sure why my original post is distorted, I think its the accent on the name that skewed it.

So the name I was trying to post was Anais with an accent over the I. Doesnt bother me too much if people leave out the accent at times, much the same as those with a fada.

As one commenter rightly pointed out it is pronounced Anna-ees / or An-eye-ees depending on the french person. To be honest said quickly they sound much the same as that middle syllable is said quite quickly. The two I know go by Anna-ees. It is definately not meant to be pronounced Anay anyway, but maybe that is gonna become the anglicised version as can happen with name. To me, would make more sense to spell the name Anay in that case... but each to their own!

But previously, I would have thought Anay was the correct pronounciation too, and growing up called the perfume Anais Anais "anay anay." This is my worry in Ireland, that nobody will actually call her by her name. But i suppose thats what happens with a non Irish name in Ireland, and worst case scenario we just correct people. I imagine we will call her Ana / Anna a lot as a shortened affectionate version of her name so that might make life easier.

Does anyone else think this name reminds them of Anus though? I had never even thought of that. It starts with the same pronounciation as Anna so that wouldnt occur to me at all as they dont sound alike!

km991148 · 14-05-2019 2:37pm

Dravokivich wrote: »

[mod]

Please don't come here for toilet humor. It ain't the place for it.

Donald Trump wrote: »

I can't see your spelling as the accented character is corrupted on my screen. So I am going off other posters pronunciations.

It is difficult to get a name that won't attract obvious slagging, but bear in mind that other kids will likely call the child "anus"

I was going to post similar - the potential for bullying if you are in a different part of the world.
This seems like an obvious thing that may happen. May I suggest this isn't toilet humour, but a serious point?

km991148 · 14-05-2019 2:51pm

Edoyle6 wrote: »

Does anyone else think this name reminds them of Anus though? I had never even thought of that. It starts with the same pronounciation as Anna so that wouldnt occur to me at all as they dont sound alike!

Depends on where you live, what sort of school and a whole bunch of factors.

Probably not really - but who knows - kids can be messers!

it sounds a nice name and as you said - it will probably be shortened to Ana a lot anyway.

Bandana boy · 14-05-2019 2:54pm

My first thought was this was the Female version of the African Spider god Anansi
But I realise now its a provincial version of Anne.

I would pronounce it Annish if I saw it in an Irish context and Anneye if I saw it in a continental context

El Tarangu · 14-05-2019 2:57pm

'A Naas' (like the town in Kildare)

Does your partner have a special attachment to this particular name? There are many other French names that are a lot easier to spell/pronounce.

(look how much trouble you had typing this name into Boards - now, imagine this happening every time you need to book a flight or pay a gas bill for the next 80-odd years)

Bob Harris · 14-05-2019 3:00pm

Edoyle6 wrote: »

Hi guys and gals, looking for first reactions on how you would make a stab at pronouncing the name Anaïs if you saw it written down? Phonetically I mean.

Due first baby in 7 weeks, with my french partner (I'm Irish). Baby will most likely grow up in Ireland but would like to have french side acknowledged in their name. Love this name just worried about a life time of mispronounciation in Ireland.

Could you acknowledge the French side with a name that is easier to pronounce?

Donald Trump · 14-05-2019 3:28pm

km991148 wrote: »

I was going to post similar - the potential for bullying if you are in a different part of the world.
This seems like an obvious thing that may happen. May I suggest this isn't toilet humour, but a serious point?

It was a genuine point. It probably wouldn't occur to a French person because they *know* how to pronounce it and they don't consider people mispronouncing it because in France, it is probably just a name everyone knows.

Nothing wrong with the name. I'd just say that there is a good chance that other kids could take the piss with it. But they can do that for lots of names.

Or maybe a name makes no difference

Dravokivich · 14-05-2019 3:29pm

km991148 wrote: »

I was going to post similar - the potential for bullying if you are in a different part of the world.
This seems like an obvious thing that may happen. May I suggest this isn't toilet humour, but a serious point?

No,

Otherwise kids wouldn't be called Michael, William or Richard. And I'm supposed to support dick jokes in such a thread referencing them based on that loose association? There is no difference here between that and the previous comment by Donald Trump taking an opportunity to make a crude joke.

miamee · 14-05-2019 3:30pm

A friend is married to a French man, they have three children and also live in Ireland but went with French names that would be very familiar to Irish people also so that there was no confusion on either side.

baby and crumble · 14-05-2019 3:30pm

El Tarangu wrote: »

(look how much trouble you had typing this name into Boards - now, imagine this happening every time you need to book a flight or pay a gas bill for the next 80-odd years)

I have a name that is technically French, and has an umlaut over one letter. Now, it doesn't make a huge difference but be aware that most places can't handle it in bookings etc. So 9/10 your daughter won't have the umlaut/accent over the i. I just looked at all my cards in my wallet and zero have managed to have the umlaut.

I will say I have been the subject of at least 5 different types of spellings of my name, so be prepared that even when you specify, people will spell it whatever way they think it is.

PhoenixParker · 14-05-2019 3:33pm

Almost any name will have some need to spell it and a few possible pronounciations. Even John can be spelled Jon.

Anaïs is close enough in spelling to how it's pronounced and short enough to be easily spelled that I wouldn't be too concerned about it causing difficulties.

It's a pretty name.

Dial Hard · 14-05-2019 3:37pm

Dravokivich wrote:

Otherwise kids wouldn't be called Michael, William or Richard. And I'm supposed to support dick jokes in such a thread referencing them based on that loose association? There is no difference here between that and the previous comment by Donald Trump taking an opportunity to make a crude joke.

Michael, William and Richard are all common names that kids are well used to seeing and pronouncing. I think the novelty factor, spelling and confusion around pronunciation could all well combine to produce a scenario where kids refer to an Anais as Anus. Because kids will be kids and they seize on anyone remotely "othered" in the savage hierarchy of the playground.

baby and crumble wrote:

I have a name that is technically French, and has an umlaut over one letter. Now, it doesn't make a huge difference but be aware that most places can't handle it in bookings etc. So 9/10 your daughter won't have the umlaut/accent over the i. I just looked at all my cards in my wallet and zero have managed to have the umlaut.

Out of curiosity, how is an umlaut represented alphabetically in French? In German if you can't type an umlaut you add an "e" after the letter it should have appeared on.

Donald Trump · 14-05-2019 3:37pm

Edoyle6 wrote: »

Does anyone else think this name reminds them of Anus though? I had never even thought of that. It starts with the same pronounciation as Anna so that wouldnt occur to me at all as they dont sound alike!

I wasn't taking the piss out of the name. As I said in my post, I couldn't see it in your OP. I was going off the post #3 which was "An Ace" which I thought would get corrupted easily by other kids messing

Hurrache · 14-05-2019 3:38pm

baby and crumble wrote: »

I have a name that is technically French, and has an umlaut over one letter.

Umlaut is German though, or am I just being too pedantic in only using it to describe the 2 dots?

El Tarangu · 14-05-2019 3:40pm

Hurrache wrote: »

Umlaut is German though?

Some (not many) French names take an umlaut - 'Noëlle'

Hurrache · 14-05-2019 3:42pm

Ah, yes, they do indeed.

Alun · 14-05-2019 3:43pm

It's called a trema in French I believe.

Hoboo · 14-05-2019 3:51pm

One of my French/Irish cousins names is Thomás.........at home in France its pronounced Toe - Ma.........here he's called Tom. Works just fine.

Hoboo · 14-05-2019 3:53pm

Alun wrote: »

It's called a trema in French I believe.

Spot on, accent tréma to give it its full name. Without it Anais, would be 'anay", with it, the 'a' and 'I' must be pronounced seperately.

ShaShaBear · 14-05-2019 4:02pm

Honestly would pronounce An-Ay-Ass at first glance and have never seen or heard the name before. It's a tough one. I have a French friend who called her son Lino and luckily she spent some years here in Ireland and knew that we refer to vinyl flooring as lino, but told me it's quite common! I do agree the more important choice to make is something that can be pronounced correctly rather than worrying about spelling. My daughters names are Abigail and Claire and I've seen some shocking attempts to spell both. Had two appointment letters "for the parents of" Klayre and Abby-Gail. Like, whut? :rolleyes:

pwurple · 14-05-2019 4:14pm

This is also the name of a perfume brand, isn't it?
https://www.boots.ie/cacharel-anais-anais-eau-de-toilette-spray-50ml-10011349

I remember this being advertised years ago, with the pronunciation. I think a lot of people would recognise it from that. An-ay

The alternative for me would be to pronounce it like "Anois", meaning "Now" in Irish.
An-ish.

km991148 · 14-05-2019 4:48pm

Dravokivich wrote: »

No,

Otherwise kids wouldn't be called Michael, William or Richard. And I'm supposed to support dick jokes in such a thread referencing them based on that loose association? There is no difference here between that and the previous comment by Donald Trump taking an opportunity to make a crude joke.

At the risk of derailing the thread (I am assuming is ok to respond since you are mod and have set the precedent) - I don't think anyone was taking the opportunity to make a crude joke.

The point it using a name from one region in another. Michael, William and Richard and their shortened forms are commonplace over most of Europe but Anais (at present) would be less common in Ireland and unusual to a childs ear. Therefore the potential for some kids to take the Mick would increase (especially as there was some debate over the pronunciation).

I hope you can see this.

Personally I think its a lovely name and will be grand!

baby and crumble · 14-05-2019 4:58pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

Out of curiosity, how is an umlaut represented alphabetically in French? In German if you can't type an umlaut you add an "e" after the letter it should have appeared on.

Honestly I just leave it as the spelling without. It's just easier. It does wind me up when people add letters. No, it doesn't have a 'y', leave me alone!!! :pac::pac:

Hurrache wrote: »

Umlaut is German though, or am I just being too pedantic in only using it to describe the 2 dots?

Alun wrote: »

It's called a trema in French I believe.

Lads, my name is technically french, not me! All I know is it's two dots over the 'e' and it was always called an 'umlaut' and it checks out. My family are originally French Huguenot, been in Ireland for a few generations and my Mam liked the name.

shesty · 14-05-2019 7:47pm

I can only assume its men that are saying her name will be slagged and like anus, coz honestly I went to an all girls school, and that crap just didn't happen.Body parts are just not that fascinating to girls!!!!
I'd say go for it OP.My own name is constantly mispronounced and it is not a tricky one at all.We would live in a very boring world if everyone was called after grandparents and parents and nobody branched out a little.

Wabbit Ears · 14-05-2019 7:59pm

If I read it is say its a-nish or ann-ish.

I've always called the perfume that and only learned on this thread I've pronounced it wrong my whole life.

Xdancer · 14-05-2019 8:09pm

Anaïs is a beautiful name. I'm a big fan of French names, my daughter has one

, the only problem is that a lot of them don't sound as nice without a French accent.
I needed to find one that was pronounced correctly in English, French and Spanish. My 7 year old doesn't allow anyone to get away without leaving out the accent égout in her name.

If you really love it, go with it. You can tell people how it's pronounced.

Dial Hard · 14-05-2019 8:13pm

Xdancer wrote:

My 7 year old doesn't allow anyone to get away without leaving out the accent Ã©gout in her name.

Isn't it aigu? I'm pretty sure an egout is a sewer!

Xdancer · 14-05-2019 9:32pm

Dial Hard wrote: »

Isn't it aigu? I'm pretty sure an egout is a sewer!

Oops! Yes it is

khaldrogo · 14-05-2019 9:43pm

Kingp35 wrote:

I agree with this. My wife's name is Debbi (no e) and it drives her mad when people get the spelling wrong, even after she tells them how to spell it.

The only one spelling it wrong is your missus!!!

Donald Trump · 14-05-2019 10:15pm

khaldrogo wrote: »

The only one spelling it wrong is your missus!!!

Her name was Deborah, Deborah

It never suited her

how would you pronounce this name?

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