Pronounce this...

gypsybe

So, when choosing our dear son's name, we followed our French family tradition (on my DH's side) but were careful to choose a French name that was easy to pronounce and couldn't be too chopped- Remy. ?

Now that we're having another, we're thinking about names to honor my side. If it's a girl, we'd like to name her after my mother and the city that our families are from...but this might be a killer to pronounce : Gitana Lyon....which sound like "Itana" (sort of rhymes with iguana and the G is silent) and the French city. ?Is this insanity?

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FutureMrs.Steen

I wouldn't have known the G iis silent. 

TripMomma

I would have never gotten it right. I wouldn't do it if it were me...sorry.

caeliesmom

I thought it was Jitana, hard g sound.  And Lyon just like the animal.

Michael_Hunter

um, so you are presuming everyone your daughter ever meets with default to the French pronounciation?  That is a bit, er, shortsighted.

I think the name is beautiful but it will be massacred.

MrsCFB

even with your explanation...i still don't know how to pronounce this name.

barnwife

Michael_Hunter:

um, so you are presuming everyone your daughter ever meets with default to the French pronounciation?  That is a bit, er, shortsighted.

I think the name is beautiful but it will be massacred.

This. I thought it should be hee-ta-na. (Now that I write that, I see that I was giving it a Spanish pronounciation.)

GL!

gypsybe

ok ok..sigh.....this is probably why I have never met anyone with the same name as my mother...though I think Gitano Jeans were hip in the eighties (that's the masculine version.) ?

I don't want to have to send her to kindergarten with an instruction sheet. ?Thanks for your thoughts. ?When I come up with new,?pronounceable?ideas, I'll be back to check in! ?

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Michael_Hunter

My fav french name that is pronoucable is Sabine.  Not that you asked, LOL.

wheelenl

gypsybe:

ok ok..sigh.....this is probably why I have never met anyone with the same name as my mother...though I think Gitano Jeans were hip in the eighties (that's the masculine version.)  

I don't want to have to send her to kindergarten with an instruction sheet.  Thanks for your thoughts.  When I come up with new, pronounceable ideas, I'll be back to check in!  

LOL, Gitano jeans were popular in the '80s but that doesn't mean I knew the G was silent. Pretty but unpronounceable to the average American IMO who doesn't know French. 

Lyon is cool though for the MN.

 

 

BethPSU

I like Lyon and think most people would get this right.  I don't think you've got a shot at the first name.

K2thaT

What?s wrong with just Itana?

dpdw

gypsybe:

ok ok..sigh.....this is probably why I have never met anyone with the same name as my mother...though I think Gitano Jeans were hip in the eighties (that's the masculine version.)  

I don't want to have to send her to kindergarten with an instruction sheet.  Thanks for your thoughts.  When I come up with new, pronounceable ideas, I'll be back to check in!  

The G in Gitano jeans is silent?  Well, I guess I never pronounced it right.  Then again, I was a Jordache girl ;-)

 ETA:  I wouldn't worry too much about how people may not immediately use the French pronunciation of Lyon.  My DS's middle name is Duane, which is my MIL's maiden name.  But it's not pronouced Dwayne, it's "Doo-an", because my MIL is from Ireland & that's how they pronounce it.  We're taught DS to say it correctly, but I would never expect Americans to get it right. 

KMS416

gypsybe:

So, when choosing our dear son's name, we followed our French family tradition (on my DH's side) but were careful to choose a French name that was easy to pronounce and couldn't be too chopped- Remy.  

Now that we're having another, we're thinking about names to honor my side. If it's a girl, we'd like to name her after my mother and the city that our families are from...but this might be a killer to pronounce : Gitana Lyon....which sound like "Itana" (sort of rhymes with iguana and the G is silent) and the French city.  Is this insanity?

 

 

 

Sorry, but yes.

gjkhjr01

I like it!

anna7602

I would never have thought that the "g" is silent. What immediately stands out is that "Gitana" means "gypsy" in Spanish, so I would pronounce it like the Spanish word.

briannaj

Hmm, I don't know that I would skip the name just because people may not get it right the first time.  Especially because it's a family name and it's beautifully unique.  There are plenty of "American" names that people butcher. 

My name is Brianna but pronounced with a long "i" sound, with the nickname Bri (rhymes with 'cry') and I've NEVER had anyone pronounce it correctly the first time.  But I don't think it hindered my childhood in any way.  I always loved having a unique name...It's always a great conversation starter.

gypsybe

You're actually right on the Spanish origin (someone else mentioned it earlier as well)- which is interesting that the family was a little off by not giving it the  subtle "h" sound at the beginning.  My grandmother intentionally chose a word that meant gypsy...and it's been a theme in my family forever, hence my own screen name "gypsybe."

gypsybe

I LOVE the name Sabine, it's actually on my back up list!!  Funny coincidence.

 Thanks ladies for all of your comments! All helpful, and none hurtful  

OctoberCAPA

caeliesmom:

I thought it was Jitana, hard g sound.  And Lyon just like the animal.

A "j" signifies a soft "g" like in giraffe.  A hard "g" is the opposite--like in gasoline.  

IU_baby

It will ALWAYS be misspelled and mispronounced.

Special*K*

briannaj:

Hmm, I don't know that I would skip the name just because people may not get it right the first time.  Especially because it's a family name and it's beautifully unique.  There are plenty of "American" names that people butcher. 

Ditto!! I get really annoyed at the close mindedness and judging that goes on when it comes to culturally significant/ethnic names. People should open their minds. Is it really a big deal to have to say your name a second time or spell it for people. I grew up with an Irish last name, I had to spell it (often several times to the same person) constantly and correct people who butchered the pronunciation all the time. My sons name is Indian...yes, I have to spell it and pronounce it for people. It's not a big deal!