Annika--"correct" prounciation?

SBeth33

Hi all,

Mostly a lurker on this board, just wanted some input since we aren't sharing the name IRL until she's born..

It took DH and I months to agree on a name we both liked, (Annika Joy) at least I thought we had agreed. A few days ago we were discussing the name and realized we have different opinions on how to pronounce it! She didn't cooperate at her first anatomy scan and we didn't know the sex until around week 28, the boy name we picked had the same initials so we've been referring to her as AJ in public and private for months. I don't want to call her that all the time, we picked the actual name because we liked it!

However, I pronounce it AH-nick-ah and he pronounces it ANN-ick-ah. He says my way is the "pretentious" way. Honestly, I like my way but want to pronounce it however it is most commonly accepted because I don't want her/us to correct people all the time. 

What do you think? Thanks!

ames71

I've always pronounced it the same way you do.

HannahO28

I don't understand how you agreed on a name without know how the other person pronounced it. Did you reach that decision via e-mail or something?

I pronounce it the way you do and mostly hear it that way. I don't think it sounds pretentious. 

526SadieSadie

The only time I've heard this name pronounced was in the Pippi Longstocking movie and Pippi says it ANN-icka. 

pensparade

526SadieSadie:

The only time I've heard this name pronounced was in the Pippi Longstocking movie and Pippi says it ANN-icka. 

This. I kind of agree with your husband, but that's just me.

Moneypenny424

I have only heard it pronounced AH-nick-a.  I don't think it sounds pretentious at all.

anna7602

I think both are right, just like the two accepted pronunciations of my own name- Anna. Maybe that's a deal breaker for you?

DH pronounces my name completely differently than the rest of my family and would probably pronounce Annika the way your DH does, but I was already pretty used to responding to both pronunciations.

LaComtesse

I pronounce it "ANN-ick-a" and that's how I've heard other people say it and how I prefer it. However, I don't think AH-nick-a is unusual or pretentious.

whitsim

I would go with your pronunciation as your husband's (though I can understand his reasoning) sounds less pretty and reminds me of Star Wars' Anakin Skywalker.

Either way, it's definitely time to agree upon a uniform first name for the girl or else her nickname might just have to be Nicky, or something, which you probably weren't originally shooting for. (Though I could be off on all of my assumptions as that is the nature of the beast.) 

SBeth33

HannahO28:

I don't understand how you agreed on a name without know how the other person pronounced it. Did you reach that decision via e-mail or something?

lol yeah I didn't really understand how that happened either. The only thing I can think is, most of our  name choosing was done very early and involved me making a list and him vetoing, with him occasionally adding a name. I KNOW I said the name out loud but he can sometimes listen without really hearing exactly what I'm saying, if that makes any sense...In any case, this is where we are now

SBeth33

pensparade:

526SadieSadie:

The only time I've heard this name pronounced was in the Pippi Longstocking movie and Pippi says it ANN-icka. 

This. I kind of agree with your husband, but that's just me.

 

Thanks to both of you for your opinions. I guess I pronounce it the way I do because when I first heard it, it was the name of a student of mine and that's how they pronounced it.  I read all the Pippi books but didn't see the movie so didn't have any verbal background except that student.

DawnJM25

I love this name, and I pronounce it the way you do. 

joanithegreat

526SadieSadie:

The only time I've heard this name pronounced was in the Pippi Longstocking movie and Pippi says it ANN-icka. 

This. 

volleymommy

Your pronunciation is correct.  I have a cousin with this name and that is how we pronounce it.

biblionerd

volleymommy:

Your pronunciation is correct.  I have a cousin with this name and that is how we pronounce it.

This is not a name with one correct pronunciation. I pronounce it like your DH does, as does everyone else around me every time I've heard it. This will most likely be a name that she will have to correct people on pronunciation, as long as you're aware of that. 

BrittKav

My friend's baby is Anika, pronounced the way your husband says it (ann-ika). I like it like that.

718gemini

I've never actually heard anyone say this name, but I'd be inclined to pronounce it the same way your husband does.  I don't think either one way is wrong, though.

LemonBlush

I much prefer your husbands way. If I see the name Ann, I pronounce it just so. I don't say "ahn".

KeyLime81

As far as I know, both ways of pronouncing the name are "correct".  Where I live, it is actually a very common name.  Most people pronounce it like you do (AHN-ik-a).  I've even seen it spelled "Onika".  Having said that, I had a student this past year who pronounced in like your DH does (ANN-ik-a).  She usually had to correct people as almost everyone pronounced her name "AHN-ik-a".

jennasita

Always pronounced it Ann-ik-a

alliejo725

I went to college with an Annika. She pronounced her name the way you do. I'm very certain that's the correct pronunciation.

ryry1977

I pronounce it the way you do.  I've known some Annikas and it was never "Ann-".

SBeth33

Thanks all, it sounds like people are split on pronunciation, might be a regional or cultural thing...Our last name is Scandinavian, so maybe I'll try to investigate which way to say it in that culture...Either way we go I know we'll have to correct some people, just wanted to minimize it as much as possible if there was one way that was more common than the other. Appreciate all the input

SkobysBride

At first glance I would say "Ah-nick-a", but I could see how it could be said either way.  I prefer it the "ah" way though!

 

jupiterthecat

I would say Ahn-nika, rhyming with Monica. That is definitely the way to pronounce it in Swedish, in response to your Scandinavian question (if the PP was talking abou the American Pippi movie, that might not be the most authoritative source).  However, it's possible that it's been Americanized into Ann-ika, so it's probably just a matter of picking the one you like better-- which is up to you and your husband. Good luck with that!  

smbckr2

I pronounce it the way your DH does.

JMack1117

My DD is Ahn-nick-a, and I spend a fair amount of time correcting the pronunciation of her name!  I live in DC, and its not a common name here (have yet to find another Annika), so I get Ann-i-ka, Ah-nee-ka, Annikin, and lots of other creative pronunciations.  I love her name, but sometimes I wish I'd named her Jane.  It would have been easier

526SadieSadie

I think the spelling has a lot to do with it. 

Anika I would probably pronounce Ah-nicka. 

Annika is Ann-icka to me.

AlphabetFish

I would say ANN-i-ka. I think your pronunciation is perfectly valid, but it's just not my gut feeling when I read the name.

wordslikeswords

I know of two .. Well, they spell it Anneke (the original European spelling) but they both say it the same way you do. I've honstly never heard of it the other way.

lageorgiapaperie

Moneypenny424:

I have only heard it pronounced AH-nick-a.  I don't think it sounds pretentious at all.

This

SuperCuteBenz

This is my nieces name and we pronounce it your way.

Sweden+Canada

jupiterthecat:

I would say Ahn-nika, rhyming with Monica. That is definitely the way to pronounce it in Swedish, in response to your Scandinavian question (if the PP was talking abou the American Pippi movie, that might not be the most authoritative source).  However, it's possible that it's been Americanized into Ann-ika, so it's probably just a matter of picking the one you like better-- which is up to you and your husband. Good luck with that!  

Are you Swedish? I'm from Sweden and I would not agree with you at all regarding the bolded part. Annika in Swedish does not rhyme with Monica (as pronounced in Swedish or English).

However, the correct pronunciation in Swedish really isn't important for you I guess and the name can definitely be pronounced both ways (and spelled in a number of ways) so pick whichever you prefer.