poll: how do you pronounce my son's name?

lorem ipsum

We knew when we chose the name Dashiell that we'd end up telling people how to pronounce/spell it, but I have to admit it's happened even more frequently than I anticipated.

Doesn't change how much we like it - and we're certainly not changing his name now lol - but I'm curious if Aussies struggle with it more than Americans since the only famous Dashiell (Hammett, the author) doesn't seem to have been popular here back in the day.

[Poll]

PugTails3602

I'm taking the easy way out and calling him "sweetie" or "Dash".  When I first saw the name, I would have sounded it out as Dash-ee-ell.  Then after I said it once, it turned to the first choice (Dash-shield minus the d).  Then the next time it turned to Dash-ell.  But then when I thought about it, I thought Dash-ull sounded right.  I am totally clueless...can't wait to hear what the "correct" answer is...

lisakeiko

Somewhere in between ell and ull, but I'll take the easy way out and just call him Dash. 

stargirl76

lisakeiko:

Somewhere in between ell and ull, but I'll take the easy way out and just call him Dash. 

Hehe, this. 

MrsNJSwimmer

stargirl76:

lisakeiko:

Somewhere in between ell and ull, but I'll take the easy way out and just call him Dash. 

Hehe, this. 

THIS!!

I chose #2, but then realized it was more lie "dash-(insert weird backwards e from the dictionary pronounciation guide here)-l" but with the emphasis on the first syllable, of course.

lorem ipsum

LOL interesting! So it is harder to pronounce than I thought.

The right answers are #1 (shield) and #3 (gulp).

#1 is technically the correct way, but the Americanized version is #3 - for example if you watch The Incredibles, the mother calls her son Dash-ull Robert Parr in one scene. I even vary between the two depending on whether my Aussie or American accent is coming out stronger lol.

Really it's not a big deal though - #2 is still pretty close, and I don't correct people unless they REALLY butcher it, like Day-ell. Partly because it's just not something I nitpick, and partly because even though #1 is "correct" it's still not really authentic, which would be more along the lines of Da-she-eell - (i.e., 3 syllables vs 2 syllables). So any of the three choices would get a pass from me.

I've noticed that on paperwork, they sometimes have him down as a "Miss" though, so apparently we picked a girly name. Oh well!

inamra

Oh =P I didn't realize you gave away the answer already! But before scrolling down to read all the response posts, I voted for #1. Seeing all the different options kinda threw me off though, but my first thought was "shield" so I figured I'd vote for it.

Hah, until you mentioned The Incredibles just now, I had forgotten that the son's name was Dash!

lelekay

Yeah, I voted for #3, but I (in my head) say DASH-(schwa)ll.  If that makes sense to you (I'm not even sure it makes sense to me!).  Schwa meaning the upside-down "e" thingie to mean a non-commitall vowel.

MrsNJSwimmer

lelekay:

Yeah, I voted for #3, but I (in my head) say DASH-(schwa)ll.  If that makes sense to you (I'm not even sure it makes sense to me!).  Schwa meaning the upside-down "e" thingie to mean a non-commitall vowel.

yes, that's what I was trying to say with the backwards e from the dictionary pronunciation! LOL  Totally forgot what that was called!

HulaLove

I didn't do the poll because it was taking to long to save

But I would have vote Dash - Sheel but that's because I read the Maltese Falcon in American Lit.