Joaquin. Would most be able to pronounce?

clussyK · April 2012

Background: I'm Hispanic and we want to bring that into our baby's name but have had a tough time agreeing on a Spanish boy's name that would not be totally massacred, too common or just not resonate with us and so far Joaquin is the only one we agree on. Question is, do you think most would read that name and mispronounce off the bat? General thoughts?

beeunit · April 2012

I doubt it. Even though I know how it's pronounced, the first time I looked at it I said in my head "Joe-quin".

lizzybean · April 2012

The only reason I'm able to pronounce it is because of the actor, Joaquin Phoenix. So, Im not sure if people your son's name would recognize the name or not?

hopkins5 · April 2012

I know how to pronounce it because of Joaquin Phoenix, but I've heard many people pronounce his name wrong as well.

SarahPLiz · April 2012

I think it would be easy to teach people. The first Joaquin I ever met, I heard his name before I saw it. Then I realized it was Spanish and it wasn't really hard to pronounce. I bet most people remember Joaquin Phoeinx.. I do.

I think that you may have to correct people once, but then they will get it. If he decides to live in a more Spanish speaking place, like Texas for example, he will have no issues.

kmpls · April 2012

Love it!

People are idiots so, they probably won't be able to pronounce it.

Nericole · April 2012

I was able to pronounce it right away. "wa-keen"

strawberrytree · April 2012

I think that most people are familiar with the actor Joaquin Phoenix, so should be able to get it. Do you have a Hispanic last name? I think (or I would like to think!) that Joaquin combined with a Hispanic last name would clue most people in that the J is not pronounced as it is in English.

Even if someone doesn't get it, a quick correction is usually all you need.

mollybloom · April 2012

I wouldn't worry about it. No matter what name a parent chooses, someone will mispronounce it.

I am Marissa and my name gets butchered by people. My DD is Evangeline and her name gets mispronounced all the time. I just correct them and move on.

nattyb20 · April 2012

Love this name. It can be difficult to pronounce, but at least it's not a made up name!

clussyK · April 2012

Thank you all for your feedback. Great to hear! I know it'll always be met with a mixed reception but that's not really of concern to us either. I just wanted to gauge the odds of it's mispronunciation and most of you made a great point in that correcting people and moving on will do the trick. We have a good 'ol Irish last night (husband is not Hispanic Smile

), which is another reason it's important to us to incorporate a Spanish name into our children's first or middle names.

vilaro · April 2012

nattyb20:
Love this name. It can be difficult to pronounce, but at least it's not a made up name!

I love the name. It's a family name that I've considered using if we ever had a boy. Some will not be able to pronounce it but there are tons of common names and trendy made-up names that people seem challenged by, so it shouldn't be too much of a deterrent.

Even those who know the name pronounce it wa-keen instead of hwa-keen with a soft 'h', and pronounce it HWA-keen instead of hwa-KEEN. So, that will be another thing to correct. No biggie in my opinion.

Either way, it's still a gorgeous name.

Daisy41459 · April 2012

nattyb20:
Love this name. It can be difficult to pronounce, but at least it's not a made up name!

I agree! It is one of my favorite Hispanic names. I also have a friend whose son is Joaquin and he is just about the cutest thing ever.

BabyFS · April 2012

It's a great name, and I think many people know how to pronounce it (and that number is probably growing every day). Yeah, you may have to correct some people a time or two, but that's the case with so many names. If you love it, go for it!

AshDahlia · April 2012

I think you'd be okay. I know the pronunciation because I've had a few students with this name, but you'd just have to correct people once if they did say it incorrectly.

kelle017 · April 2012

lizzybean:
The only reason I'm able to pronounce it is because of the actor, Joaquin Phoenix.

this.

alliejo725 · April 2012

I think most people know how to pronounce Joaquin, thanks to Joaquin Phoenix.

I really like it.

AGmomof3 · April 2012

I always think Joe Quin, and I know it's not right - but until someone reminds me it's Wa-Keen I can't remember

AOBtahoe · April 2012

I can't pronounce it even with Joaquin Phoenix. I always say it like Jokin (YO-keen), which I prefer between the two.

octwed07 · April 2012

I think most people who have been around hispanics, or are familiar with hispanic names will not mispronounce it. It's like the name Jesus or Juan. Naturally, you may meet someone or they may be somewhere with no familiarity of the name, so they will mis pronounce it, then you correct them. If you like the name, i say choose it! a if you live in an area where there aren't very many hispanics, be ready to have to correct people.

emikat · April 2012

I know how to pronounce it, but I grew up in a very Hispanic neighborhood. Agree that it's probably pretty well know because of Joaquin Phoenix. But, there will be people that mispronounce it at first.

SposaBellarina · April 2012

I have always loved this name. I think most people do know how to pronounce it, and if they don't, they probably only need to be told once.

willflu · April 2012

I know I'm a little late on this post but I just have to say that I love this name! If I thought my child would be cool enough to pull it off I would totally use it! And yes I think people will know how to pronounce it.

clussyK · April 2012

willflu:
I know I'm a little late on this post but I just have to say that I love this name! If I thought my child would be cool enough to pull it off I would totally use it! And yes I think people will know how to pronounce it.

That totally made me giggle. If he's anything like either my husband or I, then he really won't be very cool but he'll have to pull it off anyways. Smile

Thanks all for taking the time to respond. It just reinforced my love for the name.

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