How would you pronounce "Iain"?

ccip82 · November 2013

Humor me please. My MIL has been constantly criticizing the spelling of DS's name. She is a FB hoar and every time she talks about Iain's impending arrival she has to say "Iain, which is pronounced Ian". That and her passive aggressive mannerisms have been grating on my last nerve. I understand the spelling of Iain is not as popular or well known in the States, but is it that difficult to pronounce? FWIW Iain is not a made up spelling. It is a traditional Scottish Gaelic name.

hurricanekb · November 2013

Just because it's typed, I thought that was an L and so I was thinking "Lane" the whole time. Sooooo I'm a SS...

cnwilbur1030 · November 2013

E-ain with ain sounding like aim but with an "n"

ccip82 · November 2013

Kaleigh1289 said:

Just because it's typed, I thought that was an L and so I was thinking "Lane" the whole time. Sooooo I'm a SS...

Thanks

I knew that could be a problem. It drives me batty how the lower case "l" and capital "I" are the same on most computer fonts!

susieandmarty · November 2013

I really like Ian. I will admit i've never seen it spelled like that but it is not so crazy. I did think maybe you were doing for "eye-an" for a minute

jldubb0626 · November 2013

Kaleigh1289 said:
Just because it's typed, I thought that was an L and so I was thinking "Lane" the whole time. Sooooo I'm a SS...

I thought the same. But after reading it, I'd pronounce it E-an.

ccip82 · November 2013

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the input! DH and I are set on the name, I wanted to see how other people would pronounce the name when they come across it. Perhaps, I need to have more patience and accept that there will be some pronunciation difficulties

ac1259 · November 2013

Yeah I thought Lane until I read your post...but my question would be is that a common spelling in Scotland, like have you seen it before while living there? I get it could be a little confusing but I think most people would think Ian if they saw that.

angiek1 · November 2013

Kaleigh1289 said:

Just because it's typed, I thought that was an L and so I was thinking "Lane" the whole time. Sooooo I'm a SS...

me too

Unknown · November 2013

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ccip82 · November 2013

ac1259 said:

Yeah I thought Lane until I read your post...but my question would be is that a common spelling in Scotland, like have you seen it before while living there? I get it could be a little confusing but I think most people would think Ian if they saw that.

Yes, here the pronunciation would be no problem. Iain and Ian are both very common. From my understanding Iain is the traditional spelling while Ian is the more modern spelling. We will not be living in Scotland forever though, so I will have to get used to people in the US having some difficulty with it.

Unknown · November 2013

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twobluelines · November 2013

E-an no problem. I have had a few friends with this name. And this would be why we aren't sharing our girl's name with people until after it is official. It isn't your mouth in law's place to comment

bethughknee · November 2013

Your MIL sounds like a real peach. It sucks that her BS manages to make its way across continents! Cheese and crackers.

I think lots of names have pronunciation issues (mine included) but who the eff cares. Once you tell someone it's "e/an", if they don't remember you know not to call them in a pinch because they are clearly missing a few screws.

I really like that spelling. My aunt actually went over this debate but landed on "Ian" (her husband is Scottish and she really wanted the more Scottish spelling) but she worried about the pronunciation and stuff. I think she wishes sometimes she'd stuck to her guns. :-S

goldenB · November 2013

I think when you were in the hot seat I asked you DS's name and also though it was "L" and not an "I" the very first time I saw it (so Lane)
It took me a second or two to realize it's "e/an" (which I love btw). And I love (the mn) Frances too.

ChuggingWater · November 2013

I love Scottish Gaelic (husband) names, and German (me).

I would know how to pronounce it.

dltate29 · November 2013

Kaleigh1289 said:

Just because it's typed, I thought that was an L and so I was thinking "Lane" the whole time. Sooooo I'm a SS...

I did the same thing!

peanutmuse · November 2013

E/an

...and a big eye roll to your MIL for being so passive aggressive on FB.

slmille4 · November 2013

Agreed. On the font it looked like an L. But now that I know it's an I definitely e/an

mrsjenni · November 2013

The name is Ian, yes? Just with a Gaelic spelling? Pronounced E-an.

And I totally thought "Lane" from the post title at first too, ha!

litzo27 · November 2013

I voted "I have no idea" but that's true for a lot of somewhat unusual names for me since I'm not a native English speaker. I would probably pronounce it Eye-ain but once you told me the correct pronunciation I would remember and not be confused. No big deal.

My name is Alina and it's often mispronounced (as A-line-a) and misspelled but it doesn't bother me at all. Once you tell people once they remember.

holly142 · November 2013

I read the I as an L, so I thought Lane too. I can see if your MIL is typing it why she would put how to pronounce it the first time. However, I understand you being annoyed that she keeps doing it plus you said she keeps doing other passive aggressive acts (I hate that!).

MiaMyPuggle · November 2013

I-in

I'm wrong, aren't I! It's Scottish, right?

ccip82 · November 2013

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the honesty!

citybeach · November 2013

I know a few Iains/Ians and to me both spellings seem pretty straightforward. Good luck with your MIL!

MiaMyPuggle · November 2013

ccip82 said:
Thanks everyone! I appreciate the honesty!

Now that I read the feedback and realized it is "Ian" spelled in the Gaelic form, I like it even more! (I take mucho pride in my Irish decent!)

missimone · November 2013

Kaleigh1289 said:

Just because it's typed, I thought that was an L and so I was thinking "Lane" the whole time. Sooooo I'm a SS...

Same here.

keljongib · November 2013

We are naming baby boy Ian -- and some of the older people in our families are having a hard time with remembering that it's e-an (But I hate the Ean spelling) and not ii-an. Or Liam or een. I think someone is always going to give you a hard time about baby's name even if you named him Joe.

Edited because it didn't let me finish.

daltosostarby · November 2013

I have to say, I love the Gaelic spelling of Iain. For the most part I think Gaelic spellings are romantic looking.

Dishylo · November 2013

*sigh* no offense but your MIL is a tool.

I know lots of guys with with Ian spelling but also the Iain.

Did you guys choose the Iain spelling to honour the time you've spent in Scotland? If so, I think that's lovely and love the name choice. (My Dad is Ian but he's British so it's with only the one "I").

kteeswei · November 2013

e/an but to be fair, my family is full of gaelic/scottish/celtic names so I feel I'm exposed to it more than most. I can understand her initial mistake but not her continued mispronunciation. My mom is like that too though- once she gets something in her head she will keep saying it wrong.

ccip82 · November 2013

Dishylo said:

*sigh* no offense but your MIL is a tool.

I know lots of guys with with Ian spelling but also the Iain.

Did you guys choose the Iain spelling to honour the time you've spent in Scotland? If so, I think that's lovely and love the name choice. (My Dad is Ian but he's British so it's with only the one "I").

@Dishylo

Yes, we named him Iain as a way to honor our time here...It was better than Tinkle Creek Hotel which is where he most likely was conceived

Dishylo · November 2013

But then you could nickname him Twinkle or Twinky!!

Haha. Seriously, I like the Iain spelling and I love that you've brought the Scottish into his name. Tell MIL to take a hike.

LuGal623 · November 2013

I love it and know another Iain actually. Your passive aggressive MIL would drive me up a wall if she plans on keeping up with the "which is pronounced Ian" crap. Sorry you have to deal with that!

Kc101212 · November 2013

I love the Iain spelling, you could always tell MIL the other name choice is Tinkle?

barnowl0901 · November 2013

I'm sorry, but at first I too had read the name as "Lain" with an L at first glance. But knowing it's an i, it is obvious how it should be pronounced. I personally love when names are spelled closer to their traditional roots. Just ignore your MIL $:\$

kwinkle1980 · November 2013

I voted for e/an but I wasn't sure you weren't going to go with the British "een" pronunciation.

jaclynwas17 · November 2013

My cousin named her son Iain and spelled it the same way. I like it.

tesskerr · November 2013

Ian. Iain is probably the more common spelling here in New Zealand, we have a big english/Scottish/Irish ancestory. I love the name Aoife, but I don't think enough kiwis know how I pronounce it.