name spelling/pronunciation issue

Silverlining2011 · June 2015

hey there- just looking for some thoughts on this...

my family is of Indian origin. my husband and i like the name Ketan (pronounced Kay-than) for a boy however, as you can see by the spelling it will likely often be mispronounced. I think it's weird to spell it phonetically or change the spelling but my husband thinks we should change the spelling.

Thoughts?

would you

a. pick new name

b. use the name with the correct spelling

c. change the spelling and if so, to what?

thanks!

Rabbitheart15 · June 2015

Is that name Indian? I only know the French name Gaetan. Which is not an easy name for most Americans and is not my style at all, but is more legit than Ketan, I think.

LizWhiz87 · June 2015

Definitely don't change the spelling. Either stick with the name and deal with having to pronounce it for people or pick a new one altogether.

Silverlining2011 · June 2015

@Rabbitheart15 haha- yes it is a "legit" Indian name! there are many Indian people named Ketan but Indian people know how to pronounce it so this issue is that it will be difficult to pronounce for people here in the US

Rabbitheart15 · June 2015

Ok, google told me it's real Indian name. Agree with previous poster: take it or leave it, but don't change the spelling. Edit: sorry, we posted at the same time

MamaWren919 · June 2015

I would probably find a new name. I definitely wouldn't change the spelling, but I feel like that would always be mispronounced. If I were going to use an ethnic name, I'd pick one people recognize or can easily pronounce phonetically.

LNic5 · June 2015

LizWhiz87 said:
Definitely don't change the spelling. Either stick with the name and deal with having to pronounce it for people or pick a new one altogether.

Ditto

Flashparade · June 2015

Agree with the others take it as it is or go with something different. I understand the frustration of it being mispronounced but many names from other cultures seem to have that happen since letters may have different sounds. It's a nice name though just to let you know.

MixedBerries88 · June 2015

I just learned that T is sometimes pronounced as TH in Indian named. (thanks Hetal on Master Chef!) I say spell it properly and let everyone learn something new!

Sassenach1743 · June 2015

Another vote to love it or leave it. Either way, do not change the spelling... that will only complicate things more and end up leaving you looking uneducated.

mattandlora · June 2015

I think I'm going to have to make an exception here for my "use the original spelling" rule. I think every option (original spelling, changed spelling, new name) has its pros and cons.

The world has a long history of varying name spellings WHEN it is necessary in a new culture. For example: John / Juan / Ian / Jean. I could see how using a traditionally Indian name, where phonetics are different than in the US, could potentially make a decent argument for changing the spelling. I'm not saying OP should or shouldnt change the spelling. That's up to her. I'm saying that if an American moved to another country and slightly changed how they spelled, uh, Alice so that it was easier to pronounce for the new culture, I wouldn't side-eye it. Unfortunately I have no idea how Indian-Americans would accept the new spelling.

LadyMillil · July 2015

If you love it I would use it with the correct spelling. If people are going to say my name wrong (which happens all the time to me and I have an English name and live in an English speaking country) I would still want my name spelled the traditional way because that's the correct spelling.

g8trkim · July 2015

Don't change the spelling! Either leave it and deal with correcting people or use a different name.

mattandlora · July 2015

A summary of my long-winded earlier post: if the situation was reversed, and we were talking about a European name in a country with different phonetics, I wouldn't change spelling for my own kid. But I wouldn't side-eye someone who did for theirs.

whit3183 · July 2015

I think it's a great name and would stay true to the original spelling.

Silverlining2011 · July 2015

MixedBerries88 said:
I just learned that T is sometimes pronounced as TH in Indian named. (thanks Hetal on Master Chef!) I say spell it properly and let everyone learn something new!

Funny! I didn't know there was a Hetal on master chef!

Thanks for the responses. It just reinforces what I've been feeling. We need to use it as is or pick a new name.

My husband makes an argument similar to @mattandlora which is that however the name was spelled in English doesn't mean anything since the name is not an English name to begin with and so the spelling doesn't make sense in English.

4N6s · July 2015

I'd find a new name, I don't think anyone will pronounce it right

hannahkay8515 · July 2015

I really like that name and I think you should use it and definitely keep the spelling the way it is!

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