How do you pronounce this name...

peachesnbean · August 2016

Anders

is it "Ahn-ders" ("on" sound at the beginning) or "Anne-ders" (like apple)

ladylolly89 · August 2016

Anders was on our short list for DS, and we pronounced it "Ahnders". We are both of Scandinavian descent, if that helps. I've actually never heard this name pronounced "Anne-ders".

KaLikeAWind · August 2016

I think Americans are more likely to initially pronounce it anne-ders, just because the name starts with 'and', so it's easier for us to make it 'and-ers'. However, I have a friend whose son is named Anders, and she told me it's pronounced Ahn-ders, and it was a very easy switch for my brain to make. So you might initially do some pronunciation correcting (assuming you want the 'ahn' sound), but it should be an easy change for most to make, IMO.

peachesnbean · August 2016

@mellymar I actually like Anne-Ders and assumed that being in the states everyone would default to that more "American" sounding pronunciation but then I heard someone say it as "ahn/on-ders" this weekend and now I kind of worry.

karlimonster · August 2016

On-ders may be thanks to the guy from Workaholics. I think it's an easy fix. And totally not helpful, but I was taught to say the name based on Swedish pronounciation. Probably not going to come up in the states: https://anders.com/anders/anders-sweden.mp3

KaLikeAWind · August 2016

I think in the states people are more likely to pronounce it and-ers (anne-ders). Unless they have already met an Ahn-ders. But the pronunciation is an easy switch either way. You can always correct those people using the Swedish pronunciation by saying 'we've Americanized it, we say Anne-ders'. I still think it's something that will be an easy adjustment for those who get it 'wrong' the first time.

ETA I don't think it's something I worry overmuch about

neverblushed · August 2016

I am aware that this name would be pron: Ahn-ders, but many people will say it And-ers. Your child will have a lifetime of correcting it.

I would be very wary about using it unless you or a relative is Scandinavian.

klirwin82 · August 2016

So you WANT it pronounced "Anne-ders"?

If so I'd go with a different name, it's like picking Guillermo and wanting the L's pronounced. I think people will think you're trying to be exotic but with no idea of the correct way to pronounce it. And the correct way would be pronouncing it the way the people in the country of origin pronounce it.

TheMcC3 · August 2016

I would say it Anne-ders, because "Anderson" is the Anne sound.

Mamabeagle · August 2016

klirwin82 said:

So you WANT it pronounced "Anne-ders"?

If so I'd go with a different name, it's like picking Guillermo and wanting the L's pronounced. I think people will think you're trying to be exotic but with no idea of the correct way to pronounce it. And the correct way would be pronouncing it the way the people in the country of origin pronounce it.

This.

My son's name has two proper pronunciations depending on ethnicity but we still get people side eyeing the one we use. If you're not using a proper pronunciation at all, you will seem ignorant.

kmvisioli · August 2016

I'm actually really surprised by these poll results, and not in a good way.

SmrBrd2012 · August 2016

kmvisioli said:

I'm actually really surprised by these poll results, and not it a good way.

Eh. In the US people just pronounce things differently. I know if we were in a different country, like Norway, it would be pronounced Ahn-ders. If I knew an American couple that had a baby named Anders, I would assume that they wanted the And-ers pronunciation, so that's what I voted for. If it were a Scandinavian couple that moved here or had roots elsewhere, I would assume the Ahn-ders pronunciation.

virginiaunicorn11 · August 2016

klirwin82 said:

So you WANT it pronounced "Anne-ders"?

If so I'd go with a different name, it's like picking Guillermo and wanting the L's pronounced. I think people will think you're trying to be exotic but with no idea of the correct way to pronounce it. And the correct way would be pronouncing it the way the people in the country of origin pronounce it.

Well said.

emilyalso · August 2016

Maybe I'm an ignorant American, but I would never in a million years think this would be said Ahn-ders. I second what a pp said about Anderson - why would it be different?

virginiaunicorn11 · August 2016

emilyalso said:

Maybe I'm an ignorant American, but I would never in a million years think this would be said Ahn-ders. I second what a pp said about Anderson - why would it be different?

Anderson is Scottish/English and Anders is Scandinavian. Things are pronounced differently in those areas.

It would be like choosing a Gaelic name and wanting it to be pronounced phonetically rather than accurately. Like Siobahn - if you want to call your kid "see-oh-bann" then ok, I guess, but you will have people thinking you're not aware that "shi-vawn" is a real name with a correct pronunciation.

I actually find keeping the integrity of cultural pronunciations far more important than correct spellings, personally. I would totally side eye you if I said Onders and you "corrected" me. But that's just me, and do what you want, obviously.

FWIW, I love the name Anders. And Andrew, if you want the Anne- pronunciation...

kaylynne · August 2016

I thought it was Anne-ders because I watched an Australian show with a character named Anders, and that is how all of the characters pronounced it.
That said, I probably still would have said it that way because it looks like Andrew, and because of the Anderson logic already discussed.

Also, google says : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0qpOZDdY3I
and https://forvo.com/word/anders/
so I think there might be multiple accepted pronunciations.

oneblessedmess · August 2016

kmvisioli said:

I'm actually really surprised by these poll results, and not in a good way.

I'm not really surprised, since she didn't ask what's the proper way to pronounce it, she asked how we would pronounce it. Like PP said I think it makes sense that most people in the US would assume it's just like Anderson without the -on.

MyNamesTaken · August 2016

I would think any North American would pronounce it Anne-ders unless they were of Scandinavian descent. Even Hans Christian Andersen is pronounced Anne here.

This reminded me of the scene from Mom where a woman corrects the pronunciation of Claudia to Cloud-ia. That's how you would pronounce it in some languages but the character was just pretentious about it.

SnarkasaurusRex · August 2016

My only experience with the name is from an Australian or New Zealand (can't remember which) show where they pronounced it Anne-ders. Just being America, I would have assumed Anne-ders because it looks the same as Anderson/Andrea/Andrew, etc.