List of irregularly spelled English names

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a set of lists of English personal and place names having spellings that are counterintuitive to their pronunciation because the spelling does not accord with conventional pronunciation associations. Many of these are degenerations in the pronunciation of names that originated in other languages. Sometimes a well-known namesake with the same spelling has a markedly different pronunciation. These are known as heterophonic names or heterophones (unlike heterographs, which are written differently but pronounced the same).

Excluded are the numerous spellings which fail to make the pronunciation obvious without actually being at odds with convention: for example, the pronunciation /skəˈnɛktədi/[1][2] of Schenectady is not immediately obvious, but neither is it counterintuitive.

See Help:IPA/English for guides to the IPA symbols used, and variations depending on dialect.[n 1]

Place names[edit]

Boldened names indicate place names where only one part is pronounced irregularly, italicized pronunciations are uncommon. Exonyms are listed among examples.

General rules[edit]

General rules
Name element Pronunciation Notes
Respelling IPA
-ane ahn /ɑːn/ Mostly in Irish placenames
-borough b(ə)rə /bəˈrə/
-burgh b(ə)rə /bəˈrə/
-bury b(ə)r-ee /bəˈri/
-cambe kəm /kəm/
-cester stər /stər/
-c(o)omb(e) kəm /kəm/
-ford fərd /fərd/
-ham[n 2] əm /əm/ Stokenham, Devon, England, is /stkənˈhæm/;

Waltham, Massachusetts, United States, is /ˈwɔːlθæm/

-holm(e) like home /hm/
-mouth məth /məθ/
-quay kee /k/
-shire shər /ʃər/
-wich ich, ij /ɪ/, /ɪ/ American or Canadian localities named Greenwich and Norwich have -/wɪ/ instead[n 3]
-wick[n 4] ik /ɪk/
Innis- IN-ish /ˈɪnɪʃ/ Mostly in Irish placenames

Specific places[edit]

This list does not include place names in the United Kingdom or the United States, or places following spelling conventions of non-English languages. For UK place names, see List of irregularly spelled places in the United Kingdom. For US place names, see List of irregularly spelled places in the United States.

This list includes territories of the United Kingdom and the United States not wholly annexed into either country.

Specific places
Country Place Pronunciation Notes
Respelling IPA
Canada Agassiz[3] AG-ə-see /ˈæɡəsi/
Ireland Aghabullogue a-HAB-ul-əg /æˈhæbʌləɡ/
Australia Albany[n 5] AL-bə-nee /ˈælbəni/
Ireland Athy ath-EYE /æˈθ/
Canada Baie d'Espoir[n 6] like "Bay Despair" /ˌbdɪsˈpɛər/
Australia Barcaldine bar-KAWL-din /bɑːrˈkɔːldɪn/
New Zealand Blenheim BLEN-əm /ˈblɛnəm/
Australia Boroondara bohr-ən-DA-rə /ˌbɔːrənˈdærə/
Ireland Boyounagh BWEE-nəkh /ˈbwnəx/
Ireland Breaffy BRAY-fee /ˈbrf/
Australia Brisbane BRIZ-bən /ˈbrɪzbən/
New Zealand Bryndwr BRIND-wər /ˈbrɪndwər/
Ireland Cahir like care /kɛər/
Australia Cairns like cans /ˈkænz/
Australia Canberra[n 7] KAN-brə or KAN-bə-rə /ˈkænbrə/ or /ˈkænbərə/
Australia Canowindra kə-NOWN-drə /kəˈnndrə/
New Zealand Charleston CHAR-ləs-tən /ˈɑːrləstən/
Ireland Cloghore kly-HOR /klˈhɔːr/ County Donegal place
Australia Cockburn[n 8] like Coburn /ˈkbɜːrn/ Multiple places in Australia
Ireland Connacht KON-aw(kh)t /ˈkɒnɔːxt/ Sometimes respelled "Connaught"
Australia Darebin DA-rə-bin /ˈdærəbɪn/
Canada Delhi DEL-hy /ˈdɛlh/
Ireland Donegal DUN-ig-AWL /ˌdʌnɪˈɡɔːl/
New Zealand Dunedin də-NEE-dən /dəˈndən/
Australia Dunedoo dun-ee-DOO /ˌdʌniˈd/
Canada Etobicoke i-TOH-bi-koh /ɪˈtbɪk/
Australia Fairbairn FAYR-burn /ˈfɛərbɜːrn/
Australia Forster like Foster /ˈfɒstər/
Canada Gaultois GAWL-təs /ˈɡɔːltəs/
New Zealand Gisborne GIZ-bərn /ˈɡɪzbərn/
Australia Gladstone GLAD-stən /ˈɡlædstən/
Australia Goondiwindi gun-də-WIN-dee /ˌɡʌndəˈwɪndi/
Canada Grand Bruit GRAND-brit /ˈɡrændbrɪt/
Australia Greenough GREN-uf /ˈɡrɛnʌf/
New Zealand Greymouth GRAY-mouth /ˈɡrmθ/ not GRAY-məth /ˈɡrməθ/
Australia Gumeracha gum-ə-RAK /ˌɡʌməˈrækə/
Australia Indooroopilly in-drə-PIH-lee /ˌɪndrəˈpɪli/
Ireland Inistioge in-ish-TEEG /ɪnɪʃˈtɡ/
Ireland Kiltimagh kil-chi-MAH /kɪlɪˈmɑː/
Australia Kolan River koh-LAN /ˈklæn/
New Zealand Kurow KOO-rao /ˈkʊər/
Canada L'Ardoise LORD-wayz /ˈlɔːrdwz/
Australia Lalor like Lawlor /ˈlɔːlər/
Australia Launceston LON-səs-tən /ˈlɒnsəstən/
Ireland Leap LEP /lɛp/
Ireland Leighlin LOKH-lin /ˈlɒxlɪn/
Ireland Leighlinbridge LOKH-lin-brij /ˈlɒxlɪnbrɪ/
Ireland Leinster LEN-stər /ˈlɛnstər/
New Zealand Levin lə-VIN /ləˈvɪn/
Australia Mackay[n 9] mə-KY /məˈk/
Canada Magaguadavic[4] mak-ə-DAY-vee /ˌmækəˈdvi/
Australia Mandurah MAN-jə-rə /ˈmænərə/
Australia Mandurama man-JOO-rə-mə /mænˈʊərəmə/
Australia Manuka MAH-nə-kə /ˈmɑːnəkə/
Ireland Maynooth mə-NOOTH /məˈnθ/
Australia Mount Kosciuszko[5][n 10] koz-ee-OS-koh /kɒziˈɒsk/
Ireland Mountcharles mownt-CHAR-liss /mntˈɑːrlɪs/
Australia Mudgeeraba mu-jee-RAH-bə /ˌmʌɪˈrɑːbə/
Australia Mukinbudin MUK-in-boo-din /ˈmʌkɪnbdɪn/
Ireland Mweelrea mwayl-REE /mwlˈrə/
Ireland Naas NAYSS /ns/
New Zealand Northcote NORTH-kət /ˈnɔːrθkət/ Multiple places in New Zealand
Canada Osoyoos os-OO-yəs /ɒˈsjəs/ Variant pronunciations of one place
Canada Osoyoos os-OO-yooss /ɒˈsjs/ Variant pronunciations of one place
Canada Osoyoos SOO-yooss /ˈsjs/ Variant pronunciations of one place
Canada Ossington Avenue OZ-ing-tən /ˈɒzɪŋtən/
Canada Ough's Road, Port Hope OPS /ɒps/
Ireland Owenabue ohn-ə-BWEE /oʊnəˈbwiː/ County Cork river
New Zealand Point Chevalier POYNT-shev-ə-LEER /ˈpɔɪnɛvəˈlɪər/
Trinidad and Tobago Pointe-à-Pierre poynt-ə-PEER /ˌpɔɪntəˈpɪər/
Canada Pouce Coupe POOSS-koo-pee /ˈpskp/
Australia Prahran p(ə)-RAN /pəˈræn/
Canada Quesnel qui-NEL /kwɪˈnɛl/
Canada Quidi Vidi KID-ee-vid-ee /ˈkɪdiˌvɪdi/
Canada Quirpon KAR-poon /ˈkɑːrpn/
Ireland Raphoe RAF-oh /ˈræf/
Ireland River Suir SHOOR /ʃʊər/
Canada Rusagonis-Waasis[6] roo-shah-GORN-ish /ˌrʃɑːˈɡɔːrnɪʃ/
Canada Saanich SAN-ich /ˈsænɪ/
Bermuda Sandys Parish SANDZ /sændz/
Canada Sault Sainte Marie SOO-saynt-mə-REE /ˈs snt məˈr/
Canada Sechelt SEE-shelt /ˈsʃɛlt/
Canada Sheshatshiu SHEH-hah-shee /ˈʃɛhɑːʃ/
Canada Skidegate SKID-i-ghit /ˈskɪdɪɡɪt/
Canada Stouffville STOH-vil /ˈstvɪl/
Canada Strachan Avenue, Toronto STRAWN /strɔːn/
Australia Strahan STRAWN /strɔːn/
Ireland Tallaght TAL /ˈtælə/
Australia Tallangatta tə-LAN-gə-tə /təˈlæŋɡətə/
New Zealand Thames TEMZ /tɛmz/
Canada Thames River TEMZ /tɛmz/
Canada The Pas dhə-PAH /ðəˈpɑː/
Ireland Thurles THUR-less /ˈθɜːrlɛs/
Australia Tiaro TY-roh /ˈtr/
Canada Tsawwasen tə-WAH-sən /təˈwɑːsən/ Variant pronunciations of one place
Canada Tsawwasen sə-WAH-sən /səˈwɑːsən/ Variant pronunciations of one place
Ireland Tuam CHOO-əm /ˈəm/
Australia Wagga Wagga WOG-ə-WOG /ˈwɒɡəˌwɒɡə/
Australia Wangi Wangi WON-jee-WON-jee /ˈwɒniˌwɒni/
Canada Waskatenau wə-SET-nə /wəˈsɛtnə/
Australia Wauchope WAW-hope /ˈwɔːhp/
Australia Woonona wə-NOO-nə /wəˈnnə/
Ireland Youghal YAWL /jɔːl/

Personal names[edit]

Bold names are common; so, while not intuitive, they are among the most well-used. Names in italics are names of non-English origin common among English speakers and only irregular in English pronunciation.

Given names[edit]

Specific people[edit]

Specific people
Name Pronunciation Notability Notes
Respelling IPA
Alicia Silverstone ə-lee-SEE /əliˈs.ə/ American actor According to her; mainly regular outside North America
Anna Faris like Ana /ˈɑːnə/ American actor and comedian Pronunciation mainly regular outside the US and Canada
Chone Figgins like Shawn /ˈʃɔːn/ American baseball player Shortened from DeChone
Chynna Phillips like China /ˈnə/ American singer and actor
Colin Powell KOH-lin /ˈklɪn/ American politician
Dav Pilkey like Dave /dv/ American author and illustrator
Diane Arbus like Deanne /dˈæn/ American photographer Regular for other holders
Dwyane Wade like Dwayne /dwn/ American basketball player
Elle Reeve like Ellie /ɛl/ American journalist
Ian Eagle EYE-ən /ˈən/ American sports announcer
Ian Ziering EYE-ən /ˈən/ American actor
Jäd Saxton like Jade /d/ American actor and voice actor
Jeanne Moos like Jeannie /ˈn/ American journalist
Joel Anthony joh-EL /ˈɛl/ Canadian basketball player Regular for other holders
Joni Eareckson Tada like Johnny /ˈɑːn/ American author, radio host, and artist
Jrue Holiday like Drew /dr/ American basketball player
Kiki Cuyler KY-ky /ˈkk/ American baseball player and coach
MaliVai Washington MAL-ə-vee-ə /ˈmæləvə/ American tennis player
Marÿke Hendrikse mə-RAY-kə /məˈrkə/ Bahamian-Canadian actor and voice actor
Michellie Jones mih-KEE-lee /mɪˈkli/ Australian triathlete
Mikki Moore MY-key /ˈmki/ American basketball player
Monta Ellis MON-tay /ˈmɒnt/ American basketball player
Ramon Sessions rah-MAHN /rɑːˈmɑːn/ American basketball player Regular outside the US and Canada
Sachia Vickery like Sasha /ˈsɑːʃə/ American tennis player
Shanna Moakler like Shayna /ˈʃnə/ American model and actor Pronunciation mainly regular outside the US
Wynonna Judd wy-NOH-nə /wˈnnə/ American country singer
Zoe Lofgren ZOH /z/ American politician and lawyer Regular for other holders

General use[edit]

General use
Name Pronunciation Notes
Respelling IPA
Anthony ANT-ə-nee /ˈæntəni/ European pronunciation; also regular
Breanna, Brianna bree-AH-nə /brˈɑːnə/ American variant pronunciation; also regular
Chloe, Chloë KLOH-ee /ˈkli/
Dafydd DA-vidh /ˈdævɪð/ Regular in Welsh
Dana DAYN (North America);
DAH-nə (Europe)
/ˈdnə/ (North America);
/ˈdɑːnə/ (Europe)
few holders, e.g., Dana Rosemary Scallon and Dana Bash
Dylan DIL-ən /ˈdɪlən/ Regular in Welsh, also respelled "Dillon"
Eithne EN-yə /ˈɛnjə/ Regular in Irish
Eleanor EL-ə-nər, EL-ə-nor /ˈɛlənər, -nɔːr/
Freda FREE-də /ˈfrdə/
Geoffrey JEF-ree /ˈɛfri/ Respelled "Jeffrey" in the United States and also Scotland
Hermione[7] hur-MY-ə-nee /hɜːrˈməni/
Hugh HYOO /ˈhj/
Isaac EYE-zək /ˈzək/
Isla EYE-lə /ˈlə/
Job JOHB /b/
John JON /ɒn/
Liza LY-zə /ˈlzə/ Also regular
Magdalen(e) MAWD-lin /ˈmɔːdlɪn/ Archaic pronunciation
Malachi MAL-ə-ky /ˈmælək/
Malcolm MAL-kəm /ˈmælkəm/
Michael MY-kəl /ˈmkəl/
Morgause mor-GAYZ /mɔːrˈɡz/
Naomi, Näomi NAY-oh-mee, nay-OH-mee /ˈnmi/, /nˈmi/
Ngaire NY-ree /ˈnri/ Also respelled "Nyree"
Niamh NEEV /ˈnv/ Regular in Irish
Niall NEE-əl /ˈnəl/ Regular in Irish; sometimes regular in English
Owen OH-in /ˈɪn/
Penelope[8][9] pə-NEL-ə-pee /pəˈnɛləpi/
Phoebe FEE-bee /ˈfbi/
Ralph RAYF /ˈrf/ Pronunciation now rare
Rhys REESS /ˈrs/ Regular in Welsh; also respelled "Reece" or "Rees(e)"
Rise, Risë REE-sə /ˈrsə/
Saoirse SUR-shə /ˈsɜːrʃə/ Regular in Irish
Seamus, Séamas SHAY-məs /ˈʃməs/ Regular as Irish Séamas or Scottish Gaelic Seumas
Sean, Seán SHAWN /ˈʃɔːn/ Regular as Irish Seán; also respelled "Shaun" or "Shawn"
Sian, Siân SHAHN /ˈʃɑːn/ Regular in Welsh
Siobhan shi-VAWN /ʃɪˈvɔːn/ Regular as Irish Siobhán
Stephen STEE-vən /ˈstvən/
Theresa tə-REE-sə /təˈrsə/ American pronunciation
Theresa tə-REE-zə /təˈrzə/ Non-American pronunciation
Thomas TOM-əs /ˈtɒməs/
Vaugh(a)n VAWN /ˈvɔːn/ Regular as Welsh Fychan
Zachary ZAK-ə-ree /ˈzækəri/
Zoe, Zoë ZOH-ee /zi/

Family names[edit]

Specific people[edit]

Specific people
Name Pronunciation Notability Notes
Respelling IPA
Aaron Copland like Copeland /ˈkplənd/ American composer
Andre Dubus də-BYOOS /dəˈbjs/ American novelist
Andrew P. Iosue[10] OZ-way /ˈɒzw/ American general
Annastacia Palaszczuk PAL-ə-shay /ˈpæləʃ/ Australian politician
Benjamin Huger OO-jee, OO-jay /ˈi/, /ˈ/ Confederate American general
Bill Nighy like nigh /n/ British actor
Bill Veeck VEK /vɛk/ American baseball executive
Brett Favre FARV /fɑːrv/ American football player
Cary Elwes EL-wis /ˈɛlwɪs/ English actor Commonly pronounced EL-wayz /ˈɛlwz/
Cecelia Cichan like Sheehan /ˈʃhən/ American plane crash survivor
Clarence Mackay like Mackey /ˈmæki/ American financier
Clayton Yeutter YIGH-tər /ˈjtər/ American politician
Cliff Politte poll-EET /pɒˈlt/ American baseball player
Clifford Geertz GURTS /ɡɜːrts/ American anthropologist
Craig Chaquico chə-KEE-so /əˈks/ American musician Mimics Portuguese Chaquiço
Dan Cortese like Cortez /kɔːrˈtɛz/ American actor and broadcaster
Dan Majerle like Marley /ˈmɑːrli/ American basketball player
Dana Suesse SWEESS /sws/ American composer
Daniel Ricciardo like Ricardo /rɪˈkɑːrd/ Australian racing driver
Darrell Issa EYE-sə /ˈsə/ American politician and entrepreneur
David Acer AK-ər /ˈækər/ Canadian comedian and magician
David Icke like Ike /k/ English conspiracy writer
David Lange LONG-ee /ˈlɒŋi/ 32nd prime minister of New Zealand
Dionne Warwick WOR-wick /ˈwɔːrwɪk/ American singer
Don Ameche ə-MEE-chee /əˈm/ American actor
Donald F. Glut GLOOT /ɡlt/ American writer and actor
Edward Ruscha roo-SHAY /rˈʃ/ American painter
Eli Broad BROHD /brd/ American businessman
Elizabeth Goudge[11] GOOJ /ɡ/ English writer
Fiennes family[11] like fines /fnz/ British family of actors
Geraldine McCaughrean mə-KAWK-rən /məˈkɔːkrən/ British children's writer
Guy Fieri fee-EDD-ee /fiˈɛdi/ American restaurateur
Heather Mizeur mih-ZEER /mɪˈzɪər/ American politician
Herman Wouk like woke /wk/ American writer
Hillary Haag HAYG /hɡ/ American actor and voice actor
Isaiah Canaan like cannon /ˈkænən/ American basketball player
Isley Brothers IZE-lee /ˈzl/ American musicians
Jackie Speier like spear /spɪər/ American politician Regular otherwise
James Anthony Froude[11] FROOD /frd/ English historian and novelist
James Naughtie NAWKH-tee /ˈnɔːxti/ British journalist
Jason Chaffetz CHAY-fits /ˈfɪts/ American politician
Jessie Grelle GREE-lee /ˈɡrəlli/ American actor and voice actor
Jim Bakker like baker /ˈbkər/ American televangelist
Jim Fuchs[12] FYOOSH /fjʃ/ American shot put athlete
John Boehner BAY-nər /ˈbnər/ American politician
John Boozman like Boseman /ˈbzmən/ American politician
John Caius like keys /kz/ English doctor
John Donne DUN /dʌn/ English poet and cleric
John Keble KEE-bəl /ˈkbəl/ English churchman and poet
John H. Kerr like car /kɑːr/ American politician
Johnny Manziel man-ZEL /mænˈzɛl/ American football player
Jonathan Toews TAYVZ /tvz/ Canadian hockey player
Justin Duchsherer DOOK-shər /ˈdkʃər/ American baseball player
K. C. Boutiette BOO-tee-ay /ˈbti/ American speed skater
Karch Kiraly kirr-EYE /kɪˈr/ American volleyball player and coach
Karen Sillas like Silas /ˈsləs/ American actor
Keir Dullea də-LAY /dəˈl/ American actor
Kirk Rueter REET-ər /ˈrtər/ American baseball player
Klaus Roth ROHTH /rθ/ British mathematician
L. David Mech MEECH /m/ American biologist
LeGarrette Blount like blunt /blʌnt/ American football player
Larry Woiwode WY-wuud-ee /ˈwwʊdi/ American writer
Laura Nyro like Nero /ˈnɪər/ American musician
Lauren Tewes TWEEZ /twz/ American actor
Lee Godie GOH-day /ˈɡd/ American painter
Lisa Rieffel rə-FEL /rəˈfɛl/ American actor and musician
Lou Piniella pə-NEL /pəˈnɛlə/ American baseball player and manager
Marge Roukema ROK-ə-mə /ˈrɒkəmə/ American politician
Marin Mazzie MAY-zee /ˈmzi/ American actor
Mary Renault REN-ohlt /ˈrɛnlt/ English novelist
Matt Groening GRAY-ning /ˈɡrnɪŋ/ American cartoonist
Mike Doughty DOH-tee /ˈdti/ American musician
Mike Krzyzewski shih-ZHEF-skee /ʃɪˈʒɛfski/ American college basketball coach Mimics Polish Krzyżewski but with a silent initial "k"
Patricia Wrede REED-ee /ˈrdi/ American author
Patti Scialfa SKAL-fə /ˈskælfə/ American singer
Pete Reiser REESS-ər /ˈrsər/ American baseball player and coach
Peter Agre AHG-ray /ˈɑːɡr/[13] American chemist
Rachael Scdoris sə-DOR-iss /səˈdɔːrɪs/ American musher
Randy Neugebauer NAWG-ə-bao-ər /ˈnɔːɡəb.ər/ American politician
Rob Kearney like Carney /ˈkɑːrni/ Irish rugby player
Robert Fulghum FUL-jəm /ˈfʊləm/ American writer
Robert Faucheux foh-SHAY /fˈʃ/ American politician
Robert Horry ORR-ee /ˈɒri/ American basketball player
Robert Mapplethorpe MAY-pəl-THORP /ˈmpəlθɔːrp/ American photographer
Roger Boisjoly boh-zhə-LAY /bʒəˈl/ American aerospace engineer
Roger B. Taney like tawny /ˈtɔːni/ American former Chief Justice
Ron Faucheux foh-SHAY /fˈʃ/ American lawyer and scholar
Ronald Fedkiw FED-ko /ˈfɛdk/ American mathematician
Samuel Pepys like Peeps /pps/ English MP
Sandra Fluke FLUUK /flʊk/ American lawyer and women's rights activist May be regular outside the US
Sara Bareilles bə-REL-iss /bəˈrɛlɪs/ American musician
Shia LaBeouf lə-BUF /ləˈbʌf/ American actor
Simone Giertz YETCH /jɛ/ Swedish engineer and internet personality Mimics Swedish /jæʈːʂ/
Stephen Cole Kleene KLAYN-ee /ˈkln/ American mathematician
Terri Schiavo SHY-voh /ˈʃv/ American, subject of Terri Schiavo case
Thomas Carew like Carey /ˈkɛər/ English poet
Todd Tiahrt TEE-hart /ˈthɑːrt/ American politician
Vernon Dahmer DAY-mər /ˈdmər/ American activist
William Butler Yeats like Yates /jts/ Irish poet and playwright
William Foege FAY-ghee /ˈfɡi/ American physician
William Froude[11] FROOD /frd/ British naval engineer
William Hulme[11] like Hume /hjm/ English lawyer
William Whewell HEW-əl /ˈhjuːəl/ English polymath

General use[edit]

General use
Name Pronunciation Notes
Respelling IPA
Abercorn AV-ər-korn /ˈævərkɔːrn/
Aucoin aw-KOYN /ɔːˈkɔɪn/
Aucoin oh-KOYN /ˈkɔɪn/
Aucoin oh-KWANN /ˈkwæn/
Aucoin oh-KWEEN /ˈkwn/
Ayscough like askew /əˈskj/
Bagehot BAJ-ət /ˈbæət/
Beauchamp BEE-chəm /ˈbəm/
Beauclerk boh-KLAYR /bˈklɛər/
Berkeley like Barkley /ˈbɑːrkli/ Mainly British pronunciation
Bohun like Boon /bn/
Blount like Blunt /blʌnt/
Boulware like Bowler /ˈblər/ Also regular
Bowie BOO-ee /ˈbi/ Uncommon
Brough BRUF /brʌf/
Buccleugh bə-KLOO /bəˈkl/
Buyer BOO-yər /ˈbjər/ Also regular
Cadogan kə-DUG-ən /kəˈdʌɡən/
Cheves CHIV-is /ˈɪvɪs/
Chisholm CHIZ-əm /ˈɪzəm/
Coke like Cook /kʊk/
Colc(o)lough KOK-lee /ˈkɒkli/
Colc(o)lough KOHK-lee /ˈkkli/
Crichton KRY-tən /ˈkrtən/
Cholmondeley CHUM-lee /ˈʌmli/
Cockburn like Coburn /ˈkbərn/
Colquhoun like Cahoon /kəˈhn/
Cowper like Cooper /ˈkpər/ Also regular
Cruwys KROOZ /ˈkrz/
Cuyjet soo-ZHAY /sˈʒ/
Dalyell dee-EL /diˈɛl/
Dalziel dee-EL /diˈɛl/
Davies like Davis /ˈdvɪs/ Sometimes regular
Death DEETH /dθ/
De'Ath dee-AHT /diˈɑːt/
DeLaughter dee-LAW-tər /dɪˈlɔːtər/
Delevingne del-ə-VEEN /dɛləˈvn/ French-origin family name, as in Cara Delevingne
De Ros də-ROOZ /dəˈrz/
Devere(a)ux DEV-ə-roh /ˈdɛvər/
Devere(a)ux DEV-ə-rooks /ˈdɛvərks/
Doughty DOW-tee /ˈdti/
Dyches like dikes /dks/
Eames like Ames /mz/ Often regular
Ehle EEL-ee /ˈli/
Faneuil FAN-yəl /ˈfænjəl/ [11]
Fe(a)therstonhaugh[11] FAN-shaw /ˈfænʃɔː/
Fe(a)therstonhaugh[11] FEE-sən-hay /ˈfsənh/
Fe(a)therstonhaugh[11] FEER-stən-haw /ˈfɪərstənhɔː/
Fe(a)therstonhaugh[11] FES-tən-haw /ˈfɛstənhɔː/
Geogehan GAY-gən or gi-HAY-gən /ˈɡɡən/ or /ɡɪˈhɡən/ [11]
Geoghegan GAY-gən or gi-HAY-gən /ˈɡɡən/ or /ɡɪˈhɡən/ [11]
Gieves GHEEVZ /ɡvz/
Greenhalgh GREEN-hahlsh /ˈɡrnhɑːlʃ/
Greenhalgh[11] GREEN-halj /ˈɡrnhæl/
Greenhalgh[11] GREEN-halsh /ˈɡrnhælʃ/
Greenhalgh[11] GREEN-hawl /ˈɡrnhɔːl/
Grosvenor[11] GROH-və-noor /ˈɡrvənʊər/
Grosvenor[11] GROH-vən-ər /ˈɡrvənər/
Gough like Goff /ɡɒf/
Greenough GREE-noh /ˈɡrn/
Guice GUYSS /ɡs/
Guild like guiled /ɡld/
Hardes HARDZ /hɑːrdz/
Harewood[11] like Harwood /ˈhɑːrwʊd/
Home[11] HYOOM /hjm/
Hough like Huff /hʌf/
Jacques JAYKS /ks/ Uncommon
Jervois JAR-vəs /ˈɑːrvəs/ Australian, British[14]
Jervois JUR-voyss /ˈɜːrvɔɪs/ New Zealander, Hongkonger[15]
Jordan JURD-ən /ˈɜːrdən/ Uncommon
Jourdan JURD-ən /ˈɜːrdən/
Keogh KYOH /kj/
Kehoe KYOH /kj/
Kerr Ke(r) /kɜːr/ Mainly Scottish and close Debrett's adherents
Keynes KAYNZ /knz/
Landrieu LAN-droo /ˈlændr/
Lalor like Lawlor /ˈlɔːlər/
Lange like Lang /læŋ/
Lascelles LASS-əls /ˈlæsəls/
Leicester like Lester /ˈlɛstər/
Legaré lə-GREE /ləˈɡr/
Leveson-Gower LEW-sən-GOR /ˈljsənˈɡɔːrˌ ˈl-/
Lewes like Lewis /ˈlɪs/
Loesch LASH /ˈlæʃ/ Mainly North American pronunciation
Lygon LIGG-ən /ˈlɪɡən/
Machin MAY-chin /ˈmɪn/
MacCaughey, McCaughey like McCoy /məˈkɔɪ/
MacGrath, McGrath mə-GRAH /məˈɡrɑː/ Pronunciation mainly Irish
MacKay, McKay mə-KY /məˈk/ Pronunciation mainly Scottish
MacLean, McLean like McClain /məˈkln/[16][17][18] Sometimes regular
MacLeod, McLeod like McCloud /məˈkld/
MacMahon, McMahon like McMann /məkˈmæn/
Mainwaring MAN-ər-ing /ˈmænərɪŋ/
Marjoribanks MARCH-banks /ˈmɑːrbænks/
Marlborough MORL-bə-rə /ˈmɔːrlbərə/
Maugham MAWM /mɔːm/
Meagher MAH-(hə)r /mɑːr/, /ˈmɑːhər/
Melancon mə-LAW-saw /məˈlɔːsɔː/ Mimics French Melançon
Menzies MING-iss /ˈmɪŋɪs/ Regular outside Scotland
Molyneux MOL-ee-nyoo /ˈmɒlɪnj/
Moog MOHG /mɡ/
Moragne mor-AY-nee /mɒˈrni/
Muir MYOR /mjɔːr/
Muirhead MEER-hed /mɪərhɛd/
Muirhead MYOR-hed /mjɔːrhɛd/
Muirhead MYOOR-hed /mjʊərhɛd/
Muschamp Mush-AM
Ouzts OOTS /ts/
Peirce PURSS /pɜːrs/ Uncommon
Petre like Peter /ˈptər/
Pierce PURSS /pɜːrs/ Uncommon
Pole POOL /pl/ As in Pole-Carew
Pou PYOO /pj/ Also regular if from Catalan
Powell like pole /pl/
Powell POW-əl /ˈpəl/
Prioleau PRAY-loh /ˈprl/
Proulx PROO /pr/
Pulitzer PEW-lit-sər /ˈpjuːlɪtsər/ Common but incorrect
Quincy KWIN-zee /ˈkwɪnz/ Slightly uncommon
Raleigh RAW-lee /ˈrɔːli/
Rehm REEM /rm/
Reich RYSH /rʃ/ Uncommon
Reynolds REN-ohldz /ˈrɛnldz/
Rhea like Rae /r/ Also regular
Rhys like Reece /rs/
Riordan REER-dən /ˈrɪərdən/
Roosevelt ROHZ-ə-velt /ˈrzəvɛlt/ Often regular
Rozier roh-ZHEER /rˈʒɪər/ Otherwise regular, i.e., /rˈzɪər/
Saint/ St. Clair like Sinclair /ˈsɪnklɛər/ Uncommon
Saint/ St. John SIN-jən /ˈsɪnən/ Also regularly
Saint/ St. John sin-JON /sɪnˈɒn/ Uncommon
Salisbury SOLZ-bər-ee /ˈsɔːlzbəri, ˈsɒlz-/
Sandys like Sands /sændz/
Schlumberger SHLUM-bər-zhay /ˈʃlʌmbərʒ/ Also regular if from German
Schaffer SHAY-fər /ˈʃfər/ Also regular
Scrope SKROOP /skrp/
Seau SOH /s/
Seay like say /s/ Uncommon
Seay like see /s/
Shea SHAY /ʃ/
Smellie like Smiley /ˈsmli/
Somerset SUM-ər-set /ˈsʌmərsɛt/
Sough SUF /sʌf/
Stough STOH /st/
Strachan STRAK(H)-ən /ˈstræxən/~/ˈstrækən/
Strachan STRAWN /strɔːn/
Strange STRANG /stræŋ/ Uncommon
Synge like sing /sɪŋ/
Tal(i)aferro like Tolliver /ˈtɒlɪvər/ Also regular if from Italian
Thome TOH-may /tˈm/
Threatt THREET /θrt/
Tilghman like Tilman /ˈtɪlmən/
Tjoelker like choker /ˈkər/
Trevelyan trə-VIL-yən /trəˈvɪljən/
Teutel like Tuttle /ˈtʌtəl/
Tyrwhitt TIRR-it /ˈtɪrɪt/
Urquhart UR-kərt /ˈɜːrkərt/
Vanderhorst van-DROS /vænˈdrɒs/ Also regular
Vaugh(a)n VAWN /vɔːn/
Waldegrave WAWL-grayv /ˈwɔːlɡrv/
Winzet WIN-yət /ˈwɪnjət/
Wodehouse like Woodhouse /ˈwʊdhs/
Worcester WUUS-tər /ˈwʊstər/
Wriothesley RAWTS-lee /ˈrɔːtsli/
Wriothesley[19] RY-əth-slee /ˈrəθsli/
Wriothesley RIZ-lee /ˈrɪzli/
Wriothesley[20] RIZE-lee /ˈrzli/
Wriothesley ROHZ-lee /ˈrzli/
Wriothesley ROKS-lee /ˈrɒksli/
Yeend YEND /jɛnd/
Yount YUNT /jʌnt/

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ For towns near the cusp of two dialect regions, both variants are usually heard, and wider still for important cities or even within them. Examples in that article include New York City and Bath
  2. ^ Besides Birmingham, Alabama, -ham after ⟨ing⟩ of Buckingham, Cunningham, Rockingham, etc. is usually and typically pronounced /hæm/ in the United States and Canada, but not after ⟨n⟩ or ⟨r⟩ in Burnham and Durham. Additionally, the /hæm/ pronunciation is also found even among Australians in addition to /(h)əm/, especially Rockingham, Western Australia.
  3. ^ Examples are East Greenwich, Greenwich townships in Cumberland, Gloucester, and Warren counties, and Greenwich census-designated places in Cumberland and Warren, all in New Jersey; Norwich and Norwich Township, Ontario, Canada; and Norwich, Connecticut.
  4. ^ Some English places have the pronunciation /wɪk/ instead: Southwick, West Sussex; Painswick, Gloucestershire; Prestwick and Hardwick, as well as Pickwick, a former village in Wiltshire from which the novel The Pickwick Papers got its title, but these by population represent a very small minority.
  5. ^ cf. influential Duke of Albany and Albany, New York
  6. ^ French for "Bay of Hope", and paradoxically pronounced "Bay Despair"
  7. ^ Canberra as /kænˈbɛrə/ is rare and deprecated
  8. ^ Same as the surname.
  9. ^ When spoken in the clipped way, the same as original Scottish surname McKay.
  10. ^ Polish-derived pronunciation /kɒˈʃʊʃk/ is sometimes used for the Australian example.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Schenectady". Oxford Dictionaries UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.[dead link]
  2. ^ "Schenectady". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  3. ^ "Agassiz". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  4. ^ "Magaguadavic". Place Names of New Brunswick. Public Archives of New Brunswick. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  5. ^ "Kosciuszko" in Butler, Susan (ed), Macquarie Dictionary (online ed, at 26 November 2020)
  6. ^ "Rusagonis". Place Names of New Brunswick. Public Archives of New Brunswick. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Hermione". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  8. ^ "Penelope". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  9. ^ "Penelope". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22.
  10. ^ "Biographies : GENERAL ANDREW P. IOSUE". Af.mil. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Wells, John C. (2000). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary. 2nd ed. Longman. ISBN 0-582-36468-X.
  12. ^ Douglas Martin, James E. Fuchs, Innovator in the Shot-Put, Dies at 82, New York Times, October 18, 2010
  13. ^ "Voices Against Indifference Initiative". Echofoundation.org. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  14. ^ "The pronunciation of placenames". Macquarie Dictionary. February 10, 2016.
  15. ^ Andrew Yanne; Gillis Heller (2009). Signs of a Colonial Era (PDF). Hong Kong University Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-962-209-944-9.
  16. ^ "Pronunciation Of Surnames". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  17. ^ "Mclean | Define Mclean at Dictionary.com". Dictionary.reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
  18. ^ "NHL pronunciation guide". USA Today. February 4, 2000. Archived from the original on October 19, 2009. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  19. ^ Wells, J. C. Longman Pronunciation Dictionary. 3rd edition. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited, 2008.
  20. ^ "Set VII, texts and comments". Utm.edu. Retrieved October 9, 2012.

Further reading[edit]