tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post1201925795715983696..comments2024-03-18T09:40:52.281-06:00Comments on Author Elana Johnson: My Name is ElanaElana Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-89385566447372712982011-10-21T09:06:18.075-06:002011-10-21T09:06:18.075-06:00Yep. Yepyepyepyepyep.
Not the "Dawn" p...Yep. Yepyepyepyepyep. <br /><br />Not the "Dawn" part, but the "Kurtagich" part.<br /><br />Kurt-ah-gich.<br /><br />"gich" like "bitch" or "witch" or "stitch" or "snitch" (yay harry potter! The "g" is a heavy one, like in "golf"<br /><br />:DDawn Kurtagichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05050668572755966474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-20679094287698497672011-06-19T00:15:03.142-06:002011-06-19T00:15:03.142-06:00Dear Elana, you will be proud to know that I can s...Dear Elana, you will be proud to know that I can say your name right. I'm part Chilean, and your name pronunciation is spanish and very beautiful! In fact my husband and I even thought about naming our child Elana, but he turned out to be a boy :P <br /><br />You have a very beautiful name :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-57290849143696237952011-01-19T21:05:38.087-07:002011-01-19T21:05:38.087-07:00My first name {Rebekah} seems pretty obvious to me...My first name {Rebekah} seems pretty obvious to me, but people see it written and I hear everything...ree-bu-kuh, reb-eekh, reebeekay, it's honestly quite hilarious to me. <br /><br />If I say it they always spell it Rebecca, which granted is the more known spelling these days. But when I try and tell them how to spell it they get lost. lol.<br /><br />Usually if it's in person I'll just ask for the form and write it in myself or hand them my drivers license, it saves time.<br /><br />My last name {montgomery} oddly causes trouble too at times. Mostly when I lived in Hawaii though. McGummy was popular, as was Motogawi. ha. And kids just gave up completely and called me Auntie M. But kids in Hawaii are just too darn cute, so how can you mind a thing like that?<br /><br />As for characters. I love unique character names, but if I do something that might be difficult it will be their formal name and they will have a much more normal nickname that they go by. <br /><br />It's so distracting trying to read something and worry about how to pronounce the name the whole time, totally pulls you out of the story. I came across this in a fantasy piece I was critiquing for my crit group a few weeks ago and felt horrible but I finally just told him, the names have got to go...I couldn't pronounce a single one. Most were some mix between Swedish and Klingon I can only surmise, and had far too many consonants... Klrathnogchskava anyone?Meadowlark Laynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16684537248614492144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-37424329839022898692010-09-27T04:54:12.641-06:002010-09-27T04:54:12.641-06:00One of my main characters is named "Aissa&quo...One of my main characters is named "Aissa". As a matter of fact, quite of few of my female characters are modified from the name "Ayesha".G. B. Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09783331838434598963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-33865320236473402362010-09-24T07:49:58.440-06:002010-09-24T07:49:58.440-06:00My very best friend is Alaina, pronounced the same...My very best friend is Alaina, pronounced the same way. Now that I know this is how your name goes, I'll never mess it up. :)Stephanie Loréehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03512485557711771802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-68663846337229804632010-09-23T19:22:59.371-06:002010-09-23T19:22:59.371-06:00Yay, I was pronouncing it right. :) I have the sa...Yay, I was pronouncing it right. :) I have the same issue. I blame Rice-a-Roni and that Bobby Brown song from the eighties. It's Rah-nee, not Row-nee. Although that never stopped the macaroni jokes in grade school. :pRoni Lorenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02719679344024635326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-57095768342021952002010-09-23T16:51:15.265-06:002010-09-23T16:51:15.265-06:00Funny you should mention your name. I teach ESL to...Funny you should mention your name. I teach ESL to adults, and we have a lot of Russian women with a variation of your name, and there are about five or six different ways of saying it - Ilona, Alona, Alina, Alena, Elena, Ilana... maybe more... <br /><br />My name's spelled K.A.T.H.R.Y.N. and no one ever gets it right - I'm over it though. But I'm a stickler for making sure my characters names aren't spelled in a difficult way. That's a pet peeve of mine.Kathryn Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05270893925385208665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-1495034118379265402010-09-23T11:11:40.742-06:002010-09-23T11:11:40.742-06:00Believe me, people mispronounce my name ALL THE TI...Believe me, people mispronounce my name ALL THE TIME. Even people who have known me forever - which is a little saddening. But like you, I've learned to pretty much answer to anything :)Tiana Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13568247032288076461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-53286295210848782062010-09-23T08:49:45.124-06:002010-09-23T08:49:45.124-06:00Are you kidding? My name has 30 letters in it and ...Are you kidding? My name has 30 letters in it and it sounds like Klingon to the rest of the world (I'm Icelandic) - hence the pen name.<br /><br />As for your name: Vlog it! ;)Tessa Quinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12619129838476851241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-34496571282318812792010-09-23T02:15:49.765-06:002010-09-23T02:15:49.765-06:00Micha, Mischa, Michelle, Mishka, Mica.... Oh and r...Micha, Mischa, Michelle, Mishka, Mica.... Oh and recently Amisha...<br /><br />My name is not that difficult. Five letters, phonetic spelling.<br /><br />My surname, on the other hand is a bit more challenging.Gericke is pretty unpronouncable to any speaker that isn't German, Dutch or Afrikaans. <br /><br />And that, in a nutshell, is the number one reason for wanting to print under a Pseudonym. If people can't pronounce my names, how will they remember them?Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-18403946353112970542010-09-23T00:52:12.357-06:002010-09-23T00:52:12.357-06:00Funny you should mention about our characters. Whe...Funny you should mention about our characters. Whereas as my name's easy and is never mispronounced (except by Italians), my character's name is Zana. I think of her as Z-short "a" as in "hat"-n-uh. But I wonder how many will think she's Zawna or Zayna. Yikes. I'm gonna pick easier names next time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-68445271354670814292010-09-22T23:19:12.855-06:002010-09-22T23:19:12.855-06:00I know exactly where you're coming from. Trust...I know exactly where you're coming from. Trust me. Nobody EVER gets my name right.Carolina M. Valdez Schneiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11589934533051907801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-38867746911825430712010-09-22T22:13:37.455-06:002010-09-22T22:13:37.455-06:00My name is Shayda Bakhshi. Yep. And I don't ...My name is Shayda Bakhshi. Yep. And I don't go by Shay.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06089845691023125664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-57422768832210459352010-09-22T22:11:50.182-06:002010-09-22T22:11:50.182-06:00Both my names always get spelled wrong. There are ...Both my names always get spelled wrong. There are at least ten different ways to spell Sherrie and some people try to pronounce it with the accent on the end, like Sher-EE. Then my last name always gets an O where the second E should be and sometimes a D where the T should be. And I've had every Sherry Baby song sung to me at least a hundred times. <i>*insert eye roll*</i> <br /><br />At least Steve Perry spelled it right when he sang Oh, Sherrie :)Sherrie Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11670339498152684137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-12942945765127223702010-09-22T21:27:12.043-06:002010-09-22T21:27:12.043-06:00Beth! I've had it all wrong this whole time. I...Beth! I've had it all wrong this whole time. I'm such a loser. See? You need to do a post like this one!<br /><br />And Jon, dude, I can't get your last name right to save my life. I've put the T in like, five different places. So when you hit that Bestsellers list, have the email where you patiently explain how to spell your name ready to go. <br /><br />And I'm so glad that so many of you have name problems too! This strangely makes me feel better...Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-58707195140858952952010-09-22T21:16:37.405-06:002010-09-22T21:16:37.405-06:00*waves hands frantically in the air*
Beth is fair...*waves hands frantically in the air*<br /><br />Beth is fairly normal, but Revis...ah, Revis.<br /><br />It's Reh-vus.<br /><br />NOT Ree-vis.<br /><br />Everyone from where my husband and I were raised knew it was Reh-vus. But we moved...into an area that thinks it can be nothing but Ree-vis. *headdesk*Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11431700962951592287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-14706430796520795322010-09-22T20:51:20.099-06:002010-09-22T20:51:20.099-06:00my name is catherine. it has been spelled: katheri...my name is catherine. it has been spelled: katherine, kathryn, caitie, caite, kate, and other variations that i can't remember...<br /><br />i have a character *patiently waiting* named kyra, but i pronounce it in my head with a long I sound (like ice) instead of the short I sound (like kiss). i know it'll never be pronounced the way i want it haha.lexcadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18094072290983267178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-16913979514981084392010-09-22T20:04:59.855-06:002010-09-22T20:04:59.855-06:00Ha! I have been correctly pronouncing it in my hea...Ha! I have been correctly pronouncing it in my head! Woot woot for me. *grin*<br /><br />I try to keep my character's names pronounceable. LOLJessica Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12365768876905444157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-47655315468728999492010-09-22T19:35:53.685-06:002010-09-22T19:35:53.685-06:00Thanks for clearing that up! :)
My sister has an ...Thanks for clearing that up! :)<br /><br />My sister has an unusual name and there's always been tons of confusion. Drives everyone who knows her nuts. On the plus side, she never has to use her last name to identify herself - first name does it every time :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-26182752012177741012010-09-22T19:15:05.097-06:002010-09-22T19:15:05.097-06:00Well, Jon is pretty easy, so is Jonathon... it'...Well, Jon is pretty easy, so is Jonathon... it's my last name that even the NYT is sure to spell wrong.Jonathon Arntsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17366218140886892757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-14231103828160505442010-09-22T19:09:33.942-06:002010-09-22T19:09:33.942-06:00Yeah, don't worry, I totally called you ElAHna...Yeah, don't worry, I totally called you ElAHna the first time I met you, but you didn't hear me and then Carolyn corrected me and I felt like the world's biggest idiot. So fun. <br /><br />My first name wasn't too hard, but my last name growing up was a doozy. And also easily make-fun-able. Kinda glad it's Larson now. Easy-peasy-no-make-funny.Sara B. Larsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14213313028658810705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-35971052668333438352010-09-22T18:22:30.063-06:002010-09-22T18:22:30.063-06:00WOW 90 comments??? I aspire to be you!
Um my firs...WOW 90 comments??? I aspire to be you!<br /><br />Um my first name, the T in T. Anne? Is a grammatical error on some level. No really, it's impossible to spell right. I don't even bother spelling it myself. ;)Tanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10518718614911804428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-28823277756830090992010-09-22T18:03:08.523-06:002010-09-22T18:03:08.523-06:00I've decided if I ever become famous everyone ...I've decided if I ever become famous everyone is going to have to pronounce my name with a Spanish accent. Sharon is so boring, but when you say it with a Spanish accent it is lovely!Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-18330417278104782122010-09-22T17:13:38.232-06:002010-09-22T17:13:38.232-06:00My name is spelled the same as Hi-may in Spanish. ...My name is spelled the same as Hi-may in Spanish. When someone calls on the phone and pronounces it that way, I know it's a telemarketer. And my last name gets slaughtered by 9 out of 10 people I meet, so I don't even bother.Jaime Thelerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12442679809704484650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-68034890174122045052010-09-22T17:11:31.547-06:002010-09-22T17:11:31.547-06:00First, I've been "saying" your name ...First, I've been "saying" your name right! Hooray for me!<br /><br />Second, my last name Rocho...no one ever gets it right. They say Row-Cho or Row-Ko but not Rock-oh. But I used to be a Smith so I was thrilled to trade my generic name in for something with a little more zing.<br /><br />And finally, AMEN! My biggest pet peeve is not being able to pronounce character names. What if I were reading out loud to my kidling? You want me to butcher that name through the whole thing? My kids don't need any more reasons to make fun of me.Vicki Rochohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07381089434014961076noreply@blogger.com