Unfamiliar Name

[Oosie 1]

No one here can pronounce Mags' name properly; and in NO way can they spell it.

I have seen her name on here "Sian" if I remember correctly. I'm not sure myself how to pronounce it. Is it pronounced "Shaun" or "See-an"? Or something else entirely?

It's more like Shaan/Shahn, and it's a Welsh name.

Sian is such an easy name but then I have a Gaelic first name and an Asian last name. My husband has an English/American first name so people here always look at his last name and call him by his first name to avoid murdering the surname. I love to watch their faces when they try to read either of my names. I answer to anything.

[LoriLawless 0]

I don't get the offense either. Maybe it was the way it was worded, but I wouldn't be offended by it.

[Niels Bohr 72]

What exactly is offensive in saying that your name is not common and that the person never heard of it? As a matter of fact if you have an Asian name it is probably indeed uncommon in the US and the person might really have never heard about it. It's not like they called you names or said that it sucked, is it? Or am I missing something to the story?

He made me feel like I'm an outsider of the community where I lived most of my life in. I get offended by this type of idea.

Edited May 1, 2008 by consolemaster

[almaty 19]

What exactly is offensive in saying that your name is not common and that the person never heard of it? As a matter of fact if you have an Asian name it is probably indeed uncommon in the US and the person might really have never heard about it. It's not like they called you names or said that it sucked, is it? Or am I missing something to the story?

He made me feel like I'm an outsider of the community where I lived most of my life in. I get offended by this type of idea.

he is a chopf##k...f##k him and drive on/////no charge...dr. dean

[Fandango 1,439]

Since when is uncommon a bad thing?

My surname is quite uncommon. Everyone always comments. I love it cos it sets me apart professionally...u won't forget me!

[Niels Bohr 72]

Since when is uncommon a bad thing?

My surname is quite uncommon. Everyone always comments. I love it cos it sets me apart professionally...u won't forget me!

It's bad if they implied you're a stranger to the community. It's not bad if they compliment you. There is a difference!

I do like to make a difference in people's perspective, one name at a time.

Edited May 1, 2008 by consolemaster

[Fandango 1,439]

Since when is uncommon a bad thing?

My surname is quite uncommon. Everyone always comments. I love it cos it sets me apart professionally...u won't forget me!

It's bad if they implied you're a stranger to the community. It's not bad if they compliment you. There is a difference!

I do like to make a difference in people's perspective, one name at a time.

So how can you discern from:

"that name is not a common name, never heard of it."

Are you sure you're not just being the slightest bit defensive and perceiving insults when there may be none?

[Niels Bohr 72]

Since when is uncommon a bad thing?

My surname is quite uncommon. Everyone always comments. I love it cos it sets me apart professionally...u won't forget me!

It's bad if they implied you're a stranger to the community. It's not bad if they compliment you. There is a difference!

I do like to make a difference in people's perspective, one name at a time.

So how can you discern from:

"that name is not a common name, never heard of it."

Are you sure you're not just being the slightest bit defensive and perceiving insults when there may be none?

Yes. If you lived in your neighborhood most of you life, and somebody came over and say "never heard of you before" and every around you heard it. Do you feel a need to explain it? Yes, but, multiply that by one million times of people coming up to you "never heard of you before." It does make you feel uncomfortable in the place and outsider.

Edited May 1, 2008 by consolemaster

[chri'stina 190]

Is it possible he could simply have liked your name and really had not heard it before? I know personal comments to strangers are not considered polite, but not everyone realizes this. There are some people who comment about names the way they might comment about a cool car, and they mean no disrespect. Of course, I don't know the context, just thought it was possible that the comment was actually meant as a compliment.

I agree. I am sorry you felt offended but I don't know see why it was so insulting. My maiden last name was Italian and very uncommon and people always said they never heard it before and they rarely pronounced it right. And now my married last name is equally as uncommon in the US and people say they've never heard it before. Same will happen with our baby's name Kavi and my husband's name Sujeet. Some people are just curious or interested to hear different names and don't mean to be offensive. He didn't say "what a weird name" or "poor you for having a hard sounding name" or anything. I think you should just realize the other side of the situation. My husband has a co-worker who is very curious about India, he is a very nice guy, but has asked some dumb sounding questions about India. But my husband does not get offended, instead he just tells him more about India and answers his questions. And they are good buddies at work now. Again, sorry you were offended but maybe after thinking about it more you won't feel as bad.

[PlatyPius 5]

Siân = "Sharn" kinda, sorta. Americans always call her "Shawn". If they see the name and try to pronounce it, it's "Sigh-Ann"

[Niels Bohr 72]

Siân = "Sharn" kinda, sorta. Americans always call her "Shawn". If they see the name and try to pronounce it, it's "Sigh-Ann"

Most Americans are not English fluent. Many of them take it for granted and didn't even bother with English classes in school. It does reflect back on them on how illiterate they are in the future when pronouncing accents. Back to basics!

I can pronounce that name correctly.

[chri'stina 190]

Siân = "Sharn" kinda, sorta. Americans always call her "Shawn". If they see the name and try to pronounce it, it's "Sigh-Ann"

Most Americans are not English fluent. Many of them take it for granted and didn't even bother with English classes in school. It does reflect back on them on how illiterate they are in the future when pronouncing accents. Back to basics!

I can pronounce that name correctly.

I doubt you would have pronounced it correctly if he didn't show you how to. When I first saw the name I thought "see-ann".

[*julez* 124]

Since when is uncommon a bad thing?

My surname is quite uncommon. Everyone always comments. I love it cos it sets me apart professionally...u won't forget me!

It's bad if they implied you're a stranger to the community. It's not bad if they compliment you. There is a difference!

I do like to make a difference in people's perspective, one name at a time.

So how can you discern from:

"that name is not a common name, never heard of it."

Are you sure you're not just being the slightest bit defensive and perceiving insults when there may be none?

Yes. If you lived in your neighborhood most of you life, and somebody came over and say "never heard of you before" and every around you heard it. Do you feel a need to explain it? Yes, but, multiply that by one million times of people coming up to you "never heard of you before." It does make you feel uncomfortable in the place and outsider.

On the flip side, it could make you feel unique and special. But if you'd rather be offended, that's your perogative.

[wifetobe 2]

Somebody wanted to know my name, and told him my name. He said, "that name is not a common name, never heard of it." I then asked him for his name, he said "Glenn." I replied back, "I never heard that name before too, it's uncommon for me."

I wanted to tell this guy off for saying that my name is unfamiliar to him. Of course it isn't familiar to him because I'm Asian. He expected that my name be called something in the Western language. It offends me very much. My name is my culture. It keeps my culture intact by hearing my name.

It's very rude and wrong for that person to asked such a selfish question. If he was in Asia and said his name was "Glenn" I betcha he would have gotten a glimpse of "never heard of that too" by the locals. What a moron.

Why does race have to come into it every time? Why does it have to be offensive for someone who has not heard of a name before? Glenn probably wouldn't have been bothered if someone hadn't heard of his name. Yes I have a cultural Greek name that can be taken as Spanish also but for the past 33 years born & bred in the UK, people have asked what my name is, 99 out of 100 say: That ain't common, never heard of ya before! So why aren't I offended? I ask myself.. who cares?

[Sister Fracas 5]

Siân = "Sharn" kinda, sorta. Americans always call her "Shawn". If they see the name and try to pronounce it, it's "Sigh-Ann"

Most Americans are not English fluent. Many of them take it for granted and didn't even bother with English classes in school. It does reflect back on them on how illiterate they are in the future when pronouncing accents. Back to basics!

I can pronounce that name correctly.

err...it's not English, it's Welsh...