Woman Backed for Resenting Parents' Name Choice: 'No One Can Pronounce It'

A post complaining about having a name that "no one can pronounce" has gone viral on Mumsnet, the U.K.-based online forum.

In a post shared on Mumsnet's Am I Being Unreasonable (AIBU) subforum, user Blaengwnfi said: "I've always hated my name," adding "no one can pronounce it. Not even my father or siblings."

Asked what their name is, the original poster revealed it is of Welsh origin but said: "I'm 100 percent not sharing on here [Mumsnet] as it is very outing given how usual it is. I feel so angry with my parents sometimes for burdening me with this name."

A May 2012 study published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that "the easier a name is to pronounce the more positively it is judged"—dubbed "the name pronunciation effect."

Among the key findings of the study, which was conducted by Dr. Simon Laham at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and Dr. Adam Alter at New York University Stern School of Business, were the following:

• Those with "more pronounceable" names were more likely to be favored for political office and job promotions.
• Political candidates with names that were easy to pronounce were "more likely to win a race than those without," based on a mock ballot study.
• Attorneys with "more pronounceable" names rose more quickly to higher positions in their firm, based on a field study of 500 first and last names of American lawyers.

Laham explained the latest research suggests that the name pronunciation effect is "not due merely to the length of a name or how foreign-sounding or unusual it is, but rather how easy it is to pronounce."

Alter said the effect probably exists in many everyday contexts. "People simply aren't aware of the subtle impact that names can have on their judgments," he said.

According to the user in the latest Mumsnet post, which received over 200 comments, their name was "always read out incorrectly at school" and other children would laugh at them.

"It gives me major anxiety having to introduce myself," the original poster said, noting they use their middle name professionally, "but it doesn't feel like 'my' name."

The user warned: "Parents—please think before giving your kid a weird or 'unique' name! It could really mess them up..."

The latest post sparked debate among Mumsnet users, with many sympathizing with the original poster.

User rnsaslkih wrote: "I agree with you OP [original poster]. Names need to be functional and not cause difficulties."

Akite said: "I feel exactly the same about my name too. I avoid introducing myself because it's not 'me.' I don't feel any connection to it at all..."

Asked why they haven't just legally changed their name, the original poster said: "I am too old...It's jarring when someone calls me by my first name, or my middle name. I don't have an identity which is a total mind f**k. People take having a name for granted."

User echobunnies was more understanding of the user's parents, stating: "It must be annoying to dislike your name, but I think it's hard for parents to get it right to be honest. A lot of people hate their name for the opposite reason, because it's too popular! Not easy to strike the right balance."

HeddaGarbled advised the original poster should "let it go," explaining: "You can be whoever you want to be, having rocketed off the launchpad of your childhood and schooldays."

Newsweek was not able to verify the details of this case.