Pronounciation of a name

Question

Hi,I am in the process of naming my child. The name I have in mind for him is pronouced mee-ka-el. This is a name of an angel in islam (equivalent to arch angel michael) and is translated to Mekaeel or Mekael in english. After speaking to multiple people and testing the name out most americans/english people pronouce Mekael as My-kal (michael) or Mi-kayl and not mee-ka-el. Not to sure about how Mekaeel would be pronouced generally?Can you please help me figure out what would be the best spelling for my child  so that his name is pronouced properly (mee-ka-el)and he does not have to correct people on pronouciation/spelling every single time. Should it be spelled Mikaeel, Mikael, Mikayel? Any help would be appreciated.thank you

JohnParis · Accepted Answer

Have you given any thought to Mikhail?

Where will your son be raised?

Kids can be vicious and Mikayel contains Kay (usually short for Katherine or Kathleen).

It's wonderful that you are thinking so deeply about this, by the way.

M98075 · Answer

Thank you for your reply.

Kid will be raised in the United states. It can be spelled Mikhail but that is a russian name (primarily). In my mother tongue that would be prnounced me-kha-yel the Kh is a sound made from the oropharynx (not in enlgish language)

thanks

Clive · Answer

Hi,

It's unfortunate, but I feel that unusual names will often cause people to ask about pronunciation and spelling.

Clive

Baraklevy · Answer

What's wrong with Mikael? The way I pronounce it is mee-ka-el, the way your son is named. How can Americans be confused with that spelling?

CalifJim · Answer

m98075what would be the best spelling for my child so that his name is pronouced properly (mee-ka-el)and he does not have to correct people on pronouciation/spelling every single time. Should it be spelled Mikaeel, Mikael, Mikayel?

Mikayel seems closest to the pronunciation you've given, but it's impossible to say. As a child he'll be called Mickey, Mick, Mikey, or Mike, and when he grows up he'll be Michael or Mike. This will probably happen no matter how you spell it. And as for how you want it pronounced, that will be out of your hands soon after your child begins school. His teachers and classmates, like it or not, will have more influence than you will on the matter, not to mention that your child will have his own idea of what he wants to be called. There may even be a nickname that he acquires somewhere along the line and he may end up preferring that. I once knew a 'Charles' who was always called 'Laddie', and there are equally strange cases to be found everywhere.

CJ

M98075 · Answer

Thanks for all your answers and help. I dont think nicknames are any problem. It is cute if anything. So I guess these are my options (I added a few) for his name to be pronouced mee-ka-el:

Mikael

Mikayel

Mikayeel

Mikaeel

Mikaael

Mikayeel

Mikyle (this one would probably be pronounced right but is far from original)

Thanks for your help

Adeel

Anonymous · Answer

I don't know how old it is this post. But my son's name is Mikael. We are Hispanic, but we live in EU and everybody pronounced his name like that "Mikayel". Good luck with everything, and I hope my comment was helpful.

Anonymous · Answer

If the child is going to be raised in the US, I would recommend against an unusual name like Mikhail. Americans like standard, all-American, guy-next-door names like Josh, Bill, Bob, Mike, Jim, Joe, John, Pete, Matt, etc. Anything out of the ordinary is going to catch flak, and a child has enough problems growing up without being saddled with a strange name that is going to turn people off.

I personally have no problem with Mikhail, I like it, but most Americans would consider it "Russian-sounding," or the name of a ballet dancer or classical musician, or "intellectual-sounding," or "artistic-sounding," and this is going to cause grief for the kid.

Anonymous · Answer

My son is Mika'el. It is often pronounced wrong, even the shortened version, Mika. I don't think it is something you can control. Correct who ever asks for proper pronounciation and when your son is old enough, he will correct the speaker as mine does. It' s a beautiful name, with a beautiful meaning. That is what matters.

Pronounciation of a name

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