How to Pronounce Names Correctly (and Respectfully)

Saying someone's name correctly is a small act of respect that people remember. Names can be hard — they often follow the spelling rules of another language, not English — but with a little care you can get them right, or at least close, before you ever say them out loud.

Why it matters

A name is part of a person's identity. Consistently mispronouncing it (or avoiding it) can feel dismissive, while making the effort to say it well builds trust instantly — in classrooms, interviews, meetings, and introductions. It's worth thirty seconds of preparation.

Names don't follow English spelling rules

Many names come from languages with different sound-to-spelling systems. If you read them as if they were English, you'll usually be wrong:

• Saoirse (Irish) → SUR-shuh, not “say-orse”.
• Siobhán (Irish) → shiv-AWN.
• Niamh (Irish) → NEEV.
• Nguyen (Vietnamese) → roughly NWEN / WIN.

How to check a name before you say it

1. Look it up. Search the name on our name pronouncer to hear it in multiple accents.
2. Break it into syllables and note where the stress falls.
3. Say it slowly a few times, then at natural speed.
4. When in doubt, ask. “Am I saying your name right?” is always welcome.

The golden rule: ask, don't guess in front of them

If you're about to read a name aloud (a roll call, an award, an introduction), check it in advance. And if you get it wrong, apologise briefly, ask for the correct version, and use it — people care far more about the effort than about perfection.

Practise with real names

Explore the name pronouncer to hear names from around the world, with syllable breakdowns and audio in four accents. It's the fastest way to walk into a room confident you'll say everyone's name right.