Is the pronunciation of Sawyer a problem?

• 11-03-2009 10:16 AM

  juhl Joined on 10-29-2009 Posts 61

  Is the pronunciation of Sawyer a problem? Reply Contact I love the name Sawyer and always wanted to use the name if I had a boy. Well we're having a boy, but there's a problem. DH and I pronounce the name differently. I"m from the North and say "Soy -er", He's from the south and says "Saw- yer". We live the south, so odds are everyone else will call him SAW -YER too. I'm not sure I can get used to (or even like) the southern pronunciation..........I hate to ditch the name because I can't find another that I really like....What to do???????

• 11-03-2009 10:37 PM

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  Susan3417708 Joined on 05-31-2009 Minnesota Posts 99

  Re: Is the pronunciation of Sawyer a problem? Reply Contact I love the name Sawyer--even for a girl when paired with a feminine middle name. I know a Sawyer Anne and a Sawyer Marie; I think it's a nice strong name for a boy or girl. I didn't know there was any other pronunciation besides "Soy-er." The accepted pronunciation is "Soy-er"--think of Diane Sawyer and how her last name is pronounced. Don't ditch your favorite name because some people will mispronounce it. You can educate people on the correct pronunciation.

• 11-04-2009 6:05 AM

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  juhl Joined on 10-29-2009 Posts 61

  Re: Is the pronunciation of Sawyer a problem? Reply Contact Before moving south, I thought Soy-er was the only way to say it too. But...all of my in laws also say Saw-Yer, and argue the fact that it should sound like it's spelled. And they also say Diane "Saw-Yer" I have many many in laws here but none of my own family so I'm a bit out-numbered ..... that adds to my pronunciation dilemma, but maybe it's still no big deal ...????..

• 11-04-2009 2:01 PM

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  ~ lisamarie ~ Joined on 02-26-2006 Caden~Oct. 2006 #2 Due April 14, 2010 Posts 637

  Re: Is the pronunciation of Sawyer a problem? Reply Contact I here you on this one!!! I always liked the name Austin....well the "northern" version at least. After moving from N.Y. to VA. I decided that I couldnt use the name since the pronunciation is so different. My DS's name is Caden and some of my DH's family pronounce his name as if the "e" wasnt even there! I have had to correct them and tell them how it is pronounced, nicely though of course! I guess I dont have any advise, except you must know that if you are in the south then Sawyer is going to get pronounced Saw-Yer, not the way you prefer! GL!!

• 11-05-2009 8:09 AM

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  AmiJanell Joined on 01-16-2007 Dawson Edward Born 7/15/08 Minnesota Posts 1,786	Re: Is the pronunciation of Sawyer a problem? Reply Contact I'm from MN, so the name here would be Soy-er too... I think if everyone is going to say it wrong I would pick something else or it will get really annoying. Or you could change the spelling I suppose..... Soier??? Or maybe save it for the middle name

• 11-05-2009 10:03 AM

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  melissa2561353 Joined on 01-06-2008 virginia beach va Posts 102

  Re: Is the pronunciation of Sawyer a problem? Reply Contact For me it would drive me bananas having to hear eveyone pronounce it diferent then you intended. I understand me and dh are both  from NY but dh is military so we have moved all over from one coast to the other and down south to AL,FL,VA. Its crazy but even little things like saying pecan for some pee-can for other pa-con i hate even getting: your saying it wrong or hehe did you here how she said that. And dam thats a nut my kids name would make me go mad lol  I would maybe hold it for a good middle name but be open to other options for the 1st. If majority of people say it diferent then its not just getting your family to say it but everyone you run into. I guess if its bugging you now how long will you be able to deal with it and the fact that even DH says it the other way isnt gonna make it any easier. For me i think gabriel is a cute name( i wouldnt actually use it i dont love it) but anyway point is i hate gabe just a personal thing so i would never use it because i have to be realistic that i would have to hear people saying gabe all the time and for me yuk i would hate that lol Now for you it maybe diferent because you love the name so i would just think hard about it and how much would it get under you skin hearing said the other way. can you correct people brush it off and no big deal or will you always be venting about people getting it wrong? Of course this is all IMO good luck   ps I never even realized you would say it any other way then  soy-er  guess i was wrong thought this one was an easy name

• 11-05-2009 2:57 PM

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  Kim3606566 Joined on 11-05-2009 Posts 1

  Re: Is the pronunciation of Sawyer a problem? Reply Contact My husband and I loved the name and wanted to give it to our second daughter when we were pregnant. We got so much criticism ranging from that's the wrong name for a girl to how to pronounce it. We almost changed our minds. In the end we named our daughter Sawyer Lauren and pronounce it Saw-yer. I always make sure I pronounce it when I introduce her to others. I do get a little annoyed when people call her Soy-er, but I very nicely let them know we call her Saw-yer. Don't give up on the name if you really like it.

• 11-05-2009 3:50 PM

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  Aleraninde Joined on 08-16-2006 Posts 1,993

  Re: Is the pronunciation of Sawyer a problem? Reply Contact Kim3606566: My husband and I loved the name and wanted to give it to our second daughter when we were pregnant. We got so much criticism ranging from that's the wrong name for a girl to how to pronounce it. We almost changed our minds. In the end we named our daughter Sawyer Lauren and pronounce it Saw-yer. I always make sure I pronounce it when I introduce her to others. I do get a little annoyed when people call her Soy-er, but I very nicely let them know we call her Saw-yer. Don't give up on the name if you really like it.   Out of curiosity... do you pronounce Sawyer the same as 'sire'?

• 11-06-2009 5:21 AM

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  juhl Joined on 10-29-2009 Posts 61	Re: Is the pronunciation of Sawyer a problem? Reply Contact I say "Soy-er" and my husband says Saw-Yer" I think we'll end up going with one of our other name choices :( Since even his parent would pronounce the name differently, I decided that's probably a little confusing for the little guy......BTW I really like the name for a girl too....

• 11-06-2009 3:26 PM

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  Aleraninde Joined on 08-16-2006 Posts 1,993

  Re: Is the pronunciation of Sawyer a problem? Reply Contact It's not that much of a difference. I mean it's a whole different accent, so every other word besides Sawyer will be pronounced differently too, and it's not like he'll grow up confused about how to speak? If you ever travel anywhere outside the States he'll probably be called SOY-ah - it's hard to find a name that doesn't have different regional pronunciations. With my name, half the people I knew growing up said AY-driana and the other half said AN-driana (which is correct) - I respond to both and I don't even think about it until someone asks me which one it is. Then there's the European migrants who usually say AH-driana... I don't even blink. Sawyer is a good name and I'm sure your son won't even notice - he'll just learn that there are different accents.

• 11-12-2009 12:01 PM

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  Leigh Ann's 3 Joined on 08-26-2009 South Carolina Posts 186

  Re: Is the pronunciation of Sawyer a problem? Reply Contact I am from SC and live in SC and I say "soy-er"...however another southern friend was talking about someone's child and said "soy-er" and she was corrected by another friend to say "saw-yer" and it wasn't even his mom... That's a tough one. If most of your family and friends can agree to pronounce it the way you intend, I wouldn't worry about it. I think its a great name.

• 11-12-2009 1:37 PM

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  ESP1985 Joined on 05-04-2009 Georgia - EDD 12-10-2009 Posts 233	Re: Is the pronunciation of Sawyer a problem? Reply Contact hmm I'm from GA and have always pronounced it Saw-yer... Guess it's a southern thing? I never even thought of saying Soy-er before. Sorry I'm no help LOL