There are many names that are a little tricky to pronounce. And others that nobody could possibly get wrong. So, imagine this woman’s surprise when she was told she had been pronouncing the name Liam wrong.
Name pronunciation can be a tough one, especially when parents choose a popular name and alter the way it’s said. Of course, unless you knew them personally. That name would appear to be exactly as it was written. Because of course, the parents haven’t actually changed the spelling. And, it would probably help quite a bit if they did!
It becomes even more tricky when it’s a name as simple and popular as Liam.
This woman recalls an awkward moment she had found herself in. I don’t think in a million years did she ever think she’d be informed she was pronouncing the name Liam incorrectly! So, when it happened, she was quite confused! She works as a nurse and is always hearing interesting names. But this is one that unless you hear it, it won’t make much sense at all!
Nurse tells TikTok about the time she had been pronouncing the name Liam wrong
So, she took to TikTok to tell the world about her strange and awkward encounter with a mom who told her she was pronouncing the name Liam wrong. She did not think she could possibly get a name like this incorrect!
In her video, Lindsey explains what happened that day, followed by a mind blown gesture. Because, you guessed it, she was pretty shocked when she was told.
“I’m a paediatric nurse and I’m from the deep, deep south, so I butcher everybody’s name.
“If it’s not something super simple like Ben or Sally, I’m gonna butcher it.
“So, I see a kid’s name on our computer and I say ‘Oh, Liam, I got this. L-I-A-M. Liam. Easy’.
“I go out, call the kid’s name, nobody moves. Call him again. Nobody moves. Call him again nobody moves.
“Finally this mum stands up and says ‘Do you mean ‘Yum?’
“And I say ‘No, Liam?’ and she said ‘Yeah, it’s short for William’.”
Meanwhile, Lindsey’s clip went viral, over three million people had watched her TikTok video. It also managed to gain near 200,000 likes.
Everyone was confused
Thousands of people commented on her TikTok clip, just as confused about her pronouncing the name Liam wrong.
One commenter wrote: “My son’s name was Liam. His new name is Yum.”
Another replied: “As a mum of a Liam, I am perturbed.”
Then, some commenters started sharing some funny names and similar stories:
Someone else said: “Had a student named Justin, last name Case. He said, ‘My mom thinks she has a sense of humor.”
And another commented, with something even stranger: “Had a patient named L-A, I called for LA. Mom quickly informed me it’s pronounced Ladasha, and did I not see the dash? Ummm ok”
Liam is still one of the most popular baby names used
While one woman decided to change the way it’s said and told Lindsey she’d been mispronouncing Liam, the actual name Liam is still one of the most popular names used.[2]
Think of it as the new Kevin. The name is going up in popularity all across the world, despite its old Irish origins.
So, Looking at 2019, In Ireland itself, people naming their babies Liam actually decreased. That year, Ireland had only 334 Liams born, while Germany had around 3,800! The name is popular all over, including Spain, Sweden, Belgium, and Switzerland. Liam continues to be the top name in the United States, with 20,502 little boys given the name that year alone.
So, what’s the most unique name you’ve ever heard? Let us know in the comments below!
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Sources:
- “Nurse’s mind blown as mum tells her she’s been pronouncing the name Liam ‘wrong’. Mirror. Courtney Pochin. March 22, 2021.
- “Liam goes supersonic as it rises up baby name charts around world.” The Gaurdian. Philip Oltermann. October 2020