https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 10:37:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1802434 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 06:17:28 +0000 TheSwissWifeStyle 1802434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hotchildinthecity: That is awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1802421 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 05:25:27 +0000 hotchildinthecity 1802421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TheSwissWifeStyle: we started on march 1. We are a total anomaly...it usually takes much longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1802419 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 05:13:42 +0000 lamariniere 1802419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No real input, but I'm glad to hear that some of the Korean bees confirmed the initial pronunciation. I :heart: following along with your adoption story. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1802415 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 04:38:22 +0000 London Mama 1802415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no experience with Korean but we speak 3 different languages at home and I honestly don't think it's a big deal that names are pronounced differently in different languages. For example, even a western name like Thomas, will sound different if said by a German, an American or a French person. I would go with whatever you prefer and then just say there's an American and a Korean way of pronouncing the name, there's no need to explain every time you introduce your son.</p> <p>Good luck with the process, sounds like you're on the home stretch! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1802402 Thu, 07 Aug 2014 02:32:17 +0000 TheSwissWifeStyle 1802402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hotchildinthecity: Congrats!! How long did the whole process take, from when you started? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1802199 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 21:00:29 +0000 blackbird 1802199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Best Christmas gift EVAH </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1802099 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 20:06:12 +0000 hotchildinthecity 1802099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you @spaniellove and @pinkcupcake for confirming it is actually a "j" sound! In the videos we've seen, foster mom seems to say it with a little bit of a "t" sound too but i'm starting to think its like 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other...</p> <p>Thanks other bees for the links! I'm going to read them on my commute tomorrow!</p> <p>And for everyone looking for an update, we got submitted for EP at the end of july...we're hoping to have court around thanksgiving and pick him up around christmas! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1802065 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 19:42:37 +0000 Greentea 1802065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would go with the Korean pronunciation. DD has a foreign name with a letter that is not pronounced (in the language of origin), but it pronounced differently in English. I do have to explain it, but I also had to explain my own name my entire life- despite it being common and obvious (imo). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1802013 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 19:11:34 +0000 mrsjyw 1802013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Im Korean and def have nvr heard of a J name pronounced w a T. Including my own name which is a very common female j name in korea. May I ask what the name is and by chance maybe the krn ladies misread it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801977 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:45:35 +0000 hotchildinthecity 1801977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks ladies for all the advice so far! Lots of food for thought!</p> <p>@spaniellove and @pinkcupcake : walled you!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801961 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:36:42 +0000 catlady 1801961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's fine to have two pronunciations. My last name is pronounced in an "American" way and when people occasionally use the "correct" pronunciation, I don't mind. It doesn't really seem to bother anyone. I also know of several people from other countries who will introduce themselves to English speakers using a shortened or Americanized version of their real names, and everyone seems fine by it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801940 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:32:59 +0000 pinkcupcake 1801940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hotchildinthecity: I'm Korean, and I'm wondering what "J" sound actually has the "t" sound in Korean? If you don't mind sharing the name, I might be able to help :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801924 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:27:39 +0000 Arden 1801924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@magnolia: Oh I love that quote. So true. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801914 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:24:39 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1801914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>congrats on your son! I personally think keeping the name would be wonderful if you like it and two pronunciations is common in many names. For example of French man named Michael would be pronounced Michelle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801899 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:21:09 +0000 magnolia 1801899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This isn't adoption specific but I love what the mom tells her daughter about pronunciation:<br /> 'If they can learn to say Tchaikovsky, and Michelangelo and Dostoyevsky, then they can learn to say Uzoamaka.' And we never discussed it again."</p> <p>Congrats on your son :heart:<br /> (Full interview here <a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/07/31/336829799/playing-crazy-eyes-taught-actress-its-ok-to-be-just-you" rel="nofollow">http://www.npr.org/2014/07/31/336829799/playing-crazy-eyes-taught-actress-its-ok-to-be-just-you</a> ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801892 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:19:16 +0000 spaniellove 1801892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm, I'm Korean and am having a hard time picturing what the sound might be? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801891 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:19:15 +0000 Arden 1801891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just read an article about this sort of situation. <a href="http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/2014/07/what-i-want-you-to-know-about-keeping.html?m=1" rel="nofollow">http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/2014/07/what-i-want-you-to-know-about-keeping.html?m=1</a></p> <p>Personally I would just use the Korean pronunciation. Typically when you are introducing him it would be verbally so "Tay" wouldn't confuse anyone. If they later see it written down, you can simply say "It looks like "Jay", but it's pronounced "Tay" in Korean." I don't think it would be too confusing. There are many languages with different sounds for letters - when I see a name I'm not sure of, I just ask. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801890 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:19:08 +0000 sunny 1801890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>BTW - Perhaps I am influenced by the fact that I have a Chinese middle name that is pronounced differently in Cantonese vs. Mandarin vs. English. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801888 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:18:54 +0000 Katrocap 1801888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I teach international students and many of them have names that in English look like they would be pronounced one way but aren't. For example, I have taught several Latino boys with the names Julio, Javier, Jamie, etc. The community in which I teach isn't terribly cosmopolitan, so most students and teachers thought these names started with a /j/ sound. As their ESOL teacher it often falls to me to explain that the letter j is pronounced like a /h/ in Spanish. Yes, it's a bit of explaining to do, but my students always appreciate people honoring their heritage and thus validating their identities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801878 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:13:35 +0000 jhd 1801878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know two couples who adopted older children internationally around the same time. Couple #1 kept the child's name as is. Couple #2 officially kept the name but gave the child an American nickname that sounds close to the original name. I don't think either option is wrong. I guess it just depends on what feels right for your family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801833 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 17:47:29 +0000 Cole 1801833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just read this the other day and you might find it helpful as you decide. I can see handling it a multitude of ways including giving him the option of going by it with both pronunciations.</p> <p><a href="http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/2014/07/what-i-want-you-to-know-about-keeping.html?m=1" rel="nofollow">http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/2014/07/what-i-want-you-to-know-about-keeping.html?m=1</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801828 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 17:44:55 +0000 lady grey 1801828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting! I don't have any good advice but curious what some of the Korean bees think. following!</p> <p>Btw congrat on your son! Can't wait to hear more about your journey. Maybe I missed posts on this..but any idea when you will be able to pick him up? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801809 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 17:33:42 +0000 sunny 1801809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think that is a big deal at all if you say that in English we say it like "__" and in Korean it is said a different way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/feeling-conflicted-about-my-sons-namepronounciation#post-1801807 Wed, 06 Aug 2014 17:32:11 +0000 hotchildinthecity 1801807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We decided to keep our son's birth name as soon as we heard it. It suited him and we liked it. It starts with a "j" and we were under the impression it began with a "jay" sound in his native language.</p> <p>I spoke to a couple of korean women today and learned that it actually starts like "tay." I dont mind this pronounciation but 99.9 percent of americans are not going to get it and we will all be explaining it for his entire life.</p> <p>Is it just as simple as saying, "in english we pronounce it 'jay' but in korean it is pronounced 'tay'?" I dont want to disrespect his heritage but dont want to make every introduction difficult for his whole life.</p> <p>Thoughts? </p>