I hate my embarrassing name – everyone always gets it wrong and it’s hell

By MONIQUE RUBINS FOR MAILONLINE

Published: 11:54 BST, 15 May 2025 | Updated: 13:26 BST, 15 May 2025

Despite having zero control over the name they’re given, most people grow to love the one their parents picked – or at least make peace with it.

Yet, there are those rare cases when someone finds their name simply insufferable – not least because other people are constantly mispronouncing it.

A woman named Emmarelle claimed to have precisely that problem – and pulled no punches as she described it as ‘hell’.

Explaining her predicament in a Reddit post that’s divided opinion, Emmarelle, detailed the various misgivings she has with the moniker, which she said is meant to be pronounced ‘M-muh-rehl’.

‘The old military men all pronounce it right – then anyone else gets it wrong,’ Emmarelle wrote on the ‘tragedeigh’ subreddit – a thread that allows users to commiserate over personal disasters and disappointments. 

To avoid any confusion over the pronunciation, Emmarelle explained: ‘It’s Emma and then the letter “L” with an “R” in front of it. “Elle” like “L” but add an “R.”‘

Preferring to go by ‘Ellie’ since the majority of people – ‘teachers and doctors and dentists especially’ – say her birthname wrong, Emmarelle added: ‘It’s hell. I’m not sure if it’s a “tragedeigh” or if I just hate it – but I want others’ opinions.’

The disgruntled woman explained the origins of her unusual name, writing: ‘My parents got my name from an old family friend’s wife who’s named “Amarelle”. 

A woman named Emmarelle claimed that no one can pronounce her name – and pulled no punches when she described it as ‘hell’ (stock image) 

Emmarelle asked Reddit users for their opinions – and some agreed that she had been unlucky with her name

‘They wanted me to have the nickname Emma (which I hate more than my actual name – everyone calls me it) and didn’t want me to have the exact same name in case the friend divorced his wife… which he did.’

Having invited Reddit users to share their views on her name, Emmarelle’s post received 75 comments, a number of which appeared to agree with her own negative assessment of it. 

One person laid it on thick when they wrote: ‘Bam. Your parents kicked it up a notch.’  Another weighed in, offering a potential solution. They wrote: ‘Sounds like nothing will work for you. I dub thee STEVE.’

While a third promoted a more drastic approach, adding: ‘Change your name. Most places will even let you do it free if you don’t have money.’ 

In the UK, it is possible to change your name by deed poll for the price of £50.32, according to gov.uk. 

Others, however, completely disagreed with poster Emmarelle, not only arguing that her name was simple to pronounce but also praising it as ‘gorgeous’. 

A fourth person commented: ‘Oh wow! That’s actually such a gorgeous name.’ And a fifth agreed: ‘Omg I actually love your name. It’s beautiful.’

A sixth Reddit user took the opportunity to share her own experience, writing: ‘I really like your name! People call my wife Viviana “Vivian” all the time – so I can understand how annoying that is. 

‘I’m always correcting people for her. I think your name and your nickname Ellie are both very pretty names.’

A seventh person appeared surprised by all the fuss, writing: ‘The second I saw it I knew how it was pronounced. Truly not that hard to say. Not sure why people say it wrong. Is it different? Sure. But is it complicated? Not in the slightest’. 

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I hate my embarrassing name – everyone always gets it wrong and it’s hell

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