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| My favorite postcard, sent from my Dad to me when he was in Guatemala when I was nine years old. |
Most of the time I've VERY forgiving when people mispronounce/ misspell my name. Actually, I'm usually surprised when someone gets my name right (if they don't know me). I expect people to say my name a good fifty times before remembering it, and I don't expect strangers to ever remember how to spell my name.
KERTERAH
I mean, I think it'd be unfair of me to be otherwise with such a name as I have.
None of this is to say that I don't like my name. I love my name. But I also know that my name is not common, and as a result, the reality is that my name will be difficult for many.
All that being said, I do love giving people a hard time about my name, especially if I like you ;) Maybe it's cruel, but I find it funny how people slaughter my name and then become flustered. The only times I get slightly annoyed is when people misspell my name through FB messenger or email because they can obviously see how my name is spelled but don't actually care enough to do so.
Keturah is not:
- Katrina (most common)
- Katherine
- Katura
- Katruah
- Ketura (that h is important, y'all!)
- Kentura
- Kenturah (I almost want to forgive you because you got that h, and all the vowels are correct. But where in the world did that n come from???)
- Kitty
- Kutura
- Kasha (I was called this multiple times by someone who I thought knew my name well, so for fun I used the name for my main character in my Wattpad story, When Souls Breathe On)
- Kakrah (Yes, I've been called this more than once, too)
- Cetura (C is horrid!!!)
- Kat
- Cat
- Ketty (except for one friend)
- K (I guess I can understand why some don't even try ... )
- azovnaeoithaithnsnakjfhnsflhpis (this doesn't even count as trying ... and yes, this is the only false example )
- And too many more to list ...
MY NAME ACTUALLY MAKES SENSE AND IS SPELLED JUST AS IT SOUNDS, except for that h at the end, which makes sense still because it's Hebrew.
I also have a nickname I rarely share because I really despise how people butcher this:
Tury is not Terry. The ur is pronounced "er" as in bird.
But ... I've been saving the best for the last.
If I'm in a really nice mood and feel bad that you feel bad about slaughtering my name, I might let you in on a secret.
"My dad can't even spell my name."
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| The things Dad found that he thought we might like were coin purses and little dolls the size of fingers ... I still have them ;D |
KERTERAH
I was nine years old when Dad sent me that card, and I laughed then and I still laugh now. My dad actually can spell my name (at least he can now). But I still love giving him a hard time about it ... I mean, seriously, where did he find all those e's and r's?
So, yeah ... don't feel too bad if you've ever messed up my name.
But ... extra points if you don't mess up anymore ;)
Either way, we're still friends regardless of the letters you use when you think of me.
(but please, no c's, and don't forget my h)
Do people ever mess up your name? Do you find it funny or annoying?
My name normally ends up having an e added to it, so Jessie instead of Jessi. (I know, it's an odd spelling, but if you're on Facebook, it doesn't take much to remember to look up at my name.)
ReplyDeleteJessi doesn't seem odd to me ... but yeah, my Grandma misspells my brother Jesse's name as Jessie too ;p But that's what I feel about people on FB too ;0
DeleteGuess what? I actually met a Keturah last week at church! She was visiting from Wisconsin and when I heard her name I was like, hey! I know a Keturah! She was surprised I knew a different Keturah since the name is so unique.
ReplyDeleteWhat!? That's so neat! You should give her my blog so we can "meet" ;p I actually know a few other Keturahs, but they are mostly Amish or black, as it's a more common name in both cultures.
DeleteTHIS IS SO RELATABLE. (I mean, not that my real name is Keturah - although that would be interesting. XD) But with my real name, EVERYONE misspells it because it’s an unconventional spelling. That’s one reason I decided to have a pen name - “Nicole” is apparently easier to spell. *shrugs* I mean, even my workplace spells my name wrong, so I’m used to it. It’s just annoying, though. XD
ReplyDeleteYOUR REAL NAME ISN'T NICOLE???? Well, I guess one learns something new every day ;p And now I will forever wonder what it is ;p That's so funny your work place spells it wrong ... there are so many people that can't spell my name when I clean for them. The only times it is annoying is when they write out a check to me and it's sooo obvious that they just scrambled a bunch of letters that vaguely sound like my name together ;0
Deletehaha, my real last name is a very difficult word to pronounce or spell, so I feel your pain, Keturah :)
ReplyDeleteHawthorn isn't your real last name!? I didn't except all these confessions and revelations today ;p To be honest, I love my pain because I love my name ;)
Deletei didn't even attempt to say her last name for the first two year i knew her because it was hard XD But i can say it now!! Just.. don't ask me to spell it LOL
DeleteLia
*high five on hebrew names* my real name is actually hebrew too !! and nearly as rare as Keturah, I think XD AND PEOPLE FIND IT SO HARD. don't get me started on it. but everyone says its absolutely gorgeous and I'm so happy with it myself ;)) your name is so unique and lovely too <3
ReplyDeleteFirst thought: "Lisa is a Hebrew name ...?"
DeleteSecond thought: "Wait ... Lisa isn't her real name EITHER?!"
Third thought: "I love unique names, especially when Hebrew!"
YOU HAVE TO TELL ME YOUR NAME. EMAIL ME OR SOMETHING BECAUSE I'M DYING TO KNOW ... I PROMISE I WON'T TELL ANYONE ;P
Thanks!
My family's current favorite TV show has a character named Katara in it, and that spelling messes with me because it *sounds* so similar to your name but looks so different...I mean, there's no h! H is a very significant little letter.
ReplyDeleteAlthough in my case, it's the ABSENCE of h that is significant. It very much annoys me when people spell my name "Meghan." :)
wow, what show has the name Katara? I wonder if it's some other strange spelling of my name, or a different name?
DeleteYeah, the h matters either way haha! I don't know why people would want to add an h into your name ;0
That show is Avatar, the Last Airbender. The main female character is named Katara. As I said, you need to watch that show.
DeleteAgreed. Jessi's right, Keturah. You need to watch it. :)
DeleteHuh I guess I'll have to watch at least one episode of this show then ;p
DeleteMore than one would be best. Twenty minutes isn't nearly enough to get into the whole series.
DeleteI was surprised Katara wasn't on the common-misspellings list. Avatar the Last Airbender is an amazing show.
DeleteYeah, I can't believe it didn't make the list either, because I'm certain people have spelled my name that way ... people who I'm just as sure haven't seen ANY sci-fi movies in their lives ;D I guess I'll have to be watching that ;D
DeleteYou might think no one would ever mess up on pronouncing or saying the name John, but it happens quite often in some my travels, especially in other countries, or Some of the guys who work for me that are other nationalities. Yohn, Hahn, Juan are a few.
ReplyDeleteThey aren't mispronouncing your name, but saying it in it's Mexican form ;p
Delete(Guys, this is my dad. We should totally not let him off for messing up my name ;p)
The only time someone mispronounced my real name was by calling me "Gray", which I guess turned out to be a good thing. Otherwise, most people get my name right, my last name is a different story sadly, I have a lot of embarrassing stories about people mispronouncing that.
ReplyDelete>.<
I have noticed people misspelling my name online though, which I find funny. Most people just use an "e" in "gray" instead of an "a" that I prefer to use. I've also been called "Grey Maria" in a tag, which I found amusing.
People also have a hard time pronouncing "Marie" I usually get "Mary" or "Murry".
That letter from your dad is so funny!
Wow I actually thought Gray was your real name, lol. Though I did wonder once if it was a fake name. So funny! So curious about your last name ;)
DeleteYeah, gray/ grey is a hard for most people to spell. I think gray is the american spelling and grey the British? Though don't quote me on that. Most of the time, I prefer the e spelling, though a really seems to suit you.
Haha! I get why people have a hard time with it, but still super funny.
Yeah, I thought so too ;)
Yep, I have people miss pronounce my name all the time. Surprise, surprise. I am use to it. I does surprise me when they get it right. I mean it is spelled like it sounds. lol
ReplyDeleteastorydetective.blospot.com
Yeah, I guess one can't have a unique name and not get used to having it messed up ;D and it always surprises me too ;) But yeah, our names totally sound how they are spelled unlike some names ;0
DeleteOh, come now? You don't like being Kenturah? But Ken is such an awesome first syllable!
ReplyDeleteI actually don't have a lot of issues with my name - with the exception of a few Hispanic managers I've had. And I'm pretty forgiving on it - as long as you don't call me Ken (that's my grandfather, who I was named for), I really don't care how you butcher my name.
Now my sister Vannan, on the other hand ... my parents actually invented her name, and she had a LOT of issues with it, growing up.
And to make your dad feel better, my baby sister is named LaRue, and we call her Ruezy for short, but without thinking, I spelled it Reuzey on her goodie bag at our church carnival the other day. She wasn't happy about the swapped letters.
hahahaha at first I thought you were serious. I was like, "But Ken sounds so much like Kenneth!"
DeleteYeah, I'm pretty forgiving too. It's just super fun ;)
That's so neat you were named for your grandpa!
And I didn't realize your parents made up Vannan's name. That's super neat. I could see how she'd have issues ... it makes one think of Savanna right off ;D At least that's what I think.
Hahaha! That's super funny. Accidental mistakes do happen. My sister Jerushah's nickname is Ruie, so close to your sister's.
We were actually all four named for a grandparent - Vannan for our grandfather Vernon, Joel for our grandmother Joyce, and LaRue for our grandmother Ruedean.
DeleteAnd I do have an excuse for the Reuzy incident. I have a character named Reuben, and I write his name a whole bunch more than hers so...
That's sooo neat!
DeleteHaha, that makes sense! I may have done something similar on occasion ;)
This happens to me all. The. Time. So, my real name is pretty common, but that means that there are a lot of different ways to spell it. Annnnd no one ever spells my name the correct way, even my friends and godparents. For some reason I am really protective about my name (probably because I love it), so I always give people a hard time when they get it wrong. XD
ReplyDeleteLol, I can actually see that, because most people are just bad at spelling in general ;) And it's great you love your name and protect it ... too many people hate their names and that's sad ;/
DeleteI can relate to this. I'm very happy with my name, but it's not very common and I always have to repeat myself during introductions. I often have people calling me by the masculine form of my name. One time I received a letter. 'Dear Mr. G------,' it began. My name is also of Hebrew origin, but I have the 'H problem' in reverse. I don't use it, but many other people certainly do.
ReplyDeleteI have to repeat myself soooo many times, too! And that's so sad you got a Mr ... and funny ;p Hebrew names are just the best, aren't they? What's with adding or taking letters that just don't belong? ;p
DeleteSo many people spell my name wrong.. They keep spelling it Cecelia, when its actually Cecilia.. I'm laughing about your dad but my family members have also spelled my name wrong, so i feel your pain. :D
ReplyDeleteLia
I guess it's pretty common to get e's and i's mixed up? I know I do a lot. Still no excuse ;D Yeah, I think it's a great laugh ;D
DeleteSo, like, my name gets misspelled sooooo many times, and I don't even think it's as hard at Keturah. (And I think your H makes sense...I mean, there's an H at the end of Hannah, and no one questions it.)
ReplyDeleteMy has misspelled my name too, but it was in an email, and I think he just didn't check his spelling before he sent it, lol
But I have an office job, so I'm constantly talking to people on the phone. And they are always hearing my name wrong, and then spelling it wrong when they email me. It's hilarious!
I guess I can see why your name gets misspelled, because it's unique. But really it's spelled just how it sounds ;p people just try too hard I think ;p
DeleteWeird thing to me is when people spell Hannah and Sarah: Hanna and Sara ;p
Your dad? That's hilarious ;D
I did office work for awhile too, and yeah, it was interesting when they actually listened to my name ... though once someone told me, "Oh Keturah? I have a sister with that name!"
I’m Emily Kopf (I’m having issues logging in.)
ReplyDeleteEveryone butchers my last name, Kopf. Almost everyone says either Cop or Cough, and I’ve heard Copse for the plural form. I get it—it isn’t a common name and English rarely puts “pf” together and demands that we pronounce both letters. But isn’t not English, it’s German, and they go by a different set of rules. I’m not usually bothered by it, though. It’s kind of funny.
Since I'm obsessed with German, I'm actually familiar with Kopf (head) and it looks perfectly normal to me ;p But besides that, America is FULL of last names from other languages, quite a few German. So you'd think people would learn to NOT be confused just by knowing that ;p But yeah ... I like your last name!
DeleteI had a coworker once named Michal (pronounced Mick-ALL with an emphasis on the second syllable, not like Michael). Everyone called him that... I worked with him for YEARS before he finally told me that his name was actually Michael but work had misspelled his name on his name-tag and he'd just decided to go with it. Lol. I'm still not sure if that was true or if he was messing with me...
ReplyDeletehahaha either way that's so funny. I could also totally see my brother doing that and going a lot with it, because he's way too easy going ;D
DeleteYou wouldn't think that anybody could misspell my very common name (besides going for the Hebrew spelling), but I've gotten Rebecka, Rebeccah, and a few others.
ReplyDeleteMore often I'm just called Rachel.
Once someone I thought knew me called me Emily, and then when I told her my name, said "oh that must be your sister". I don't have a sister.
My mom's name is Rebekah, and people are always confused by that spelling. And she gets called Rachel a lot too ;p
DeleteWow. Awkward ;p People get me and my sister (Jerushah) confused a lot, and I don't think we look very much a like. At least not THAT much. I'm always surprised when it's from people I think knows us well, too ;p
I had a math teacher for both 7th and 8th grades. Two full years. He saw my name on his roll books. He saw my name on homework--constantly. He saw my name on tests. Yet he continually called me "Clarice". Which gave everyone the excuse to ask me about my boyfriend, Rudolph (as in, the red-nosed reindeer). Yes, I too have seen many misspells and heard many mispronunciations. But that math teacher takes the cake.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, I think he does get the cake. Thankfully, I prefer pie to cake ;p Seriously though, you'd think a teacher would put more effort into their students ;0 And your name is sooooo lovely!
DeleteI can totally relate!! My name is Kristianne and people like NEVER get it right the first time! I've been called Christy, Kristine, Kristianna, and even Katherine, plus many, many other variations. ;p And most people think my name begins with a Ch and not a K...But I try to be understanding and not too bugged with people. After all, my name is very unusual. I've never met anyone else with my name.
ReplyDeleteI actually don't think your name would be too hard to remember once you see it spelled out. It's very pretty too!
I know a woman named Christiana. She's from Africa and has a bit of an accent, so I've always had trouble knowing if I was supposed to pronounce her name as two names together, and if the a comes at the end. Either way, her name is just as beautiful as she is! Personally, I'm more inclined to k names, so I love your spelling, though ;)
DeleteYeah, that's what I think! Thank you!
Oh gosh, this is great. I can't believe your dad spelled your name wrong. xD But to be fair, my dad recently couldn't remember what year I was born. The lady at the pharmacy misheard it as '93, and he looked at me for confirmation and I was like "Dad, that would make me 26. I was born in '98." xD
ReplyDeleteIt's really something how people have such a hard time with names and things... Especially, like you said, when they can literally SEE IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM and still spell it wrong. *rolls eyes* But so it goes. xD
theonesthatreallymatter.blogspot.com
haha, it's pretty funny though! I don't know if my dad would be able to remember all of our birth years or not ... but then, I once told people that my parents were married in '97, and I was born in '96. Man, I got some weird stares until I realized my mistake ;p (they were married in '95).
DeleteI guess names can be weird, but yeah, when you can see it you should be able to spell it ;)
J+M+J
ReplyDeleteHehe... this post was quite entertaining, thanks.... I wish I could say I can relate to the problem, but my name is pretty easily said and the only people who get it wrong are the little kids who are going to get any name wrong.
I do however have people constantly ask me if I go by nicknames, because my name has a ton of usable nicknames, and it drives me nuts.... I don't tend to like using shortened names, it seems to detract from the beauty of a name most of the time. The only time I use nicknames normally is if it's a closer friend/someone I know better.
The Doorman.
So glad you found it entertaining ... one of my three motto words ;D
DeleteAh, little kids can really have fun messing up our names, can't they ;) eah
Yeah, nicknames can sometimes be annoying. "Are you telling me you don't like my name??" And I agree, I love names and think they are so beautiful and are a huge part of who someone is. Nicknames are reserved for close friends who can still appreciate the beauty of your original name ;D
My first name is an easy one to mess up, mainly because people either go with the Spanish or the Hebrew version of my first name. My new last name, which I married into, is also mispronounced. It is L-Rick, not L-rich. It's okay though, I can't blame people for not knowing German ;)
ReplyDeleteWhen a name is influence but outside languages, that does make it a bit harder for the majority. But those sort of names are the best still ;) I love German!
DeleteLove that your dad misspelled it! People forget the 'e' on the end of mine a lot, I don't mind though.
ReplyDeleteIt's so much fun to tease him about it ;) Yeah, I can see how they'd do that as skye with an e isn't as common ;D In the blogging world though I couldn't see your name any other way ;p
Delete