List of irregularly spelled English names

This is a set of lists of English personal and place names whose pronunciations are counterintuitive to their spelling, either because the pronunciation does not correspond to the spelling, or because a better-known namesake has a markedly different pronunciation.

See International Phonetic Alphabet for English and Help:IPA English pronunciation key for guides to the IPA symbols used. See English Phonemic Representation for a guide to the enPR symbols used. For readability, a colon is used for the long vowel sign (ː) in the IPA pronunciation, as the latter displays awkwardly in some fonts and browsers, and ‘r’ is used rather than the more precise ‘ɹ’ since these are all words pronounced in English.

Place names in Britain and Ireland

Although several examples are included in the list below, pronunciations for the following suffixes may be considered regular:

• -burgh — /-b(ɜ)rə/; (-bûrʹə, -brə)
• -bury — /-b(ɜ)ri/; (-bûrʹē, -brē)
• -cester — /-stə/; (-stər)
• -ham — /-əm/; (-əm)
• -shire — /- ʃ(ɪ)ə/; (-shər, -shîr)
• -wick — /-ɪk/; (-ĭk)
• -mouth — /-məθ/; (-məth)

A

• Ahoghill, County Antrim — /æ'hɒhɪl/ or /æ'hɒxɪl/; (ă-hŏʹhĭlʹ) or (ă-hŏʹkhĭlʹ)
• Aigburth, Liverpool — /ˈɛgbɜθ/; (ĕgʹbûrthʹ)
• Alcester, Warwickshire — /ˈɒlstə/, /ˈɔːlstə/; (ŏlsʹtər, ôlsʹtər)
• Allesley, Coventry - /ˈɔːlzli/; (ôlzʹlē)
• Aldeburgh, Suffolk — /ˈɔːlbrə/; (ôlʹbrə)
• Alnwick, Northumberland — /ˈænɪk/; (ăʹnĭk)
• Althorp, Northamptonshire — /ˈɔːltrʌp/; (ôlʹtrŏpʹ)
• Altrincham, Greater Manchester — /ˈɒltrɪŋəm/; (ŏlʹtrĭngʹəm)
• Alverdiscott, Devon - /ɒl'skɒt/
• Auchinleck, Ayrshire — /ˈæflɛk/; (ăfʹlĕk)
• Averham, Nottinghamshire — /ɛərəm/; (ârʹəm)
• Aveton Gifford, Devon - /ɔː'tən dʒi'fəd/
• Avoch, Highland — /ɔx/; (ôkh)

B

• Balliol College, University of Oxford — /ˈbeɪliəl/; (bāʹlēʹəl)
• Barugh, South Yorkshire — /bɑːk/; (bäk)
• Great Barugh and Little Barugh, North Yorkshire — /bɑrf/; (bärf)
• Barnstaple, Devon — /ˈbɑːnstəbl/; (bärnʹstə-bəl)
• Beauchief, Sheffield — /ˈbi:tʃɪf/; (bēʹchĭf)
• Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire — /ˈbɛkənzfiːld/; (bĕʹkənz-fēldʹ)
• Beaudesert, Warwickshire — until recently /ˈbɛlzə/ ("belser") reflecting original name "Beldesert" [1]
• Beaulieu, Hampshire — /ˈbjuːli/; (byōōʹlē)
• Bellingham, Northumberland — /'bɛlɪndʒəm/; (bĕlʹən-jəm) · (the city of Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A., is pronounced as spelled [/ˈbɛlɪŋhæm/, bĕʹlĭng-hămʹ])
• Vale of Belvoir, England — /ˈbiːvə/; (bēʹvər)
• Berkeley (all English towns) — /ˈbɑːkli/; (bärkʹlē)
• Berkshire — /ˈbɑːkʃə/; (bärkʹshər)
• Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland — /ˈbɛrɪk-/; (bĕʹrĭk)
• Bicester, Oxfordshire — /ˈbɪstə/; (bĭsʹtər)
• Billericay, Essex — /bɪləˈrɪki/; (bĭlʹə-rĭkʹē)
• Blackley, Greater Manchester — /ˈbleɪkli/; (blākʹlē)
• Boyounagh, County Galway — /ˈbwiːnəx/; (bwēʹnəkh)
• Bozeat, Northamptonshire — /ˈbʊʒət/; (bŏŏʹzhət)
• Breaghwy, Connacht — /ˈbreːfiː/; (brĕfʹē)
• Bradley, West Midlands — /ˈbreɪdli/; (brādʹlē)
• Brewood, Staffordshire - /'bruːd/; (brōōd)
• Bridestowe, West Devon - /'brɪdɪstəʊ/;
• Brougham, Cumbria — /bruːm/; (brōōm)
• Burgh by Sands, Cumbria — /ˈbrʌf/; (brŭf)

C

• Cahir, County Tipperary — /ˈkeɪr/; (kār) · (original Irish intuitively /ˈkeɪhɪr/, kāʹhĭr)
• Caldmore, West Midlands — /ˈkɑːmə/; (käʹmər)
• Cambois, Northumberland — /ˈkæməs/; (kămʹəs)
• Cambridge — /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/; (kāmʹbrĭj) · (note that the River Cam and Cambridge, Gloucestershire are pronounced intuitively)
• Canterbury, Kent — /ˈkæntəbriː/; (kănʹtər-brē)
• River Cherwell, river in England — /ˈtʃɑːwɛl/; (chärʹwĕl)
• Chiswick, London — /ˈtʃɪzɪk/; (chĭzʹĭk)
• Cholmondeley, Cheshire — /ˈtʃʌmli/; (chŭmʹlē)
• Cirencester, Gloucestershire — now usually /ˈsaɪrənˌsɛstə/ (sīʹrən-sĕsʹtər), but formerly (and still occasionally) /ˈsɪsɪtə/ (sĭʹsĭ-tər)
• Claughton, Lancashire — /ˈklæftən/
• Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire — /ˈklɪbəri/; (klĭʹbə-rē)
• Cley next the Sea, Norfolk — /ˈklaɪ/; (klī)
• Cliveden, Buckinghamshire — /ˈklɪvdən/; (klĭvʹdən)
• Cloghore, County Donegal — /klaɪˈhəʊr/; (klīʹhōr)
• Clones, County Monaghan — /ˈkləʊnɪs/; (klōʹnĭs)
• Cobh, County Cork — /kʊv/; (kōv)
• Cogenhoe, Northamptonshire — /ˈkʊknəʊ/; (kŏŏkʹnəʊ)
• Costessey, Norfolk — /ˈkɒsi/; (kŏsʹē)
• Cowpen, Northumberland — /ˈkuːpɛn/; (kōōʹpĕnʹ)
• Cruwys Morchard, Devon - /kruːz/; (krōōz)
• Cuckfield, Sussex — /ˈkʊkfiːld/; (kŏŏkʹfēld) · (versus intuitively pronounced Uckfield nearby)
• Culross, Fife — /ˈkuːrɒs/; (kōōʹrŏsʹ)
• Cultra, Northern Ireland— /kʌl'trɔː/; (kŭl-trôʹ)
• Culzean Castle, Ayrshire — kuːˈleɪn/; (kōō-lānʹ)

D

• Denbigh — /ˈdɛnbi/; (denʹbē)
• Derby — /ˈdaːbi/; (däʹbē)
• Dodworth, South Yorkshire - /ˈdɒdəθ/
• Durham — /dʌrəm/ in RP, locally IPA: /ˈdʏrəm/

E

• Edensor, Derbyshire — /ˈɛnzə/; (ĕnʹzər)
• Edinburgh — /ˈɛdn̩b(ɜ)rə/; (ĕʹdən-bûrʹə) or (ĕʹdən-brə)
• Elsecar, South Yorkshire — /ɛlsɪˈkɑː/; (ĕlʹsĭ-kä)
• Ely, Cambridgeshire — /'iːli/; (ēʹlē)
• England — /ˈɪŋglənd/
• Erith, London — /ˈiːrɪθ/; (ēʹrĭth)
• Esher, Surrey — /ˈiːʃə/; (ēʹshər)
• Eyam, Derbyshire — /ˈiːm/; (ēm)

F

• Findochty, Moray — /ˈfɪnəkti/ or /ˈfɪnəxti/; (fĭnʹək-tē) or (fĭnʹəkh-tē)
• Fowey, Cornwall — /ˈfɔɪ/; (foi)
• Frome, Somerset — /fruːm/; (frōōm)

G

• The Garioch, Aberdeenshire — /ˈgɪəri/; (gîrʹē)
• Gateacre, Liverpool — /ˈgætækə/; (gătʹăk-ər)
• Gillingham, Kent — /'dʒɪlɪŋəm/; (jĭʹlĭng-əm)
• Gillingham, Dorset — /'gɪlɪŋəm/; (gĭʹlĭng-əm)
• Glenzier, Dumfries and Galloway — /glɪŋə/; (glĭngʹər)
• Gloucester — /ˈglɒstə/; (glŏsʹtər)
• Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire — /gəmstɜː/
• Gotham, Nottinghamshire — /ˈgəʊtəm/; (gōʹtəm)
• Greenwich, Greater London — /ˈgrɛnɪtʃ/ or /ˈɡrɪnɪtʃ/; (grĕʹnĭch) or (grĭʹnĭch)
• Greysouthen, Cumbria — /ˈgreɪsuːn/; (grāʹsōōn)
• Groby, Leicestershire — /ˈgruːbiː/; (grōōʹbē)
• Guildford, Surrey — /ˈgɪlfəd/; (gĭlʹfərd)
• Guisborough, North Yorkshire — /ˈgiːzbrə/; (gēzʹbrə)

H

• Halford, Midlands — /ˈhɑlfəd/; (hälʹfərd”)
• Happisburgh, Norfolk — /ˈheɪzb(ə)rə/; (hāzʹbrə)
• Hawarden, Flintshire — /ˈhɑːdən/; (härʹdən)
• Hawick, Scottish Borders — /ˈhɔɪk/; (hoik)
• Heather, Leicestershire — /ˈhiːðə/; (hēʹthər)
• Hereford, England — /ˈheərɪfəd/; (hârʹē-fərdʹ)
• Hertford, England — /ˈhɑːtfəd/ [härtʹfərd])
• Hessle, East Yorkshire — /ˈhɛzl/; (hĕzʹəl)
• Heysham, Lancashire — /ˈhiːʃəm/; (hēʹshəm)
• Holborn, London — /ˈhəʊbən/; (hōʹbərn”)
• Holyhead, Wales — /ˈhɒlihɛd/; (hŏʹlē-hĕdʹ)
• Hunstanton, Norfolk — /ˈhʌnstən/; (hŭnsʹtən)

I

• Ide, Devon — /iːd/
• Inistioge, County Kilkenny — /ɪnɪʃˈtiːɡ/; (ĭnʹĭsh-tēg)
• Islay, island of the Inner Hebrides — /ˈaɪlə/; (īʹlə)

K

• Keadby, Lincolnshire — /ˈkɪdbi/; (kĭdʹbē)
• Keighley, West Yorkshire) — /ˈkiːθli/; (kēthʹlē)
• Keswick, Cumbria — /ˈkɛzɪk/; (kĕʹzĭk)
• Keynsham, near Bristol — /ˈkeɪnʃəm/; (kānʹshəm)
• Kilconquhar, Fife — /kiˈnʌxɑː/ or /kiˈn(j)ʌkə/; (kĭ-nŭʹkhär) or (kĭ-nŭʹkər) or (kĭ-nyŭʹkər)
• Kingussie, Highland — /kɪŋˈjuːsi/; (kĭng-jōōʹsē)
• Kiltimagh, County Mayo — /ˌkɪltʃɪˈmɒk/; (kĭlʹchĭ-mŏkʹ)
• Kirkby, Merseyside — /ˈkɜːbi/; (kûrʹbē)
• Kirkcaldy, Fife - /kər'kɑdi/; (kər-käʹdē)
• Kirkcudbright, Galloway — /kəːˈku:bri/; (kər-kōōʹbrē”)

L

• Laugharne, Carmarthenshire — /lɑːn/; (lärn)
• Launceston, Cornwall — /ˈlɔːns(t)ən/ or /ˈlɑːns(t)ən/ or /ˈlæns(t)ən/; (lônsʹtən, lônʹsən) or (länsʹtən, länʹsən) or (lănsʹtən, lănʹsən) · (versus Launceston, Tasmania, pronounced /ˈlɒnsəstən/ [lŏnʹsəs-tən])
• Leamington Spa and Leamington Hastings, Warwickshire — /ˈlɛmɪŋtən/; (lĕʹmĭng-tən)
• Leap, County Cork — /ˈlɛp/; (lĕp)
• Leicester — /ˈlɛstə/; (lĕsʹtər)
• Leigh, Kent — /laɪ/; (lī)
• Leominster, Herefordshire — /ˈlɛmstə/; (lĕmsʹtər) · (compare Leominster, Massachusetts below)
• Lewannick, Cornwall — /luːˈɒnɪk/; (lōō-ŏʹnĭk)
• Liskeard, Cornwall — /lɪˈskɑːd/; (lĭ-skärdʹ)
• Loose, Kent — /ˈluːz/; (lōōz)
• Lostwithiel, Cornwall — /lɒsˈwɪðiːɛl/; (lŏs-wĭʹthē-ĕlʹ)
• Loughborough, Leicestershire — /ˈlʌfbrə/; (lŭfʹbrə)
• Lympne, Kent — /lɪm/; (lĭm)

M

• Magdalen College, University of Oxford — /ˈmɔːdlɪn/; (môdʹlĭn)
• Magdalen Hill, Winchester — /mɔːn/; (môn)
• Magdalene College, University of Cambridge — /ˈmɔːdlɪn/; (môdʹlĭn)
• Manea, Cambridgeshire — /ˈmeɪni/; (māʹnē)
• Marlborough, Wiltshire — /ˈmɔːlbrə/; (môlʹbrə)
• Meols, Cheshire — /ˈmɛlz/; (mĕlz)
• Meols Cop, Southport — /ˈmiːlz/; (mēlz)
• Meopham, Kent — /ˈmɛpəm/; (mĕʹpəm)
• Mildenhall, Wiltshire — /ˈmaɪnəl; (mīʹnəl)
• Milngavie, Scotland — /ˈmʌlgaɪ/ or /ˈmɪlgaɪ/; (mŭlʹgī) or (mĭlʹgī)
• Minories, London — /ˈmɪnəriːz/; (mĭʹnər-ēz)
• Monmouth, Wales — /ˈmɒnməθ/; (mŏnʹməth)
• Mousehole, Cornwall — /ˈmaʊzəl/; (mouʹzəl)
• Mweelrea, County Mayo — /mwelˈriːə/ ; (mwāl-rēʹə)
• Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire — /ˈmaɪðəmrɔɪd/; (mīʹthəm-roidʹ)

N

• Naas, County Kildare, Ireland — /neɪs/; (nās)
• Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland — /neɪ/; (nā)
• River Nene, Northamptonshire — /nɛn/; (nĕn)
• Newquay, Cornwall — /ˈnjuːki/; (nyōōʹkē)
• Norwich, Norfolk — /ˈnɒrɪdʒ/; (nŏrʹĭj)

O

• Olney, Milton Keynes — /ɔːniː/ (ôʹnē) (local pronunciation) · /ɒlniː/ (ŏlʹnē)
• Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire — /ˈɒzˌtwisl/; (ŏzʹtwĭsʹəl) (local pronunciation) · /ˈɒzlˌtwizl/ (ŏʹzəl-twĭʹzəl)
• Owenabue, river in County Cork — /ˌəʊnəˈbwiː/ (ōʹnə-bwēʹ)

P

• Plaistow, Newham, Greater London — /ˈplɑːstəʊ/; (pläʹstō)
• Plymouth, Devon — /ˈplɪməθ/; (plĭʹməth)
• Prinknash, Gloucestershire — /ˈprɪnɪʃ / (prĭʹnĭsh)
• Puncknowle, Devon — /ˈpʌnl̩/ (pŭʹnəl)

R

• Rainworth, Nottinghamshire — /ˈrɛnəθ/; (rĕʹnəth)
• Ratlinghope, Shropshire — /ˈrætʃʌp/; (rătʹshŭp) (local pronunciation)
• Reading, Berkshire — /ˈrɛdɪŋ/; (rĕʹdĭng)
• Rievaulx, North Yorkshire — /ˈriːvəʊ/; (rēʹvō)
• Ruthven, Aberdeenshire — /ˈrɪvən/; (rĭʹvən)

S

• St. Ive, Cornwall — /iːv/; (ēv) · (however, St Ives is pronounced intuitively)
• St. Teath, Cornwall — /tɛθ/; (tĕth)
• Salisbury, Wiltshire — /ˈzɔːzbri/; (zôzʹbrē) (local pronunciation) · /ˈsɒlzbri/ or /ˈsɔːlzbri/; (sŏlzʹbrē) or (sôlzʹbrē)
• Shrewsbury, Shropshire — /ˈʃrəʊzbri/; (shrōz'brē) · (though the "Shrews-" is sometimes pronounced phonetically)
• Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire — /slæˈwɪt/; (slă-wĭtʹ)
• Slough, Berkshire — /slaʊ/; (slou)
• Smethwick, West Midlands — /ˈsmɛðɪk/; (smĕʹthĭk)
• South Elmsall, West Yorkshire - /saʊθ emsəl/ or local variant /saːθ emsəl/
• Southwark, Greater London — /ˈsʌðək/; (sŭʹthərk) · / ˈsʌvək/; (sŭʹvərk) (local pronunciation)
• Southwell, Nottinghamshire — /ˈsʌðəl/ or /ˈsaʊθwəl/; (sŭthʹəl) or (southʹwəl)
• Staithes, North Yorkshire — locally /stɪəz/; (stîrz)
• Stawell, Somerset — /stɒl/; (stŏl)
• Stiffkey, Norfolk — /ˈstjuːkiː/; (styōōʹkē) · (though it can be intuitively pronounced)
• Strabane, County Tyrone — /strə'bæn/; (strə-bănʹ)
• Strathaven, South Lanarkshire — /ˈstreɪvn/; (strāʹvən)
• River Suir in Leinster, Ireland — /ʃuː/; (shōōr)

T

• Tacolneston, Norfolk — /ˈtæklstən/; (tăkʹəl-stən)
• Tallaght, County Dublin — /ˈtælə/; (tăʹlə)
• Teignmouth, Devon — /ˈtɪnməθ/; (tĭnʹməth)
• Teston, Kent — /ˈtiːsņ/; (tēʹsən)
• River Thames— /tɛmz/; (tĕmz) · (the Thames River in Connecticut is pronounced intuitively)
• Tideswell, Derbyshire — /ˈtɪdsəl/; (tĭdʹzəl)
• Tintwistle, Derbyshire — /ˈtɪnsəl/; (tĭnʹsəl)
• Todmorden, West Yorkshire - /ˈtɒdmədən/ is the most common pronunciation although the BBC uses /ˈtɒdmɔːdən/.
• Torpenhow Hill, Cumbria — /trəˈpɛnə/; (trə-pĕnʹə) (local pronunciation) · (elsewhere pronounced intuitively)
• Torquay, Devon — /tɔːˈki/; (tôrʹkē)
• Tottenham, Greater London - /'tɒtnəm/
• Towcester, Northamptonshire — /ˈtəʊstə/; (tōsʹtər)
• Trottiscliffe, Kent — /ˈtrɒsli/; (trŏsʹlē)

U

• Ulgham, Northumberland — /ˈʌfəm/ (ŭfʹəm)

W

• Warwick and Warwickshire — /ˈwɒrɪk/; (wŏrʹĭk) · /ˈwɒrɪkʃə/; (wŏrʹĭk-shər)
• Market Weighton, East Yorkshire — /ˈwiːtņ/; (wētʹn)
• Wemyss Bay, Inverclyde — /'wiːmz beɪ/ (wēmz)
• Widecombe, Devon - /'wɪdɪcəm/
• Wisbech, Cambridgeshire — /ˈwɪzbiːtʃ/ (wĭzʹbēch)
• East Woodhay and West Woodhay - /ˈwʊdi/; (wŏŏʹdē)
• Woolfardisworthy, Devon — /ˈwʊlzi/ or /ˈwʊlzəri/; (wŏŏlʹzē) or (wŏŏlʹzər-ē)
• Worcester /ˈwʊstə/ (wŏŏsʹtər)
• Wrotham, Kent — /ˈruːtəm/ (rŏŏʹtəm)
• Wybunbury, Cheshire — /ˈwɪnbri/; (wĭnʹbrē)
• Wycombe, Buckinghamshire — /ˈ wɪkəm/; (wĭʹkəm)
• Wymondham, Norfolk — /ˈwɪndəm/; (wĭnʹdəm) (local pronunciation)
• Wytham, Oxfordshire — /ˈwaɪtəm/; (wītʹəm)

Y

• Youghal, County Cork, Ireland — /jɔːl/; (yôl)

Z

• Zouch, Nottinghamshire — /zotʃ/; (zŏch)
• Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire — /zuːʃ/; (zōōsh)

Place names in the United States of America

A

• Aberdeen, Washington — stressed on the first syllable (/ˈæbɚdin/), unlike Aberdeen, Scotland, which is stressed on the final syllable
• Abiquiu, New Mexico — /ˈæbəkju/ (“abbecue”)
• Acequia, Idaho — /əˈsikwə/
• Achilles, Kansas — /əˈkɪləs/ (Achilles is /əˈkɪliz/)
• Aloha, Oregon — /əˈloʊə/
• Alsea, Oregon — /ˈælsi/
• Amherst, Massachusetts — /ˈæmˌɚst/ (The "h" is silent.)
• Arab, Alabama — /ˈeɪræb/ (“ayrab”)
• Arkansas — /ˈɑrkənˌsɔ:/ (“ARkensaw”). However, Arkansas City, Kansas is pronounced /ɑrˈkænsəs/ (“arCANses”), as is the name of the Arkansas River to many Kansans.
• Arriba, Colorado — /ˈɛrəbə/
• Athens, Kentucky, Athens, Illinois and New Athens, Illinois — /ˈeɪ.θn̩z/ (“aythenz”)
• Ausable River (New York) — /ˈaʊ ˈseɪbəl/ (“oh sable”)

B

• Bahama, North Carolina — /bəˈheimə/
• Beatrice, Alabama — /biˈætrəs/; usually Beatrice is /ˈbiətrəs/
• Beaufort, South Carolina — /ˈbjuʷ.fɚt/ vs. /ˈboʊ.fɚt/ of Beaufort, North Carolina
• Belen, New Mexico - /bəˈlɪn/
• Bellefontaine, Ohio — /bɛlˈfaʊn.tɪn/
• Benld, Illinois — /bəˈnɛld/
• Bergen, New York — /ˈbɝdʒən/
• Berlin, Connecticut, New Berlin, Illinois, Berlin, New Hampshire, New Berlin, Wisconsin, and Berlin, Ohio — /ˈbɝlɪn/ (stress on first syllable)
• Bernalillo, New Mexico (county and town) — /bɚnəlijoʊ/
• Bernardsville, New Jersey - ˈbɝnɚdzvɨl BERN-erds-ville
• Bexar, Texas — /ˈbeɪɚ/ or /ˈbɛr/
• Billerica, Massachusetts — /ˈbɪlˈrɪkə/
• Bingen, Washington — /ˈbɪndʒən/
• Biscay, Minnesota — /ˈbɪski/ (cf Biscay /bɪskeɪ/ )
• Boerne, Texas — [ˈbɝni]
• Bois D'Arc, Missouri — /ˈboʊdɑrk/
• Boise, Idaho — /ˈbɔɪ.si/ (this is the standard local pronunciation, but most Americans, especially those far removed from Idaho, pronounce it /ˈbɔɪ.zi/)
• Boise City, Oklahoma — The "Boise" in this place name is locally pronounced /bɔɪs/[2], which is different from either pronunciation of the name of the Idaho city. The "s" sound generally merges with the same sound in "City."
• Bolivar, Tennessee, Bolivar, Missouri — named for Simón Bolívar but pronounced /'baləˌvɚ/, as if to rhyme with "oliver"
• Bossier City, Louisiana — /ˈboʊʒɚ ˈsɪti/
• Bowie, Maryland — /ˈbuːi/
• Bothell, Washington — /ˈbɑθəl/
• Buena Vista, Colorado, Buena Vista, Oregon, Buena Vista, Virginia — /ˌbjunəˈvɪstə/
• Bucoda, Washington — bəˈkoʊ̪də buh-coe-duh
• Buddha, Indiana - /ˈbudi/
• Buhl, Idaho — /bjul/
• Burien, Washington — /ˈbjɝiən/
• Butte, Montana — /bjut/

C

• Cairo, Illinois and Cairo, Ohio — /ˈkeɪroʊ/
• Calais, Maine and Calais, Vermont — /ˈkæləs/ (The town of Calais in France was formerly also pronounced /ˈkælɪs/ in English; today /kæleɪ/, with initial stress in British English and final stress in American English, is the normal pronunciation.)
• Camano Island, Washington — /kəˈmeɪnoʊ/
• Cambridge, Massachusetts — /ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ/
• Casa Grande, Arizona — /ˈkæsə ˡgrænd/ (not as it would be in Spanish)
• Canyon de Chelly, Arizona — Chelly pronounced /ʃeɪ/
• Celina, Texas — /səˈlaɪnə/
• Chatham, Massachusetts — /ˈtʃætəm/
• Chehalis, Washington — /ʃəˈheɪlɪs/
• Chelan, Chelan County, and Lake Chelan, Washington — /ʃəˈlæn/
• Cherryville, North Carolina — /ˈtʃɝvəl/ or /ˈtʃɝvil/
• Chewelah, Washington — /tʃəˈwilə/
• Chicago — /ʃɨ.ˈkɑ:.ɡoʊ/ or /ʃɨ.ˈkɔ:.ɡoʊ/
• Chickasha, Oklahoma — /ˈtʃɪkəˌʃeɪ/
• Chili, New York — /ˈtʃaɪlaɪ/ though indeed named after the country Chili/Chile[3]
• Clatskanie, Oregon — /ˈklætskəˌnaɪ/
• Coeur d'Alene, Idaho — /ˌkɔrdəˈleɪn/
• Columbus, Ohio — /ˈklʌmbɨs/ (non-standard)
• Conneaut, Ohio (also Conneautville, Pennsylvania) — /ˈkɑniɔt/
• Conetoe, North Carolina — /kəˈnitə/
• Connecticut — /kəˈnɛtɪkət/
• Copalis Beach, Washington — /ˌkoʊˈpeɪlɪs/
• Coquille, Oregon — /ˌkoʊˈkil/
• Cordele, Georgia — kɔɹˈdil cor-DEAL
• Cudahy, California - [ˈkʌdəheɪ] or [ˈkudəhaɪ]

D

• Delhi, New York — /ˈdɛlhaɪ/
• Des Moines, Iowa — /dəˈmɔɪn/
• Des Plaines, Illinois — /dɛzˈpleɪnz/ for contrast
• Deschutes River, Oregon, and Deschutes River, Washington — /dəˈʃuts/
• Mount Desert Island, Maine— /dɪˈzɝt/ to add to the confusing pronunciation of desert and dessert
• DuBois, Pennsylvania - /dubɔɪ̪z/ or /dubɔɪ̪s/ vs. French /dybwa/
• Duenweg, Missouri - /dʌnəˈwɛg/
• Dungeness River and Dungeness Spit, Washington — /ˈdʌndʒənəs/

E

• El Dorado, Arkansas, El Dorado, Kansas and Eldorado, Illinois — /ɛldəˈreɪdoʊ/
• Elbe, Washington — /ˈɛlbi/
• Embarras (or Embarrass) River in Illinois — /ˈæmbrɔ/
• Ephrata, Washington — /ɪˈfreɪtə/ (unlike the Borough of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, which is pronounced /ˈɛfrətə/)
• Estacada, Oregon — /ˌɛstəˈkeɪdə/
• Etobicoke, Ontario — /əˈtoʊbɪˌkoʊ/

F

• Faneuil Hall, Boston, Massachusetts — /ˈfæn.əɫ/
• Fries, Virginia — /friz/

G

• Galice, Oregon — /gəˈlis/
• Galveston, Indiana — /gælˈvɛstən/ vs /ˈgælvɛstən/ for Galveston, Texas
• Gloucester, Massachusetts —/ˈɡlɔstɚ/.
• Greenwich, Connecticut and Greenwich Village in New York City — /ˈɡrɛnɪtʃ/
• Gruene, Texas — /ˈɡri:n/

H

• Haverhill, Massachusetts — /ˈheɪv(ə)rɪl/
• Havre, Montana — /ˈhævɚ/
• Havre de Grace, Maryland — /ˈhævɚ dɨ gɹeɪs/
• Hereford, Texas and Hereford, Pennsylvania — /ˈhɝfɚd/ (“herfurd”)
• Hockessin, Delaware — /ˈhoʊkɛsɪn/
• Houston, Georgia and Houston Street (Manhattan) — /ˈhaʊstən/, vs the better known, irregularly pronounced /ˈ(h)juːstən/ of Houston, Texas, named via Sam Houston after Houston, Scotland, a concatenation of "Hu's town"
• Huger, South Carolina — /ˈhjudʒi/ or /ˈjudʒi/
• Hurricane, Utah and Hurricane, West Virginia — /ˈhɝɪkən/ (The /-ən/ ending is standard in the British pronunciation of hurricane, but not in American English)
• Hyak, Washington — /ˈhaɪæk/

I

• Illinois — /ˌɪləˈnɔɪ/
• Ilwaco, Washington — /ɪlˈwɑkoʊ/
• Ironton, Ohio — /ɑrntn̩/
• Ischua, New York — /'ɪʃweɪ/
• Iselin, New Jersey — /'ɪzlən/
• Isle au Haut, Maine — /'ailəhoʊ/
• Islip, New York — /'aisləp/
• Italy, Texas — /ˈɪtli/ with two syllables only

J

• Strait of Juan de Fuca — /wɑːndəˈfjuːkə/
• Julian, Pennsylvania — /dʒuːliˈæn/

K

• Kahlotus, Washington — /kəˈloʊtəs/
• Kalaloch, Washington — /ˈkleɪlɑk/
• Kalama, Washington — /kəˈlæmə/
• Kamela, Oregon - /kəˈmiˌlə/
• Kamiah, Idaho — /ˈkæmiaɪ/
• Kearny, New Jersey — /karni/
• Keechelus Lake, Washington — /ˈkɛtʃələs/
• Kenai, Alaska — /ˈkinaɪ/
• Kittitas and Kittitas County, Washington — /ˈkɪtɪˌtæs/
• Kosciusko, Mississippi — /kɔziˈɛsko/
• Kountze, Texas — /kunts/
• Kure Beach, North Carolina — /ˈkjuri/

L

• Lac Courte Oreilles, Wisconsin — /ləˌkudəˈreɪ/
• Lafayette in Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee — /leˈfeɪət/ vs. e.g. the cities in Indiana and Louisiana that are pronounced /lɑfaɪˈɛt/, approximating the original French
• La Grande, Oregon — /ləˈɡrænd/
• Lake Oswego, Oregon — /ˌɑsˈwigoʊ/
• La Plata, Maryland — /ləˈpleɪtə/
• Lapwai, Idaho — /ˈlæpˌwaɪ/
• Latah, Washington and Latah County, Idaho — /ˈleɪˌtɑ/
• Leakey, Texas — /ˈlɛɪki/
• Lebam, Washington — /ləˈbæm/
• Lebanon, New Hampshire — /ˈlɛbnən/
• Leicester, Massachusetts — /ˈlɛstɚ/ (“lester”)
• Lemhi County, Idaho — /ˈlɛmhaɪ/
• Lemoore, California — officially /ˈli:mɔr/ after the founder, quickly becoming /ləˈmɔr/ due to its spelling and the number of new people moving in to the town
• Leominster, Massachusetts — /ˈlɛmənstər/
• Lewes, Delaware — /ˈluɪs/
• Lima, Ohio — /ˈlaɪmə/
• Lodi, California, and elsewhere in US — /ˈloʊdaɪ/
• Lompoc, California — /ˈlɑmpoʊk/
• Louisville, Colorado, Louisville, Georgia, Louisville, Ohio — /ˈlu:wisvil/ vs. Louisville, Kentucky /'lu:ivɪl]/ locally /ˈlu:ǝvǝl/ or even /ˈlǝvǝl/

M

• Mackinac Island, Michigan — /ˈmækɪˌnɔ:/
• Madras, Oregon — /ˈmædrəs/
• Madrid, New Mexico and New Madrid, Missouri — /ˈmædrɪd/
• Malad City, Idaho and Malad River — /məˈlæd/
• Malheur County, Oregon and Malheur River — /ˈmælhjɚ/
• Manchaca, Texas — /ˈmæntʃæk/
• Manor, Texas — /ˈmeɪnɚ/
• Mantua, Utah — /ˈmæ.nə.ˌweɪ/
• Marquam, Oregon — /ˈmɑrkəm/
• Maury County, Tennessee — /ˈmɝreɪ/
• Medina, Washington — /məˈdaɪnə/
• Mesa, Washington — /ˈmisə/
• Methow, Washington — /'mɛtaʊ/
• Mexia, Texas — /məˈheɪə/ listen^ⓘ
• Miami, Oklahoma — /maɪˈæmə/
• Milan, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Tennessee, and Washington — /ˈmaɪlən/
• Minam, Oregon — /ˈmaɪ.nəm/
• Missouri — The "ss" represents IPA: [z] in either common pronunciation: /mɪˈzʊɹi/ or /məˈzɝə/
• Monson, Massachusetts — /ˈmʌnsən/
• Montague, Texas — /montæg/
• Montpelier, Virginia — /montpəˈlɪr/, perhaps more intuitive than the US standard /mɑntˈpi:ljɚ/ of Montpelier, Vermont and others (derived from Montpellier, France)
• Moscow, Idaho — /ˈmɑskoʊ/ (similar to the British English pronunciation of Moscow, Russia). Other Moscows in America are /ˈmɑskaʊ/, the American English pronunciation of the Russian city.
• Mukilteo, Washington — /ˌmʌkəlˈtioʊ/
• Mulino, Oregon — /məˈlaɪnoʊ/

N

• Naches, Washington — /ˈnæˌtʃiz/
• Nacogdoches, Texas - [ˌnæːkəˈdoʊtʃɪs]
• Nahant, Massachusetts — /nəˈhɑnt/
• Naselle, Washington — /ˌneɪˈsɛl/
• Natchitoches, Louisiana — /ˈnækətəʃ/ ("nackətəsh")
• Neah Bay, Washington — /ˈniə/
• Nenana, Alaska and Nenana River — /ˌniˈnænə/
• Nespelem, Washington — /nɛsˈpiləm/
• Nevada — /nəˈvædə/; the pronunciation /nəˈvɑdə/, while fairly common (particularly in the eastern United States), is stigmatized locally.
• Nevada County, Arkansas; Nevada, Iowa; and Nevada, Missouri — /nəˈveɪdə/
• Newark, Ohio — /nɝk/ ("nerk") vs. Newark, Delaware /'nu:.ɚk/
• New Orleans — /nuˈɔrlɪnz/ or /nəˈwɔrlɪnz/ (local pronunciation only)

O

• Ojai, California — /ˈoʊhaɪ/
• Orcas Island, Washington — /ˈɔrkəs/ (not /ˈɔrkəz/, like the plural of orca)
• Ouray, Colorado — /ˈjʊreɪ/
• Owyhee River and Owyhee County, Idaho — /oʊˈwaɪhi/

P

• Palacios, Texas — /pəˈlæʃəs/ ("puh-LASH-uhs")
• Palestine, Texas — /ˈpæl.ɛs.tin/ (cf Palestine — /ˈpæl.ɪs.taɪn/
• Palouse, Washington — /pəˈlus/
• Pass Christian, Mississippi — /pæs krɪsˈtʃæn/ or /pæs krɪstʃi:ˈæn/ (cf. the regular pronunciation of "Christian" — /ˈkrɪstʃən/)
• Pawtucket, Rhode Island — /pəˈtʌkɪt/ ("puh TUCK it" or "p'TUCK it")
• Peabody, Massachusetts — /ˈpi:bədi/, not /ˈpi:ˈbɑdi/
• Pearrygin Lake, Washington — ˈpɛərədʒɪn
• Pedernales River, Texas — /ˌpɝdəˈnæləs/ ("perden alice")
• Pend Oreille County, Washington and Pend Oreille (also Pend d'Oreille) River — /pɑndə'reɪ/ ("ponderay")
• Picabo, Idaho — /ˈpikəbu/
• Pierre, South Dakota — /pɪr/ ("peer")
• Pfafftown, North Carolina — /ˈpɑftaʊn/ (Usually the p is silent in names starting with Pf)
• Piceance Creek & Basin, Colorado — /ˈpi:ɔnts/ or /ˈpi:ænts/ (“pee-ants”)
• Plano, Texas — /ˈpleɪˌnoʊ/ ("PLAY-no")
• Plymouth, Massachusetts and elsewhere — /ˈplɪməθ/ ("plimmuth")
• Pojoaque Pueblo, New Mexico — /pəˈwɑki ˈpwɛblo/ ("puhWOKee") by Anglos only
• Pompeii, Michigan — ˈpɑmpiˌaɪ̪ (paum-pee-eye, unlike the Italian town pronounced Pom-pay)
• Poughkeepsie, New York — /pə'kɪpsi/ ("puhKIPsy")
• Poulsbo, Washington — /ˈpɑlzˌboʊ/ ("PAHLZ-bow")
• Puget Sound, Washington — [ˈpjuʤɨt] ("PEW-jit")
• Puyallup, Washington — /pjuˈæləp/ ("pew-AL-up")

Q

• Quincy, Massachusetts — /ˈkwɪnzi/ (“kwinzy”)
• Quitaque, Texas - /ˈkɪtiki/
• Qulin, Missouri - /ˈkjulɪn/

R

• Raleigh, North Carolina — /ˈrɑ:li/ (“rahly”)
• Refugio, Texas — /rəˈfjurioʊ/ (“refurio”)
• Rhea County, Tennessee — /reɪ/ (“ray”)
• Riga, New York — /ˈraɪɡə/ (“righ-ga”)
• Rio Grande, Ohio — /'raɪ.o grænd/ (“righ-o-grand”)
• Ruch, Oregon — /ruʃ/ (“roosh”)
• Russia, Ohio — /'ru:ʃi:/ (“ROO-she”)
• Rutherfordton, North Carolina — locally /ˈrʌlftən/ (“rulfton”) or variations on that

S

• Saline, Michigan and Saline County, Illinois — /səˈli:n/ (“suh-lean”)
• Samish Island, Washington — /ˈsæmɪʃ/
• Sammamish, Washington — /səˈmæmɪʃ/
• San Jose, Illinois — /sæn ˈʤoʊz/ listen^ⓘ
• San Rafael, California — /sæn rəˈfɛl/
• San Xavier, Arizona — /sæn ˈhɑːvieɪ/
• Schenectady, New York — /skəˈnɛktədi/
• Schuylkill in Pennsylvania — /ˈsku:kəɫ/ (“skookel”)
• SeaTac, Washington — /ˈsi:tæk/
• Sedro-Woolley, Washington — /ˈsi:droʊ ˈwʊli/
• Sekiu, Washington — /ˈsikju/s
• Semiahmoo, Washington — /sɛmiˈɑ:moʊ/; (sĕʹmē-äʹmō)
• Sequim, Washington — /skwɪm/ (“skwim”)
• Shawangunk (Mountains, town and prison in Hudson Valley region of New York) — /ˈʃɑŋɡʌm/ is preferred by residents of the area, although original pronunciation still used by visitors is more intuitive /ʃɑˈwɑŋˌɡʌŋk/
• Shoshone, Idaho — /ʃoʊˈʃoʊn/
• Siuslaw River, Oregon — /saɪˈjuslɑ/
• Skagit (name of a Native American tribe and various locales in Washington) — /ˈskædʒɪt/
• Skamokawa, Washington — /skəˈmɑkəˌweɪ/ (“ska-mock-a-way”)
• Sol Duc River, Washington — /ˈsoʊlˌdʌk/ (the spelling “soleduck” is also encountered)
• Spokane, Washington — /spoʊˈkæn/ (“spo-can”)
• St. Maries, Idaho — /seɪnt ˈmɛriz/ (“St. Mary's”)
• Staunton, Virginia — /ˈstæntən/ (“stan-tin”)
• Stehekin, Washington — /stəˈhikən/
• Steilacoom, Washington — /ˈstɪləkəm/ (“stillakum”)
• Suisun City, California — /səˈsu:n/ (“se-SOON”)
• Swansea, Massachusetts — /ˈswɑ:nzi/

T

• Taliaferro County, Georgia— /ˈtɑlɪvɚ/ (“tolliver”)
• Tanana, Alaska and Tanana River — /ˈtænəˌnɑ/
• Tekoa, Washington — /ˈtikoʊ/
• Telocaset, Oregon — /ˌtɛl.əˈkæ.sət/
• Tempe, Arizona — /ˌtem'pi:/
• Tennessee — /ˌtenə'si:/
• Terre Haute, Indiana — /ˌtɛrəˈhoʊt/
• Tewksbury, Massachusetts — traditionally /ˈtʊks.bə.ri:/ (“tooksbury”)
• The Dalles, Oregon — /dælz/
• Thibodaux, Louisiana — /ˈtɪbəˌdoʊ/ (“tibbuhdoe”)
• Tieton, Washington — /ˈtaɪətən/
• Tillamook County, Oregon — /ˈtɪləmʌk/ (although locals pronounce it intuitively, /ˈtɪləmʊk/)
• Tok, Alaska — /toʊk/
• Tooele, Utah — /ˌtuˈwɪlə/ (“to-will-a”)
• Topsail Beach, North Carolina — /ˈtɑpsɫ̩/ (“topsl”)
• Touchet River, Washington — /ˈtuʃi/
• Toutle River, Washington — /ˈtutəl/
• Tripoli, Iowa — /trɪˈpoʊlə/
• Tualatin, Oregon, Tualatin River - /tuˈɑˌlə.tən/
• Tulare, California — /tuːˈlɛəri/
• Tucson, Arizona — /ˈtu:sɑn/
• Tygh Valley, Oregon — /taɪ/ (“tie”)

V

• Valdez, Alaska — /ˈvæl'di:z/
• Vallejo, California — /ˈvəleɪhoʊ/
• Veneta, Oregon — /vəˈni.tə/
• Verdi, Nevada — /ˈvɚdaɪ/
• Versailles, Illinois, Versailles, Kentucky, Versailles, Missouri, and Versailles, Ohio — /ˌvɝˈseɪlz/
• Vienna, Illinois — /vaɪˈænə/

W

• Washington — /ˈwɔːrʃɪŋtən/ or /ˈwʊrʃɪŋtən/ (considered an uncouth variant of /ˈwɑːʃɪŋtən/)
• Wahkiakum County, Washington — /wəˈkaɪəkəm/
• Wallowa, Oregon, Wallowa County, and the Wallowa Mountains — /wəˈlaʊə/
• Wallula, Washington — /wəˈlulə/
• Weippe, Idaho — /ˈwi.aɪp/
• Weiser, Idaho — /ˈwi:zɚ/ (“weezer”)
• Whitemarsh Island — /'wɪtmɑrʃ/ (“witmarsh”)
• Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania — /ˈwɪlks ˌbɛrə/, /-ˌbɛri/, or /-ˌbɛr/ (“wilks bear”)
• Willamette River, Oregon — /wɪˈlæmɨt/ (“wil-LAM-it”)
• Willapa River and Willapa Hills, Washington — /ˈwɪləˌpɑ/ (“WILL-a-paw”)
• Woburn, Massachusetts — /ˈwubɚn/ (“woo-burn”), Woburn, Bedfordshire and Woburn, Toronto are simply /ˈwoʊbɚn/ (“woe-burn”)
• Worcester, Massachusetts — /ˈwʊstɚ/ (“wooster”)

Y

• Yakima, Yakima County, and Yakima River, Washington — /ˈjækəˌmɑ/ (“yak-a-maw”), though the pronunciation /ˈjækəmə/ is also heard. The Native American people for whom the river, city, and county are named now prefer the spelling Yakama.
• Yachats, Oregon — /ˈjɑhɑts/ (“yah-hahts”)
• Yaquina Bay and related place names in Oregon — /jəˈkwɪnə/
• Yocona River, Mississippi — /'jɑ.kni/ (“yahk-nee”)
• Youghiogheny River, U.S. — /ˈjokəɡeɪni/ (‘yah-kuh-GAIN-ee”)
• Yreka, California — /waɪ'ri:kə/ (“why-reek-a”)

Z

• Zzyzx, California — /ˈzaɪˌzɪks/ (“zigh-zix”)

Place names in other English-speaking countries

A

• Agassiz, British Columbia — /ˈægəsi/

B

• Baie d'Espoir, Newfoundland — /bei dɪsˈpɛr/, French for "Bay of Hope", ironically pronounced "Bay Despair"
• Brisbane, Australia — /ˈbrɪz.bən/

C

• Cockburn, Australia — /ˈkoʊbɝn/

G

• Gaultois, Newfoundland and Labrador — /ˈgɔ:ltʌs/

J

• Job's Cove — /dʒoʊbz koʊv/

K

• Kelowna, British Columbia — /kəˈloʊnə/ (formerly pronounced /kəˈlaʊnə/)
• Keremeos, British Columbia — /ˌkɛrəˈmiʌs/
• Kiribati (island nation in Pacific Ocean) — /ˈkɪribæs/ (spelling is regular in Gilbertese)
• Kiritimati (island in Pacific Ocean) — /ˈkɪrismæs/ (spelling is regular in Gilbertese)

L

• Labrador, Canada — /læb:.rəˈdor/

M

• Melbourne, Australia — /ˈmel.bən/ or [[English-language vowel changes before historic l#Salary-celery merger|/ˈmæl.bən/]] ("mel-bern")

N

• Newfoundland — /'nu:.fən.lænd/

O

• Osoyoos, British Columbia — /o'su:ju:s/ ("oh-sue-yoos") or /o'su:jəs/

P

• Pago Pago, American Samoa — /ˈpɑŋo ˈpɑŋo/ (pronounced /ˈpɑŋgoʊ ˈpɑŋgoʊ/ by non-Samoan-speakers)
• Pouce Coupe, British Columbia — /ˈpus ˈkupi/ (Some maps place an acute accent over the final e [as é, as in /ˈpus kupˈe/]; however, this is incorrect.)

Q

• Quebec, Canada — /kəˈbɛk/
• Quesnel, British Columbia — /kwəˈnɛl/
• Quidi Vidi, Newfoundland — /ˈkɪdi vɪdi/ (“kiddy viddy”)
• Quirpon, Newfoundland and Labrador — /'kɑrpu:n/ (“carpoon”)

S

• Saanich Peninsula and related place names in British Columbia — /ˈsænɪtʃ/
• Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario/ Michigan — /ˈsu: ˈseɪnt məˈri:/ ("soo saint marie")
• Sechelt, British Columbia — /ˈsiʃɛlt/
• Skidegate, British Columbia — /ˈskɪdəɡət/ (“skiddeget”)
• Stouffville, Ontario — /ˈstoʊvɪl/ (“sto-vil”)
• Summerland, British Columbia — /ˈsʌmɚˌlænd/ (not /ˈsʌmɚlənd/)

T

• Thames River in Ontario, and town and firth in New Zealand — /tɛmz/ (the Thames River in Connecticut is pronounced /θeɪmz/)
• Tsawwassen, British Columbia — /təˈwɑsən/

Given names

• Aloysius — /æloʊˈɪʃəs/ ("aloe-WISH-us")
• Antawn (Jamison) — /ˈæntwɑn/ (American English pronunciation of "Antoine". For more information, see the section on his name.)
• Chynna (Phillips) — /ˈtʃaɪnə/ (“china”)
• Geoffrey — /ˈdʒɛfri/ (“jeffry”)
• Greig (Scottish/English surname or forename) — /grɛg/ ("greg")
• Job — /dʒoʊb/ (“jobe”)
• John — /dʒɒn/ (RP) /dʒɑn/ (GA)
• Kaffe (Fassett) — /keɪf/ (“kafe”)
• Kiki (Cuyler) — /ˈkaɪkaɪ/ ("KYE-kye"); compare with the more common /ˈkiki/ ("KEE-kee"), as in Kiki Dee and Kiki Vandeweghe
• Liam — /ˈli:əm/ ("LEE-am")
• Magdalen(e) (as in Magdalen College, Oxford and Magdalene College, Cambridge) — /ˈmɔ:dlɪn/ (“maudlin”)
• MaliVai (Washington) — /mæləˈvi:ə/ (“mal-a-VEE-a”)
• Matraca (Berg) — /məˈtreɪsə/ ("muhTRAYsuh")
• Michael — /ˈmaɪkəl/
• Michellie (Jones) — /məˈki:li:/ ("muh-KEE-lee")
• Niamh - /ni:v/ ("neev")
• Phoebe — /ˈfi:bi:/ ("fee-bee"; regular English pronunciation of romanization of Greek Φοιβη)
• Picabo (Street) — /ˈpi:kəbu:/ (“peek-uh-boo”)
• Ralph — traditionally /reɪf/ (“rafe”), as for Ralph Fiennes, Ralph Vaughan Williams; now usually the intuitive /rælf/
• Regina — the female name is /rəˈdʒi.nə/, but in British and Canadian place names (and in the legal Latin term for "queen") it is /rəˈdʒaɪ.nə/
• Rise — occasionally /ˈri:sə/ ("REE-suh"; after Risë Stevens: the diaeresis over the e of Risë indicates that it is not a silent e)
• Seamus — /ˈʃeɪməs/ ("SHAME-us"; spelling Séamus is regular in Irish)
• Sean — /ʃɔ:n/ ("shawn"; spelling Seán is regular in Irish)
• Shan (Foster) — /ʃeɪn/ ("Shane")
• Siobhan — /ʃɪˈvɔ:n/ or /ʃəˈvɔ:n/ ("shuVAWN"; spelling Siobhán is regular in Irish)
• Siouxsie (Sioux) — /ˈsu:zi/ ("SUE-zee")
• Stephen (Curry), basketball player — /ˈstɛfən/, instead of the more common (in American English) /ˈsti:vən/
• Wynonna (Judd) — /waɪˈnoʊnə/ ("wye-NO-na")
• Xe — /ɛkˈsiː/ ("EK-see")

Surnames

A-B

• Duke of Abercorn — /ˈævərkɔrn/ (“avvercorn”)
• David Acer — /ˈækər/ (“acker”)
• Peter Agre — /ˈɑgreɪ/ or /ˈɑgri:/ ("ah-gree")
• Ameche (Don & Alan) — /əˈmi:tʃi:/ ("uh-MEE-chee") (Anglicized spelling for original Italian name "Amici")
• Aucoin — from /oʊˈkwæn/ (e.g. Kevyn Aucoin), /oʊˈkwin/, /oʊˈkoɪn/ (e.g. Bill Aucoin), to /ˈɔ:koɪn/
• Ayscough (e.g. Hannah Ayscough) — /əˈskju:/ (“askew”)
• Walter Bagehot — /ˈbædʒət/ (“badget”)
• Jim Bakker — /ˈbeɪkər/ (“baker”)
• Earl Beauchamp — /ˈbi:tʃəm/ (“beech’m”)
• Berkeley (English surname) — /ˈbɑ:kli/ ("barkly"). Surname in the US /ˈbɝkli/.
• Bohun — /ˈbu:n/
• Blount (e.g. Mel Blount, Roy Blount, Jr.) — /blʌnt/ ("blunt")
• Roger Boisjoly — /boʊʒəˈleɪ/ ("beaujolais")
• Boulware (Virginia) — /ˈboʊlər/ (“bowler”)
• John Boozman — /ˈboʊzmən/ ("bozeman")
• KC Boutiette — /ˈbu:ti:eɪ/ ("BOO-tee-ay")
• Duke of Buccleuch — /bəˈklu:/ ("buhCLUE")
• Steve Buyer — /ˈbu:jər/ ("boo-yer")

C

• John Caius (as in Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge) — /ki:z/ ("keys")
• Thomas Carew, poet — /ˈkɛri:/ ("kerry"); compare with the more intuitive /kəˈru:/ ("ka-ROO"), as in John Carew (footballer) and Rod Carew
• Craig Chaquico — /tʃəˈki:soʊ/ ("cha-KEY-so")
• Mamah Cheney — /ˈmeɪmə ˈtʃeɪni/ ("mayma chayny")
• Cheves (e.g. Langdon Cheves) — /ˈtʃɪvɪs/ (“chiv-is”)
• Cholmondeley — /ˈtʃʌmli/ (“chumly”)
• Cecelia Cichan — /ˈʃi:hən/ ("SHE-han")
• Cockburn — /ˈkoʊbɝn/ ("co-burn")
• Colcolough (Virginia, e.g. Tom Colcolough) — /ˈkoʊkli/ ("coke-lee") or /ˈkɑkli/ ("calkly")
• Colquhoun — /kəˈhu:n/ ("ka-hoon")
• Aaron Copland — /ˈkoʊplənd/ ("copeland")
• Dan Cortese — /korˈtɛz/ ("cortez")
• Cowper — /ˈku:pə(r)/ ("cooper")
• Crichton — /ˈkraɪtn̩/ ("crighton")
• Cruwys (e.g. Margaret Cruwys — /ˈkru:z/ ("cruise")
• Culzean Castle, Scotland — /kʌˈleɪn/ ("kuhLAIN")
• Cuyjet — /su:ˈʒeɪ/ ("soo-zhay")

D-E

• Vernon Dahmer —/ˈdeɪmər/
• Dalyell and Dalziel (as in the UK television series Dalziel and Pascoe) — /diˈɛl/ ("dee-EL")
• Davies — both /ˈdeɪvɪs/ ("Davis") and /ˈdeɪvi:z/
• DeLaughter, e.g. Tim DeLaughter —/dəˈlɔ:tər/ ("DeLawter")
• Diuguid —/ˈdu:gɪd/ (“do gid”)
• John Donne, poet — /dʌn/ ("dun")
• Andre Dubus —/dəˈbju:s/ (“duhBYOOS”)
• Justin Duchscherer —/ˈdu:kʃɝ/ (“dooksher”)
• Keir Dullea —/dəˈleɪ/ (“duh-lay”)
• Dyches — /daɪks/ (“dikes”)
• Eames (e.g. Emma Eames) — /eɪmz/ (“aims”), though often just /i:mz/
• Ehle (Jennifer; John) — (“EE-lee”)
• Cary Elwes — /ˈɛlweɪz/ (“el-ways”)
• Enroughty (S. Carolina) — /ˈdɑrbi/ ("darby") [4]

F-H

• Faneuil — /ˈfænəɫ/ or /ˈfænjəɫ/
• Ron Faucheux — /foʊˈʃeɪ/ ("foe-SHAY")
• Brett Favre — /fɑrv/ (“farv”)
• Featherstonehaugh — /ˈfænʃɔ:/ (“fanshaw”), also /ˈfɛstənhɔ:/, /ˈfi:sn̩heɪ/, /ˈfɪəstənhɔ:/, or intuitively as /ˈfɛðəstənhɔ:/ *
• Paul Feig — /fi:g/ (“feeg”)
• Fiennes — /faɪnz/ (“fines”)
• William Foege — /ˈfeɪgi:/ (“fay-ghee”)
• Robert Fulghum — /ˈfʊldʒʌm/ (“full jum”)
• Clifford Geertz — /gɝts/ ("gurts")
• Geogehan, Geoghegan — /ˈgeɪgən/ ("gaygan")
• Louise Gluck — /glɪk/ ("glick")
• Donald Glut — /glu:t/ ("gloot")
• Lee Godie — /ˈgoʊdeɪ/ ("GO-day")
• Elizabeth Goudge — /gu:ʒ/ ("goozh")
• Greenhalgh — /ˈgri:nhælʒ/ or /ˈgri:nhælʃ/ ("greenhalsh")
• Matt Groening — /ˈgreɪniŋ/ (“graining”)
• Grosvenor — /ˈgrəʊvənɚ/ ("grove-ner")
• Guild, e.g. Nancy Guild — /gaɪld/ ("guiled")
• Morgan and Paul Hamm — /hɑm/ (“hahm”) (as opposed to Mia Hamm — /hæm/, same as “ham”)
• Earl of Harewood — /ˈhɑ:wʊd/ ("harwood")
• Earl of Home — /ˈhju:m/ (rhymes with fume)
• Benjamin Huger — /ˈudʒi/ ("oodgy") or /ˈudʒeɪ/
• William Hulme — /ˈhju:m/ (same as the earl of Home’s name)

I-L

• David Icke — /aɪk/ (“ike”)
• Andrew P. Iosue — /ˈɑzweɪ/ ("oz-way") [5]
• Isley Brothers — /ˈaɪzliː/ (“eyes-lee”)
• Darrell Issa — /ˈaɪzə/ (“eye-zuh”)
• Jacques — sometimes (e.g. Brian Jacques) /ˈdʒeɪks/ (“jakes”)
• Hamilton Jordan — /ˈdʒɝdən/ ("jerdən")
• John Keble (of Keble College) — /ˈkiːbḷ/ (“keeble”)
• Kehoe, Keogh (Irish surname) — /kjoː/
• Kerr — sometimes (e.g. Deborah Kerr) /kaːr/ “car”, original Scottish /ker/ ~"care"
• Keynes, e.g. John Maynard Keynes - /keɪnz/ ("canes")
• Karch Kiraly — /kɪˈraɪ/ ("keer-eye")
• Shia LaBeouf — /ʃaɪə ləˈbʌf/ ("luh-BUFF")
• Landrieu — /ˈlændruː/ ("LAN-droo")
• Lalor — /ˈlɔːləɹ/ ("LAW-ler")
• Lange — usually /læŋ/ ("Lang")
  • David Lange — /ˈlɒŋi/ ("LONG-ee")
• Lascelles (e.g. Alan Lascelles) — /ˈlæsəls/ (rhymes with "tassels")
• Lauren (Ralph) — (LOR-en, rather than lo-REN)
• Legaré (e.g. Hugh S. Legaré ) — /ləˈgriː/ (“luh-gree”)
• John Lescroart — /lɛsˈkwa/ ("less-kwah")
• Leveson-Gower (e.g. H. D. G. Leveson-Gower, Granville George Leveson-Gower) — /ˈluːsən gɔr/ (“Lewson-Gore”)
• Lewes, e.g. George Henry Lewes — /ˈluɪs/

M

• Machin (e.g. Arnold Machin) — /'meɪtʃɪn/ (“may-chin”)
• MacKay — in Scotland /mə'kaɪ/ (to rhyme with "sky"), elsewhere more often the anglicised /mə'keɪ/
• Mackay (e.g. Clarence Mackay) — /'mæki/ (“macky”)
• MacLeod, McLeod — /mə'klaʊd/ (“m’cloud”)
• MacMahon, McMahon — sometimes /mək'mæn/ (“macMAN”), as in the McMahon wrestling family
• Mainwaring — /ˈmænərɪŋ/ (mannering) (non-fictional Mainwarings pronounce it the same)
• Robert Mapplethorpe — /'meɪplθorp/ (“maplethorp”)
• Marjoribanks — /ˈmɑ:rʃbæŋks/ (marsh banks)
• Marlborough — /ˈmɔ:lbrə/
• Maugham (e.g. Somerset Maugham) — /mɔ:m/
• Marin Mazzie — /ˈmeɪzi:/ (“may-zee”)
• McCaughey (e.g. the McCaughey septuplets) — / məˈkɔɪ/ ("McCoy")
• Geraldine McCaughrean — /məˈkɔ:krən/ (“McCorkren”)
• McGrath — In Ireland usually /məˈgra:/ (“McGrah”), though elsewhere often /məˈgræθ/
• McLean, MacLean — /mə'kleɪn̩̩/ (“McLane”) [6][7][8], occasionally its anglicised equivalent /mə'kli:n/ (to rhyme with "clean")
• Meagher — / mɑr/ (“mar”), / mɑhər)/ (“maher”)
• David Mech — / mi:tʃ/ (“meech”)
• Melancon (e.g. Charlie Melancon) — /məˈlansən/
• Menzies — /ˈmɪŋɪs/ (“mingis”)
• Moog — /ˈmoʊɡ/
• Moragne (U.S.) — /moˈreɪni/

N-Q

• Naifeh — /ˈneɪfi:/ (“nay-fee”)
• Bill Nighy — /naɪ/ (“nigh”)
• Laura Nyro — /ˈnɪəroʊ/ (“nero”)
• Laurence Olivier — /əʊˈlɪvi:.eɪ/
• Ouzts — /u:ts/ ("oots")
• Lou Piniella — /pəˈnɛlə/ (“puhNELuh”)
• Pole-Carew (e.g. Sir Reginald Pole-Carew) — /ˈpu:l ˈkɛri/ (“Pool-Kerry”)
• Cliff Politte — /poˈli:t/ (“poleet”)
• Pou (e.g. Edward W. Pou) — /pju:/ (“pew”)
• Prioleau (e.g. Pierson Prioleau) — /ˈpreɪloʊ/ (“pray-low”)
• Proulx (as in Marcel Proulx and E. Annie Proulx) — /pru:/

R

• Raleigh (surname) — /ˈrɔli/ (“rawly”) (although pronounced by most people as /ˈrɑ:li/)
• Rehm (e.g. Diane Rehm) — /ˈri:m/ (“ream”)
• Pete Reiser — /ˈri:sɚ/ (“reeser”)
• Renault (Mary) — (“REN-alt”)
• Reynolds — /ˈrɛnəldz/
• Rhea (e.g. Caroline Rhea) — /reɪ/ (“ray”)
• Rhys — /ˈri:s/ (“reese”)
• Lisa Rieffel — /rəˈfɛl/ (“ruhFEL”)
• Riordan (e.g. Richard Riordan, Mike Riordan) — often/ˈrɪərdən/ (“reardon”)
• Klaus Roth — /rəʊθ/ ("roath")
• Marge Roukema — /ˈrɑkəmə/ (“rockema”)
• Kirk Rueter — /ˈri:tər/ (“reeter”)
• Ed Ruscha — /ru:ˈʃeɪ/ (“rooSHAY”)

S

• St John (first name and surname) — /ˈsɪnʤən/ (as in Oliver St. John Gogarty); or intuitively /sɪnˈʤɒn/ or /saɪntˈʤɑn/ (as in Ian St. John).
• Schaffer, Shaffer — often /ˈʃeɪfɚ/ rather than /ˈʃæfɚ/
• Terri Schiavo — /ˈʃaɪvoʊ/ (“shy-vo”) vs. regular Mary Schiavo /skiˈɑ voʊ/
• Schlumberger — /ʃlʌmbʊrˈʒeɪ/ (“shlumberZHAY”)
• Patti Scialfa — /ˈskælfə/ (“skalfa”)
• Steven Seagal — /səˈgɑl/ (after Chagall; his father's name is simply pronounced /ˈsi:gəl/ )
• Junior Seau — /ˈseɪ.aʊ/ ("say ow")
• Seay — sometimes (Seay, Mark Seay) /seɪ/, usually /si:/ (“see”)
• Karen Sillas — /ˈsaɪləs/ ("sigh-less")
• Smellie (Scottish, e.g. William Smellie) — /ˈsmaɪlɪ:/ (“smiley”)
• Strachan — /strɔ:n/ (“strawn”) (e.g. Gordon Strachan), /ˈstraxən/, but now often /ˈstrækən/
• Dana Suesse — /swi:s/ (“swees”)
• Synge — /sɪŋ/ (“sing”)

T-V

• Tal(l)iaferro — /ˈtɑlɪvɚ/ (“tolliver”)
• Roger Taney — /ˈtɔni/ (“tawny”)
• Lauren Tewes — /twi:z/ (“tweeze”)
• Thome (e.g. Jim Thome) — /toʊˈmeɪ/
• Threatt (e.g. Sedale Threatt) — /θri:t/ (“threet”)
• Todd Tiahrt — /ˈti:hɑrt/ (“tea-heart”)
• Tilghman — /ˈtɪlmən/ (“tillman”)
• Tjoelker — /ˈtʃoʊkər/ ("choker")
• Tyrwhitt (e.g. Reginald Tyrwhitt) — /ˈtɪrɪt/ (rhymes with “spirit”)
• Urquhart — /ˈɜ:kə(r)t/ (“urkert”)
• Vanderhorst (S. Carolina) (e.g. Arnoldus Vanderhorst — /vændrɑs/ (“van dross”)
• Bill Veeck — /vɛk/ (“vek”)

W-Z

• Waldegrave — /wɔːgɹeɪv/ (“war-grave”)
• Wein, Weiner — often /ˈwi:n/ and /ˈwi:nɚ/ (“wiener”)
• Winzet — /ˈwɪnjət/ (“win-yet”)
• Wodehouse — /ˈwʊdhaʊs/ (“woodhouse”)
• Worcester — /ˈwʊstə/
• Larry Woiwode — /ˈwaɪwʊdi/ (“why woody”)
• Woolfhardisworthy - /ˈwʊlzi/ ("wolsey")
• Herman Wouk — /woʊk/ (“woke”)
• Patricia Wrede — /ˈri:di:/ (“reedy”)
• Wriothesley (e.g. the Earls of Southampton)— variably given as /ˈrɪzli/, /ˈraɪzli/, /ˈrəʊzli/ [9], /ˈrɒksli/ (“roxly”)
• Yeaton — /ˈjɛtņ/ (“yetten”)
• William Butler Yeats — /ˈjeɪts/ ("yates")
• Yeend, e.g. Frances Yeend — /ˈjɛnd/ (“yend”)
• Clayton Yeutter — /ˈjaɪtɚ/ (rhymes with “fighter”)

Online sources

• h2g2 guide to Pronouncing British Placenames
• How Do You Pronounce That Name? on genealogymagazine.com
• A Pronunciation Guide to Names of Public Figures

References

• G. M. Miller (editor) (1971). BBC pronouncing dictionary of British names. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-431125-2. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
• Ordnance Survey of Ireland (1989). Gazetteer of Ireland. Government Publications Office. ISBN 0-7076-0076-6.

Pronunciations marked with * are from:

• Wells, John C. (2000). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary. 2nd ed. Longman. ISBN 0-582-36468-X.

See also

• English spelling
• List of words of disputed pronunciation (includes names like Melbourne that are pronounced differently in different locations)