I have a family member who’s an obstetrician, and has been in practice in the south for 40 years. We have seen our share of pseudo-Latin (or is that Pseuda-Latin American?) names: Latrina, Tangela (I always wondered if she was conceived in a citrus grove),Tercel (conceived in a Toyota?) etc. But the winner has always been a baby he delivered in the early 70’s:

Tcheacheata Wequadreneta – pronounced… (wait for it!)… Chiquita Juanrenita.

I never thought this could be topped… until a couple of years ago, when someone called in to make an appointment for their daughter:

Pausefunei

I had her spell it. Twice. I’ll give you a hint – she’s married to the Greek God of the Underworld. Yes, it’s Persephone.

All I can figure is that these people hear a name, and guess at the spelling. How hard would it be to *ask* someone?

-S.