What’s in a Name: Getting Pronunciation Correct

Pronouncing someone’s name correctly isn’t just a way to be polite — it validates someone’s identity and culture and shows you care. Sudiptho (suh-dip-doe) Paul, a fourth-year medical student at the UW School of Medicine, has created an initiative to help ensure everyone in the organization experiences the inclusivity that comes with correct name pronunciations.

“People value diversity,” says Paul, “So let’s help people be inclusive.”

The Names & Pronunciations Initiative is a way for people to add phonetic name pronunciation tags to their badges. Employees, trainees, or anyone with a UW NetID can order their customized pronunciation tag online.

“To me, a correctly-pronounced-name conveys respect and acknowledgment for a person’s unique presence and inherent value as a human. Correct name pronunciations are foundational in cultivating a safe, inclusive environment for underrepresented, ethnically diverse identities,” says Paul.

We spoke with Paul about how the Names & Pronunciations Initiative came about, why correct pronunciations are important, his hopes for expanding the program in the future, and tips for pronouncing someone’s name correctly.

What inspired you to start this initiative?

“The inspiration to start the Names & Pronunciations Initiative is rooted in my awareness of the negative impact that mispronunciations have on people’s sense of self and acceptance in a community,” says Paul.

He notes that this project is in response to his experiences: growing, learning and working in predominantly white spaces as a first-generation Bangladeshi-Thai American.

“I noticed how mispronunciations undermined the quality of my educational and working environments and made me feel othered,” he says. “Talking to other people with similar experiences helped me realize this is a bigger issue.”

What has the process been like to make this initiative happen?

“After being awarded a UW Resilience & Compassion Seed Grant, I reached out to the School of Medicine, Office of Healthcare Equity, the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office, the UW Network for Underrepresented Residents & Fellows, Resident & Fellow Physician Union–Northwest/CIR/SEIU, and Harborview Medical Center,” says Paul. “With their support, this project has been steadily gaining traction, and I have found fulfillment in collaborating with everyone to increase inclusivity in our community.”

Due to limited seed funding, pronunciation tags are on a first-come-first-served basis right now, but his hope is that eventually UW Medicine departments will incorporate name pronunciations tags and other related features into their programming, so that it becomes a scalable option for as many people as possible who want it.

Paul is currently developing a research component of the project to measure the reach and impact of the pronunciation tags in the workforce and education settings.

What advice do you have for people regarding pronouncing names correctly?

“Navigating name pronunciations is not straightforward for anyone, including myself. I am human and mispronounce names, so I continue to strive toward improving the way I address my lack of familiarity with people’s names,” says Paul. “The name (and therefore the name bearer) is not a problem or a difficulty; rather it is a matter of us being willing to learn the correct pronunciation and respectfully practicing it.”

Here’s Paul’s advice for approaching name pronunciation.

Don’t: ask if they have a nickname

“Unless they offer it, asking for nickname signals that you do not think their name is important enough to learn to pronounce correctly,” says Paul.

Use the name that someone has requested that you call them.

In addition, avoid asking where the person is from or if their name means something — many times, anything beyond the name pronunciation itself is not appropriate.

Don’t: avoid someone’s name entirely

Practice makes perfect. The more you interact and use the correct pronunciation, the easier it will be.

“When you avoid addressing someone by name, it can make them feel excluded or othered from the rest of the group and can take away opportunities for them in group settings,” says Paul.

Do: Ask someone how to pronounce their name

Paul suggests trying this script: “Sorry to bother about this, I know you have probably been asked this many times, but could you tell me how you correctly pronounce your name? Names are important, and I want to make sure I say it right.”

“This may seem uncomfortable to ask,” says Paul. “But based on my experiences, I assure you it is overall better than not. It is also important to understand that one size does not fit all — people whose names get mispronounced may have different preferences for these matters. You — the person pronouncing a name — may also find that some approaches work better than other ways. It just depends on the situation and the people involved.”

He also notes that a name may not sound like it is spelled, or the same-spelled name might be pronounced differently depending on whose name it is. Consider making a note of the phonetic pronunciation to practice privately later; you can also listen to an audio recording of their name if it is available.

If you are still having trouble saying their name the next time you see them, he suggests taking responsibility for your mispronunciation by saying sorry and kindly asking again how to pronounce their name. You can also ask someone else who may know how to say their name correctly.

“Name pronunciations are one component of a diverse community, and mispronunciations can happen,” says Paul. “The important thing is to continue trying with compassion, humility, and inclusivity in mind. We are in this together.”

Order your name pronunciation tag.

Please note: Pronunciation tags are available on a first-come-first-served basis. You may experience a delay in receiving your tag as the research component of the project is built out.