Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 8116056)

'Colin' here in the US is pronounced quite like 'Colon' as in 'colon cancer'. Here's how I would explain it:
US 'Colin' has the 'Co' pronounced as the 'Co' in 'colon', and in 'cork'
UK 'Colin' has the 'Co' pronounced as the 'Co' in 'cock' or 'commerce'

The 'in' part of Colin (US) is so similar to an 'on' sound that I must say, to my ear, I can hardly distinguish 'Colin' (US) from 'Colon'.

Originally Posted by robin1234 (Post 8116588)

Fortunately, I'm not bothered by the pronunciation of my name (Robin) in the US but sometimes by the gender assumptions. When we first moved to Boston, I immediately started getting junk mail from the Womens Health Collective or somesuch. They were constantly inviting me to Well Womens Clinics, come in for a pap smear, whatever. I was all for registering, but my wife dissuaded me.

Then just a couple of weeks ago at work, a new faculty member walked into my office at the library to ask me if I could subscribe to some resources he needed for his research.. his opening gambit when he saw me was, "Oh.. I was expecting a woman!" I gave him my stock reply, "I can be if you want me to be.." That usually breaks the ice.

Originally Posted by Kaffy Mintcake (Post 8116864)

Not universally, no. Most Colins I know in the US do not pronounce their name the way Colin Powell does. Every Colin I've ever known pronounces it "Khal-in" vs. "Ko-lin" (i.e. long O but I can't write that too easily on here).

Originally Posted by robin1234 (Post 8116588)

Fortunately, I'm not bothered by the pronunciation of my name (Robin) in the US but sometimes by the gender assumptions. ...

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 8116971)

Is Robin more typically a 'male' name in UK than here? I don't recall hearing the name much in either location, but I must say, the only Robin I know here is a female.

Personally, I think of a bird when I hear the name!

Originally Posted by robin1234 (Post 8116588)

...I gave him my stock reply, "I can be if you want me to be.." ...

Originally Posted by Kaffy Mintcake (Post 8116864)

Not universally, no. Most Colins I know in the US do not pronounce their name the way Colin Powell does. Every Colin I've ever known pronounces it "Khal-in" vs. "Ko-lin" (i.e. long O but I can't write that too easily on here). Reading over your examples, I would say that with the exception of Powell, every Colin I know pronounces their name the UK way. The midwest may differ from other regions this way.

Originally Posted by chartreuse (Post 8116978)

Is your memory going, SP? Robin Hood ring a bell?:lol:

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 8116971)

Is Robin more typically a 'male' name in UK than here? I don't recall hearing the name much in either location, but I must say, the only Robin I know here is a female.

Personally, I think of a bird when I hear the name!

Originally Posted by chartreuse (Post 8116978)

Is your memory going, SP? Robin Hood ring a bell?:lol:

Originally Posted by Bob (Post 8117106)

but it costs extra :D

Originally Posted by Bob (Post 8117118)

Quite a few names get the switch, Bobby, Ali/Alistair, Carrie, Damian, Jamie, Joe, Julian, Owen...some of them aren't so bad, but just seems weird on a few of them, but again it's probably more regional..

Originally Posted by Kaffy Mintcake (Post 8116864)

Not universally, no. Most Colins I know in the US do not pronounce their name the way Colin Powell does. Every Colin I've ever known pronounces it "Khal-in" vs. "Ko-lin" (i.e. long O but I can't write that too easily on here). Reading over your examples, I would say that with the exception of Powell, every Colin I know pronounces their name the UK way. The midwest may differ from other regions this way.

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 8117242)

Well I have to say, the only Colin I ever hear about here is Colin Powell; are you saying they make a special effort to pronounce his name differently, the way 'he wants it'?

Originally Posted by Steerpike (Post 8117242)

Well I have to say, the only Colin I ever hear about here is Colin Powell; are you saying they make a special effort to pronounce his name differently, the way 'he wants it'?