Originally Posted by Steerpike

'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

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

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

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

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

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

Originally Posted by Kaffy Mintcake

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

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

Originally Posted by Steerpike

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

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

Originally Posted by Bob

but it costs extra

Originally Posted by Bob

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

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

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

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'?