View Message

This is a reply within a larger thread: view the whole thread

Re: Jillian vs Gillian
I love the sonority for the name Jillian, but with a "G" I'd wonder if the "G" were to sound like the hard "g" as in Greg or a fish's Gill - than an alternate character for a "j" /Jh/ sound. Still, spell the name as you like it.
I'll admit that I am generally not skilled with assuming a (the) correct pronunciation for a name.
Archived Thread - replies disabled
vote up1

Replies

In Grade 5 a new girl appeared in our class half-way through the year: Gillian. Our class teacher asked her if it was pronounced Jillian or Ghillian, and she said it was always like Jillian except when her mother was trying to impress people!
vote up1
That's funny.
I am somewhat indifferent to spelling--and tend to believe that language develops more through sound--and beyond this, by association than by written character. For all that, I like when short forms bear different spellings - &/or even different sounds.That perhaps if a particular Gillian were pronounced with a hard G - she would also have the short name Jill - pronounced with the Jh - as in the old nursery rhyme. (I love the name Jill--even more than Gillian / Jillian). That Thomas can be TomThat Stephen is no less a Stevie or Steve than Steven is a Stevie or Steve - and that Stephanie too can bear any or more of these short names.

This message was edited 8/15/2018, 4:35 PM

vote up1