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There's a reason I use isabella as my name online :) My name is also Andrea (pronounced AHN-dree-a) and no one ever gets it right. I get Andraya lots, Ahndraya, and of course the typical AND-rea. Even my husband didn't get it right for the first 2 months we were dating!

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I only correct people that I like - people who will be saying my name over and over :)

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Because of the pronunciation thing I am very careful about misprounouncing other people's names. My students this semester include Udodirim, Prem, Girish, Farrah, Dhaval, and Ling (who has had her name pronounced Lou-wong before...) and when first talking to them, I make certain that I am pronouncing their name as they would prefer it.

Andrea, my dear, I think you hit the nail on the proverbial head... If it doesn't sound the way they "know it's supposed to", their brains get confused and have a circuit overload of some kind. It's not disrespect, it's more like disarray - of the brain. I am very airheaded in several common sense ways, but I cannot for the life of me understand how you can sit next to someone for years (or see them in a continuing classroom setting) and not HEAR that you and the name-owner themself are saying it different. If it's your hairdresser or the lady at the bank or something, I can graciously make some allowances, but when it's everyday people in your life it is simply mind-boggling!

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I can certainly sympathize. My name is Andrea, pronounced Ahn-dray-a and you'd be suprised at how many people will mispronounce my name, ask me if they are mispronouncing it and after I correct them continue using the incorrect pronunciation. I think it's just that people barely take the time to listen or either they feel that if someone has the nerve to have a name that doesn't fit into their mental name rolodex they disregard it.