Well, how about poor Bentley? Being named after a car... granted, a very expensive, car, but still
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I like to think of him being named after a University in Massachusetts. (see user name)
). There is a Prince Michael, Princess, and Empress. Then there's Kye-you(I kid you not), Quisean, Nardnisha, Dequavion, Jh'Darrial, and Sh'Travious (also known as TJ 
) I really feel sorry for these kids having to carry these names through life. Can you see us electing Prince Michael Jones to the presidency? How about CEO of Bank of America? Doctor Empress? I think it might be a long shot. 
Her parents need to be smacked upside the head and made to do 18 years of community service in a home for unwed mothers.But I saved the best for last--Bodacious.
I hope her middle name isn't tatas...
But I saved the best for last--Bodacious.
I hope her middle name isn't tatas...
The parents who named their son Prince Michael are probably Michael Jackson fans. His oldest is named that....I work in a school.We have been in session for 6 days. So far this week I have seen Precious Amiracle, Miracle, and Amiracle (I guess their mothers thought they were being You-neek
But I saved the best for last--Bodacious.
it seems like in ds's age group (13) the popular name is some variation on skylar (we've had skylar, schular, and schkylar as spellings). i don't know if it's just a freaky coincidence, but despite encountering them at different schools, in different states, all 4 tended to be the troublemakers/bullies (including the girls).
when i taught in the mid 80's variations on shawn were popular (one year i had sean, shawn, and shaun all in my e-k class, and since none could yet fully write their own name it was amusing to hear arguing with the others over the correct way to spell it
with dd's group (16) i have yet to meet a single emily who, if she has any sisters, fails to have one named ashley. and most commonly, they pronounce their names as m-i-lee and ash-a-lee
She for sure isn't a bully, hope there isn't too much trouble in our future. 
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It is almost the same as you do then
The accent is on the middle syllable (I can't tell if you accent the middle or last). We tell people to think Maria with a K in it. It is the more Scandinavian pronunciation. That is always who I think of when I hear the name.
Funny--I do not know any German Marika's--I am always told it is a Hungarian name (which we did not know when we chose it; we were thinking of it as Dutch--which it also isMarika probably wouldn't have, but I probably would have put Rio on the list. I like both names, though. There's German restaurant here called Marika's. Now I'm hungry for it.
). 
It is almost the same as you do then
In Eastern Europe (Hungry in particular) it is fairly common but pronounces as Ma-RYE-Ka. Most Germans assume the Hungarian pronunciation but are able to easily adjust in.
In the US people tended to want to pronounce it like the last three syllables of America. Again, the adjusted easily though.
That is always who I think of when I hear the name.
Funny--I do not know any German Marika's--I am always told it is a Hungarian name (which we did not know when we chose it; we were thinking of it as Dutch--which it also is
SO how does the restaurant name get pronounced?
It is Ma- REE-ka. I am part Dutch and that is where I got it from. I hated it growing up cause nobody could pronounce it.I always said I was going to change it at 18 but I love it now.I like being different
I am surprised you had so much trouble getting people to pronounce it correctly though. I don't think my Marika has ever had to correct someone twice. Then again, I grew up with a bevy of people trying to get three syllables out of my name (making it rhyme with Natallie)--my third grade teacher never did get it right 
I have a relative who was named after a character in All's Well that Ends Well. Her mother was well pleased with the name, as it was classical and sweet. I rather like the name myself.
Then a certain British actress came along and though her name was spelled the same she pronounced it in a different manner.
And suddenly everyone presumes that the correct pronunciation is the incorrect pronunciation, because of course, we're from Louisiana and obviously uneducated and the actress is British
The relative now has changed her name by one vowel so as to have a name that is almost her name and that will be pronounced properly without comment, just so she doesn't have to educate every person she meets on the proper pronunciation of her name.
