– Time For A Tiara: Column by Ginna Young – - That is not my name

– Time For A Tiara: Column by Ginna Young –

Since the day my name was shortened to what it is now (because Mom and Dad got lazy), it’s been a constant fight with the pronunciation. Although there is great misconception, my name is, in fact, pronounced Jinn-uh.

Even though I specifically say JINN-UH when introducing myself, invariably, people can’t seem to pick up on that and refer to me as Jeen-uh.

There’s nothing wrong with the name Gina, but that is not my name. For one thing, it’s spelled differently – with two n’s. I know it’s not a normal name, but it’s mine and I love it.

I feel like it describes who I am, my entire personality is contained within that name. Like my one neighbor stated, “She is such a GINNA.” Yes, I am.

Some people, reading my name in an email or something, mistake it for Gianna, also a lovely, albeit, incorrect name. If someone hasn’t seen it written, they call me Jenna, another lovely name. (Spellcheck likes to change it to Gonna.)

I’ve been called Jenny, Jennifer, Jen, Jeannie, you name it, I’ve been called it. I wouldn’t mind so much, the first time, if people would actually listen to what I’m saying.

JINN-UH. If it helps, in order to remember, it’s gin, like the drink, not like blue jeans.

It’s one thing to be unaware of the correct pronunciation – I know I’m guilty of that myself – but to keep on, after I’ve explained how to say my name, is just aggravating.

One person said she didn’t care how it was actually supposed to be said, she was going to keep on calling me Jeen-uh. That really did rub me the wrong way. See, besides fingerprints, a name is something that is exclusively and uniquely yours, even if there are four other people in your family called the same thing.

Used to be, I’d just smile and not say anything, but I’ve tried to speak up lately and correct people. It hit me, all at once, that if I kicked the bucket tomorrow, people would stand around and lament over poor Jeen-uh. Who knows, it might even get spelled wrong on my tombstone.

So, I’m on a crusade to make people realize how to actually pronounce it. If I’m not successful, I guess it’s better than being called Wendy or Amy, which I have been. At least JEEN-UH is in the same ballpark as JINN-UH!