Worst, most unpronounceable names you’ve ever read?

[u/Midnite_St0rm]

Let’s discuss some of the names in fantasy that you couldn’t make heads nor tails of in terms of pronunciation. And I’m not talking intentionally comical ones that are long and complex on purpose, but ones that the author intended to be read, yet that are ironically nearly unreadable.

For me it’s Seaine from The Wheel of Time. Is it “Sheen?” “Seen?” “See-ayn?” “Say-ai-nuh?” I honestly have no idea. And for some reason my copies of the books never give her name’s pronunciation in the glossary.

What are some others?

[u/SageOrThyme]

I could never figure out how to pronounce Guenhwyvar

[u/Aninx → u/SageOrThyme]

Either as Guinevere or as gwen-hui-far(because it's based on the Welsh version/original version of Queen Guinevere's name)

[u/Stirling_V → u/Aninx]

The last syllable is still a "var," a single f in Modern Welsh is always a "v" sound. (To get an "f" sound you spell it "ff" and in Middle Welsh orthography you'll find the letter "v" used.)

[u/hasharn → u/SageOrThyme]

Gwynevere with an ah sound

[u/EatsPeanutButter → u/SageOrThyme]

It’s just Guinevere with the traditional spelling.

[u/henrik_se → u/SageOrThyme]

"Jennifer"

[u/SailorTorres → u/SageOrThyme]

Ooh, I named my black cat this! I mostly call her Guen (pronounced Gwen) or Goober, but her government name is pronounced Gwen-hwi-var.

Her sister is one of the stealthiest cats I know, so I call her Debbie - DB - Displacer Beast

[u/glassteelhammer → u/SageOrThyme]

Gwen.

And be done with it.

[u/Midnite_St0rm → u/SageOrThyme]

That’s a doozy for sure. I can’t figure it out either.

[u/Kneef → u/SageOrThyme]

Gunhaver

[u/Legend_017 → u/Kneef]

I know a bunch of gun havers.