My first name has always been difficult to pronounce and spell for pretty much everyone I first meet. Unless they already know another Maile, they won’t say my name right just from reading it, nor will they write it out correctly when I tell them my name. Like at a Starbucks.

The mispronunciation and misspelling of my name don’t bother me. I don’t get annoyed when I’m repeatedly asked how to correctly spell or say my name. In fact, I expect it.

And I feel for those hearing or seeing my name for the first time. They pause for a quick second, confused. I can see the gears turning in their heads as they try to figure it out. I jump in to save them having to ask. I’m not a sadist, after all.

“It’s pronounced like Miley, as in Cyrus. And spelled like mail, as in ‘you’ve got mail’ with an ‘e’ and the end. But NOT pronounced like ‘mail.’ …Sorry.”

I make light of it. Sometimes when I think the person may have a good sense of humor, I tease them to try and guess. It’s okay, I say. I don’t think I would even get it right the first time if it wasn’t my own name! There’s just no way.

It’s a pretty unique name of Hawaiian origin. It is a vine with fragrant leaves used in leis for weddings and graduations. My parents lived in Hawaii for a few years, and that’s where they first met and got married. I was also “made” in Hawaii but born in Texas. Go figure.

I’ve yet to meet someone else with my name. But I do know people who say they know another Maile. Maybe someday. And perhaps I’ll mispronounce their name when they prefer the Hawaiian version of saying it instead — Mah-yee’-leh.

Doh!