But every now and then, I'm thankful my parents gave me a first name that's easy to spell and pronounce. Some pronounce it Durea, as though it rhymes with urea. Others think it's French and spell it Du Ray. And a few think it reflects my humor and spell it Dry. Of course, I shouldn't complain.
Many immigrants have it worse.
They have names like Kadambavanam, Constantinopolous and Majchrzak. Every time someone says their names, it's a new pronunciation. Their names have been destroyed so many times, they ought to qualify for federal aid. Many of these people like having names that honor their heritage. But they feel pressured to adopt shorter Americanized names.