Revealed: The most mispronounced NAMES and how to actually say them – as Kirsten Dunst reveals ‘everyone’ messes up her name

She’s one of the well–known actresses in the world – but it turns out you’ve probably been saying Kirsten Dunst’s name wrong this entire time. 

The star, 43, lamented people getting the pronunciation wrong and claimed that especially people in the UK fall short of getting it right.

In a TikTok video from Town and Country magazine, she revealed that her name is not pronounced as ‘criss–ten’, or even ‘ker–stin’ – and instead, is pronounced ‘keer–sten’.

However, Kirsten isn’t the only name people struggle to get their heads round. 

Experts from WordFinderX have sifted through over 12,000 names to reveal the most mispronouned monikers around the world. 

While it’s a fairly common name in the UK, Sean (pronounced ‘shorn’) was found to be the most mispronounced name in the world. 

‘The correct pronunciation stretches the vowels and involves the common Irish palatalization of the “s” so that it sounds a little like the French (Jean) and English (John) names from where it originates,’ WordFinderX explained. 

So, have you been stumbling over these names? Here’s how to actually say them. 

Anne (pronounced ‘ann’) tops the list among the English names, with 343,000 queries about its pronunciation. Pictured: actor Anne Hathaway

For the study, WordFinderX collected a list of 12,768 popular names and their origins from Nameberry.com. 

The team then analysed how many times each of the names had been listened to on online pronunciation library, Forvo.com, to determine which are the most mispronounced names in the world. 

Their analysis reveals that the six most mispronounced names are all from different cultures. 

Sean tops the list with one million pronunciation checks, followed by Xuxa (802,000 checks). 

This name, which is of Basque origin, is actually pronounced as ‘shoo–shuh’. 

Victoria (vik–to–ri–a) is third on the list, with 696,000 people questioning its pronunciation, followed by the Spanish name, Francisco (fran–sees–co). 

‘Meaning “free man”, the Spanish pronunciation of this name is slightly different from the city of San Francisco’s pronunciation (fran–ciss–co), which may trip up Enligh–language speakers).  

As part of the study, WordfinderX has also broken the results down by origin. 

After Sean, the female name Saoirse (pronounced ‘sur–shuh’ or ‘seeuh–shuh’) is the most mispronounced Irish name, with 293,000 listens. Pictured: actor Saoirse Ronan

Victoria (vik–to–ri–a) is third on the list, with 696,000 people questioning its pronunciation, followed by the Spanish name, Francisco (fran–sees–co). Pictured: Victoria Beckham

And the results for the English names might surprise you!

Anne (pronounced ‘ann’) tops the list, with 343,000 queries about its pronunciation. 

‘While most English–language speakers might think that Anne is always pronounced ann, in the Netherlands and Finland, Anne is pronounced closer to ann–uh,’ the experts explained. 

Meanwhile, James (pronounced ‘jayms’) is the most mispronounced English male name, with 249,000 searches. 

‘James comes next with 249k listens, which could throw off speakers of other languages (like Spanish) who pronounce “j” as an “h” sound,’ WordFinderX added. 

As we’ve seen with the name Sean, Irish names are also notoriously difficult to pronounce off the bat. 

After Sean, the female name Saoirse (pronounced ‘sur–shuh’ or ‘seeuh–shuh’) is the most mispronounced Irish name, with 293,000 listens. 

‘Sometimes there are easier ways to remember Irish names such as number two, Saoirse (sur–shuh),’ WordFinderX said. 

Several Spanish names have left many people baffled – particularly when they feature two Ls. Estrella (pronounced es–trey–ya) was searched 490,000 times, while Guillermo (pronounced gee–yehr–moh) tripped up 74,000 people. Pictured: Guillermo del Toro

Arabic names that are regularly mispronounced include Shakira (shu–kee–ruh), Ahmed (ah–med), and Aladdin (ah–le–uh–dean). Pcitured: singer, Shakira

‘It’s “Saoirse like inertia” according to regular Greta Gerwig and Wes Anderson actor, Saoirse Ronan.’

Alongside Francisco, several Spanish names have left people baffled – particularly when they feature two Ls. 

Estrella (pronounced es–trey–ya) was searched 490,000 times, while Guillermo (pronounced gee–yehr–moh) tripped up 74,000 people. 

‘The use of a double–L is a very Spanish digraph — a combination of two letters that create a new sound (like giving an f–sound in English),’ WordFinderX explained. 

‘Estrella and Guillermo are commonly mispronounced Spanish names that follow this pattern.’

Meanwhile, Arabic names that are regularly mispronounced include Shakira (shu–kee–ruh), Ahmed (ah–med), and Aladdin (ah–le–uh–dean). 

‘Aladdin has been searched 40k times, which is correctly pronounced in Arabic as ah–le–uh–dean (instead of a–lad–din, which you’ll hear in the Disney films),’ the experts said. 

‘Ahmed is also near the top. Non–Arabs have a habit of over–pronouncing the voiceless glottal fricative “h”, turning the name into ach–med.’ 

Based on the findings, WordFinderX advises simply asking people how to pronounce their names if you’re unsure.  

‘On a big round planet of nearly eight billion people, you’re sure to meet (and even apologize to) plenty of people with names that are hard to read,’ it added. 

‘But while the convenience of checking out a name’s pronunciation online before meeting somebody is undoubtedly a benefit of the internet age, showing the consideration and humility to ask them how to pronounce their name is a truly winning opening gesture to open a relationship. 

‘And it may come in very handy later on when it’s time to say, “I’m sorry.”‘