How to get the name pronounced right in a birthday song

Question

Why a name can come out wrong

On BirthdaySongWithName.online, the voice sings the words in the lyric box, exactly as they're written. It doesn't know how your friend says her name. So a name that isn't spelled the way it sounds may be sung from the spelling, the way someone would read it for the first time. Common names spelled the usual way are rarely a problem. Names from Irish, Spanish, Vietnamese or other spelling traditions, and creative spellings, are where it can go off.

Spell it the way it sounds, in the lyric editor

On BirthdaySongWithName.online, enter their first name or nickname, who they are to you and the occasion.
Sign in with at least 1 credit in your balance to get the lyric draft. Writing and editing the lyrics doesn't use a credit.
In the lyric draft, replace the name with a spelling that sounds right when read out loud, like "Shi-vawn" for Siobhan. Change it everywhere the name appears: verse, chorus and any other line.
Generate. This uses one credit and returns two full versions, each about 60 seconds.

What did the trick in our test was changing the name inside the lyrics, not the name field. More on editing lyrics: birthday song lyrics with name.

What we found when we tested it

We ran one test with the name Siobhan. In the same song, the verse had the usual spelling and the chorus had "Shi-vawn".

Usual spelling "Siobhan": in both versions, speech-to-text heard it sung from the letters, with results like "C-O bond" and "to see you", not the Irish pronunciation.
Phonetic "Shi-vawn": speech-to-text wrote it down as "Siobhan" in both versions, which suggests it was sung closer to the real name.

This was one name, one style and one generation, checked by speech-to-text, not by ear. Treat it as a tip, not a guarantee. Always listen before you send.

Phonetic spelling ideas for names that often get mispronounced

These are suggestions, not tested, except Siobhan. Families say names differently, so write it the way they say it.

Name	Try writing it as	Tested?
Siobhan	Shi-vawn	Yes, one test (see above)
Niamh	Neeve	Suggestion, not tested
Saoirse	Seer-sha	Suggestion, not tested
Aoife	Ee-fa	Suggestion, not tested
Caoimhe	Kee-va	Suggestion, not tested
Joaquin	Wah-keen	Suggestion, not tested
Ximena	Hee-meh-nah	Suggestion, not tested
Nguyen	Win	Suggestion, not tested

Tips for spelling a name phonetically

Read your spelling out loud as a stranger would. If it sounds right, use it.
Use hyphens to split syllables: "Shi-vawn", "Wah-keen".
Spell the stressed sound plainly: "ee", "ay", "oh", "oo".
Use the same spelling every time the name appears in the lyrics.
A short nickname they love can be easier to sing than a long formal name.

Listen to both versions, then adjust

Each generation gives you two full versions, and the name can sound different in each. Play both and keep the better one. If neither sounds right, change the spelling in the lyrics and generate again. That uses another credit. If a generation fails, its credit goes back to your balance automatically.

Credit packs are on pricing. Not sure what else to put in the lyrics? See what to write in a birthday song.

Birthday song name pronunciation FAQ

How do I get a name pronounced correctly in an AI birthday song?

Write the name the way it sounds, in the lyrics, for example "Shi-vawn" for Siobhan. Then listen to both versions and keep the better one. Pronunciation isn't guaranteed, so always listen before you send.

Does the name field change how the name is sung?

The singer sings the words in the lyric box. To change how the name sounds, change how it's written in the lyrics, everywhere it appears.

What is a phonetic spelling?

A spelling that sounds right when read out loud, even if it isn't the official spelling. Examples are "Neeve" for Niamh or "Wah-keen" for Joaquin. Hyphens between syllables help.

Will the phonetic spelling show up anywhere?

It shows in the lyrics you edit and send to the singer. Keep it in mind if you share the lyrics as text.

Does editing the lyrics to fix the name cost a credit?

No. You need to be signed in with at least 1 credit in your balance to get the lyric draft. Writing and editing don't use a credit; generating uses one credit and returns two versions.

What if the name still sounds wrong?

Try the other version first. If neither is right, adjust the spelling, for example by splitting the syllables differently, and generate again with another credit.

Which names are most likely to be mispronounced?

Names that aren't spelled the way they sound in English, like many Irish, Spanish or Vietnamese names, plus creative spellings. Common names spelled the usual way are rarely a problem.