What’s in a Name?

Gough. It’s tricky, I know.

Fun fact, “ough” has at least 10 different prounciations in English. There’s even a meme for it:

Folks have been mispronouncing it my whole life, most often interpreting it “goo” or “gow” or the occasional long pause, followed by a strange gurgle.

For those of you doing that right now, I’ll put you out of your misery. It’s pronounced “gawf” (or “goff,” like cough). The name is believed to be a derivative of the Welsh word coch, meaning red, and since my often ginger family hails from that side of the UK, it’s close enough for me. According to the Gough-Goff Family Association, there are over 40 distinct genetic families carrying the name, so if you meet another Gough (or Goff) who pronounces it differently, take it up with them.

Tanya Gough Disambiguation

You would think my name would be unique, but that’s not the case. So far, I’ve found more than a dozen verified Tanya Goughs. It’s a special club.

Here’s how I’m set apart:

I spell my first name Tanya, never Tonya or Tania or Tawnya. It’s pronounced “tahn-ya,” not “ton-ya” or “tawn-ya.”

I have never lived in: Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Ottawa, New Brunswick, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Wales or anywhere in the UK.

I am also not: a hairdresser/barber, real estate agent, virtual assistant, veterinarian, flight attendant, registered nurse, financial advisor, or a recent college student. I am also not an art photography model.

A lot of us are business owners, too. If you are a Tanya Gough with a business you’d like to promote, drop me a line, and I’ll start a list. To learn about mine, visit my facts page.