4 ms·

The name is a little confusing, and makes it clear they are not native English speakers. It's not a bad name, but if someone says to me, "Hey, did you try Wolvi

The name is a little confusing, and makes it clear they are not native English speakers. It's not a bad name, but if someone says to me, "Hey, did you try Wolvic yet?" I'll spell it "Wolfic" or "Wolfik" or "Wolfick", definitely not "Wolvic". Confusing.

jraph 5y ago
I would pronounce the 'v' in Wolvic like in "vision" and the in your words 'f' like in "elfic". Which would make it clear Wolvic is written with a v. Would I be wrong? (not a native English speaker) (we have a town called Volvic here, known for its water. Pronounced like in "vision". I would pronounce Wolvic the same way, except the first letter would be pronounced like in "well") (the English pronunciation is not a gift)
- TingPing 5y ago
  It is clear to me as a native English speaker. We do have "wolves" already.
- bialpio 5y ago
  Also not a native speaker, I'd use the same pronunciation as you ("v" in "wolvic" is the same as in "elven", "f" in "wolfic"/"wolfish" is the same as in "elfic"/"elfish"). But the difference is quite subtle, I see it can be hard to tell apart in casual conversation when people pay less attention to enunciation.
darrenf 5y ago
Whereas to my UK eyes it's instantly reminiscent of Volvic[0] mineral water, which is definitely a V sound and doesn't read or sound strange at all (see also: pelvic, civic, Slavic). It wouldn't occur to me that there might be an F sound. [0] https://www.volvic.co.uk/ https://www.volvic.co.uk/
- jraph 5y ago
  Indeed, and wolves seems to be pronounced with a v both in the US and in the UK. > UK: /wʊlvz/ US: (wŏŏlvz) https://www.wordreference.com/enfr/wolves https://www.wordreference.com/enfr/wolves You did think of Volvic as well!
  - TedDoesntTalk 5y ago
    Sounds good. Guess they'll do well with that name then.
- laurent123456 5y ago
  Never great when a product name looks like a misspelling of another more well known product name.
- kingcharles 5y ago
  It instantly reminded me of "Wolven + Loaves". You know, the one with the hipster ampersand. Now I needs me a McWolven.
bkardell 5y ago
Interesting observation. Fwiw, I am definitely very much a native english speaker (in fact, I don't speak any other (non-programming) language very well), and I proposed the name. As the post says at the end - it doesn't hurt that the domains are available if you don't use a "real" world. I guess we'll see if this happens.
- nkurz 5y ago
  Apologies if it's not the type of feedback you are looking for, but I strongly agree with the OP. I find the name so confusing that I have trouble even thinking about it. Quite possibly the problem is me, but if you are trying to reach an American audience, consider doing further audience testing before investing too heavily in the name.
  - mbreese 5y ago
    As another anecdata point - I’m also a native English speaker (US) and I have no issues whatsoever with the name or pronunciation.
thevagrant 5y ago
Wolvic sounds more natural to me than your other suggestions. If someone verbally told me about the project, my first guess would be to spell it as Wolvic. I can see possibly someone non native spelling it as Wulvic or Woolvic (if they heard the name in a conversation). I'm sure some may misspell it with an f also but if the project grows, it won't matter.
bagacrap 5y ago
How did "wolf" get turned into "wolvic"? That section at the end just seems to take it for granted that permutation is totally normal.
- Vinnl 5y ago
  I'd imagine the same way "wolf" gets turned into "wolves"?

jraph 5y ago

I would pronounce the 'v' in Wolvic like in "vision" and the in your words 'f' like in "elfic". Which would make it clear Wolvic is written with a v. Would I be wrong? (not a native English speaker) (we have a town called Volvic here, known for its water. Pronounced like in "vision". I would pronounce Wolvic the same way, except the first letter would be pronounced like in "well") (the English pronunciation is not a gift)

TingPing 5y ago
It is clear to me as a native English speaker. We do have "wolves" already.
bialpio 5y ago
Also not a native speaker, I'd use the same pronunciation as you ("v" in "wolvic" is the same as in "elven", "f" in "wolfic"/"wolfish" is the same as in "elfic"/"elfish"). But the difference is quite subtle, I see it can be hard to tell apart in casual conversation when people pay less attention to enunciation.

darrenf 5y ago

Whereas to my UK eyes it's instantly reminiscent of Volvic[0] mineral water, which is definitely a V sound and doesn't read or sound strange at all (see also: pelvic, civic, Slavic). It wouldn't occur to me that there might be an F sound. [0] https://www.volvic.co.uk/ https://www.volvic.co.uk/

jraph 5y ago
Indeed, and wolves seems to be pronounced with a v both in the US and in the UK. > UK: /wʊlvz/ US: (wŏŏlvz) https://www.wordreference.com/enfr/wolves https://www.wordreference.com/enfr/wolves You did think of Volvic as well!
- TedDoesntTalk 5y ago
  Sounds good. Guess they'll do well with that name then.
laurent123456 5y ago
Never great when a product name looks like a misspelling of another more well known product name.
kingcharles 5y ago
It instantly reminded me of "Wolven + Loaves". You know, the one with the hipster ampersand. Now I needs me a McWolven.

bkardell 5y ago

Interesting observation. Fwiw, I am definitely very much a native english speaker (in fact, I don't speak any other (non-programming) language very well), and I proposed the name. As the post says at the end - it doesn't hurt that the domains are available if you don't use a "real" world. I guess we'll see if this happens.

nkurz 5y ago
Apologies if it's not the type of feedback you are looking for, but I strongly agree with the OP. I find the name so confusing that I have trouble even thinking about it. Quite possibly the problem is me, but if you are trying to reach an American audience, consider doing further audience testing before investing too heavily in the name.
- mbreese 5y ago
  As another anecdata point - I’m also a native English speaker (US) and I have no issues whatsoever with the name or pronunciation.

thevagrant 5y ago

Wolvic sounds more natural to me than your other suggestions. If someone verbally told me about the project, my first guess would be to spell it as Wolvic. I can see possibly someone non native spelling it as Wulvic or Woolvic (if they heard the name in a conversation). I'm sure some may misspell it with an f also but if the project grows, it won't matter.

bagacrap 5y ago

How did "wolf" get turned into "wolvic"? That section at the end just seems to take it for granted that permutation is totally normal.

Vinnl 5y ago
I'd imagine the same way "wolf" gets turned into "wolves"?