[pridkett]

One of the best practices I’ve picked up in interviewing is to ask the candidate their name at the beginning of the interview and then use it a few times during the interview. Usually this is is done with a quick “Before we get started, I want to make sure I’m respectful of you. Is there a preferred name that you’d like me to call you?” While it doesn’t get at the etymology of the name, at least it ensures that you’ve got the pronunciation correct.

I’ve seen some people be at an employer for a couple of years with everyone mispronouncing their name because they didn’t want to correct people.