Personal names identify a person, and are very, well – personal. I find that it is important to respect names, and work to say them properly. Especially in a world where we interact with languages and cultures different from our own, we should make the effiort. No more Ellis Island stuff where they changed names because they were too difficult to say. No more jokes about Chinese names sounding like like banging cans.  Don’t even say, “wow, what kind of a name is THAT?”

Be nice. Make your posture and your voice express gentleness and say “I have not see your name before, help me pronouce it? Is it a family name?” and similar questions. Express that you want to get it right because you feel names are important. Maybe they say they don’t care and maybe they mean it. Regardless, I bet you will make them feel important too.