46. Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hargitay, the Emmy-winning actress, has often been asked about the pronunciation of her name. Born into a Hollywood family, Hargitay’s first name is of Hungarian origin and is pronounced “Ma-rish-ka”. She has often joked that her name is a “mouthful” and that people often have a hard time getting it right. However, she has never let her unique name hold her back and has become one of the most recognizable faces in television.
In fact, her name has become synonymous with her iconic character, Detective Olivia Benson, on the hit show “Law & Order: SVU”. Hargitay’s ability to embrace her unique name and make it her own has helped to demystify the pronunciation of her name and has made her a beloved celebrity in the entertainment industry.