How to Pronounce Knute Rockne's Name Correctly

The name of Knute Rockne is, without question, the greatest name associated with Notre Dame football. Unfortunately, millions of people – including legions of Notre Dame fans and, sadly, far too many Notre Dame students and alumni – unknowingly mispronounce his first name.

The name "Knute" sounds like "Kuh-newt," as was explained by no less a personage than President Ronald Reagan during the dedication ceremony for a 22-cent postage stamp honoring Knute Rockne issued in 1988.

The 40th President of the United States was well aware of the proper way to pronounce Rockne’s first name, just as he was well aware that many in the audience that day did not know how to do so. Speaking at the dedication ceremony for the Rockne postage stamp held at Notre Dame on March 9, 1988, Reagan said “Now, let me explain, I may be saying the name differently, but when we made the picture we were told, and Bonnie [Mrs. Knute Rockne] upheld it to us, that it was Knute [Kuh-newt] -- not Knute [newt]. So, you'll have to get used to me saying it that way.”

Reagan noted that during the filming of the motion picture Knute Rockne: All-American, in which Reagan himself played legendary Notre Dame football star George Gipp, those making the movie consulted Rockne's widow Bonnie, who explained that you actually pronounce the "K" in Knute, and that “Kuh-newt” was the pronunciation the great coach himself preferred.

From this moment on, if you would like to respect the wishes of Rockne’s family and give Knute’s name the respect it truly deserves, pronounce the name correctly, using the pronunciation Coach Rockne himself preferred.

Use four syllables, not three. Don’t let the “K” be silent.

It’s not “Newt Rock-ne.”

The name is correctly pronounced “Kuh-newt Rock-ne.”

Now if we could only get America’s sports announcers to learn to say it right…

Shake down the thunder. Go Irish!