Plurals of Names Ending in Vowels
Summary
Add s to form the plural of a name ending in a vowel (a, e, i, o, u). Don’t add es, even for names ending in i or o. Simply add s.
- We have two Annas, two Janes, and two Lulus in the family.
- The Corellis have sold their house to the Pacinos.
Avoid using an apostrophe to form the plural.
- Poor: Both Jane’s are drummers.
Better: Both Janes are drummers. - Poor: The Rivera’s live next door to us.
Better: The Riveras live next door to us.
Note that using an apostrophe is not wrong but generally unnecessary and considered poor style. Use one only if needed for clarity.
- We have two Luca’s and three Lucases in class this year.
An apostrophe helps distinguish the name “Luca” from “Lucas.”
To form the possessive of a plural name, place an apostrophe after—not before—the s that makes the plural.
- Incorrect: We stayed at the Garcia’s cottage that summer.
Correct: We stayed at the Garcias’ cottage that summer.
The general rule
Form the plural of a name or proper noun by adding s or es.
- We have six Jacks, five Ritas, and two Marys in the family.
- The Smiths don’t live here anymore.
- The Patels are selling their house.
- Both Annes were queens.
- Do the Murphys still live next door to the Williamses?
In this article, we discuss how to form plurals of names ending in vowels (a, e, i, o, u), along with some exceptions and examples of when to use an apostrophe.
Plurals of names ending in vowels
To form the plural of a name ending in a, e, i, o, or u, simply add s. An apostrophe is generally unnecessary. This rule applies to both given and last names.
- They have four Joshuas, three Isabelles, and two Lindas in the family.
- We met the Monroes on Presidents’ Day.
- Julie has joined a group of Julies who raise awareness online about mental health issues.
- We have two Pablos, two Eliyahus, and three Tonis in class this year.
- The Garcias are old friends of ours.
- The Giordanos have always lived next door to the Kobayashis.
Names ending in i and o can be particularly confusing, since regular plurals of common nouns in English generally end in es when preceded by i or o. Remember to simply add s, not es, to form the plural of a proper noun or name ending in i, o, or other vowel.
- We have invited the Alis and the Espositos to dinner.
not “the Alies” or “the Espositoes“
- The Mendozas, Moores, Morellis, Mancusos, and Mereus are all holidaying together in Majorca.
Plurals of names ending in y are also formed by simply adding s, not by replacing y with -ies.
- The Dunphys and the Murrays are old family friends.
Use of apostrophe
Avoid using an apostrophe to form the plural of a name or other proper noun. Plurals generally don’t take an apostrophe.
- There are two Melissas and three Mayas in my phone book.
- Do the Sopranos still live in North Caldwell?
- Both the Janes I know are drummers.
- We have invited the Mancinis and Mehtas to dinner.
However, with names ending in vowels, it can sometimes be helpful to insert an apostrophe to improve readability. This is a matter of style rather than grammar. As an editor, use your discretion. The goal is to make the text as smooth and easy to understand for the reader as possible. (As always, if things get too confusing, don’t be afraid to rephrase.)
- We have two Dori’s and three Dorises in class this year.
Both “Dori” and “Doris” are names of people. Inserting an apostrophe in the plural of “Dori” helps improve readability and avoid confusion.
- We also have two Luca’s and three Lucases on our team.
- Both Denise’s are guitarists, while both Denises are drummers.
Proper nouns and names ending in a, i, or u often benefit from the use of an apostrophe in the plural form, as the reader may otherwise mispronounce the name.
- Both Anu’s performed brilliantly for the team.
The plural form of this name would sound odd without the apostrophe.
Here is another example from the BBC. The editor thought it necessary to place an apostrophe in the plural of China to improve readability, but unnecessary to do so for “Kashmirs,” “Koreas” (a name that also ends in a), and “Germanys.”
Ireland should unite with Ireland as should two Kashmirs unite, as should two China’s, as should two Koreas and as did two Germanys.
— “NI Riots Make Headlines across Globe,” BBC News (Jan. 8, 2013)
In general, avoid using an apostrophe to form the plural of a proper noun, unless necessary for clarity and readability.
- Poor: The Rousseau’s still own the bookstore beside the library.
Better: The Rousseaus still own the bookstore beside the library.
Possessives of plural names
To form the possessive of a plural name, place an apostrophe after—not before—the s that forms the plural. For a name ending in a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), add s to form the plural and refer to an entire family. Then add an apostrophe after this s to form the possessive.
- Is that the Moreaus’ dog?
not “the Moreau’s dog”
- The Sharmas’ car is still in their driveway.
- The Castillos’ cat is in our window.
This is how you form possessives of all plural names, not just those ending in vowels: the Smiths’ home, the Duffys’ dog, the Williamses’ car.
Plurals of other proper nouns ending in vowels
To form the plural of other proper nouns, such as names of regions, countries, brands, or businesses, simply add s as usual. Again, don’t add es; just add s. No apostrophe is necessary, as seen in these examples from published content.
The Americas can be roughly divided into two major cultural regions.
— “Americas,” Encyclopaedia Britannica (Accessed June 13, 2022)The dictionary will compile words from existing dictionaries across the two Koreas and add newer words and expressions.
— “Crossing Divides: Two Koreas Divided by a Fractured Language,” BBC News (Mar. 8, 2019)There soon could be two Googles.
— “2 Googles: 1 for Europe and 1 for Everyone Else,” Washington Post (Apr. 25, 2013)We’re talking about its RS models, high-performance Audis that have long stalked European highways and German Autobahns.
— “Audi RS: A Really Speedy History of the Fastest Roadgoing Audis,” MotorTrend (Oct. 15, 2020)If I were Picasso I could paint all the Picassos I liked, and sell them and get rich.
— “Picasso,” New Yorker (Aug. 3, 2014)
Examples from published content
Here are some examples from writing that show how the plural of a name ending in a vowel is formed by simply adding s (without an apostrophe).
Where have all the Lisas gone?
— Title of an article in the New York Times (July 6, 2003)For me, it’s getting all the Joes home.
— “The Lesson of Tal Afar,” New Yorker (Apr. 10, 2006)The officer remains on the force to this day, a fact that the Lees were not aware of until told by the BBC.
— “George Floyd Death: ‘The Same Happened to My Son,'” BBC News (June 15, 2020)Aid agencies would class the Alis among the 60% to 70% of the population whose survival depends on monthly government food rations.
— “Iraq’s Vital Services Balance on a Knife Edge,” Guardian (Feb. 10, 2003)The five Russos pleaded guilty to two counts each involving wire fraud.
— “Rockland County Family Pleads Guilty in Fraud Case,” New York Times (Dec. 13, 2007)The Wus explain that they can afford the flights and a three day Club Med package.
— “China’s Wealthy Head for the Ski Slopes,” BBC News (Feb. 11, 2011)
And here are some more examples that show how possessives of plural names take an apostrophe after the s that forms the plural.
The three-member Circuit Court overturned the Garcias’ second conviction.
— “Convictions of Garcias in Wedtech Scandal Overturned Again,” New York Times (Apr. 23, 1993)The Rossis’ cottage, built in the mid-1800s, overlooks the Delaware Canal.
— “A Slice of History,” Wall Street Journal (Mar. 22, 2008)
Plurals of names ending in other letters
Plurals of other names, including those ending in most consonants, are also formed by adding s. However, plurals of names ending in sibilant sounds (s, x, z, sh, ch) are formed by adding es.
- We have three Marys, two Jills, and two Gladyses in the family.
- The Khans and the Smiths are on vacation together in Singapore.
- The Perezes live next door to the Joneses.
- Both Anns have the same surname: Smith.
Usage guide
Add s to form the plural of a name ending in a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), whether a given or a last name (two Joes in the family, the Moores). Don’t add es to form the plural; just add s, even to names ending in i or o (the Romanos, not Romanoes). Avoid using an apostrophe to form the plural unless necessary for clarity. Finally, remember to form the possessive of a plural name by placing an apostrophe after the s that forms the plural (the Lees’ cat, not the Lee’s cat).