My daughter's last name is German, Platz, as in the center of a German town is a platz. If we're asked to spell it we say P as in parent, L as in laugh, A as in apple, T as in Tom, Z zed as is in zebra using the French/Canadian (we live 5 minutes from Canada so I promise this all makes sense geographically) zed in place of just saying z. Guess how many times we hear "so Platzed?" She's also gotten Plots, Platters, Plates.. if we just say Z as in zebra they confirm the letter C head desk