Fans of Baldur’s Gate 3 learned the official pronunciation of the character Astarion’s surname "Ancunín" this week from a sample of the upcoming audiobook Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion, narrated by Neil Newbon, who voices the character in the game.

The game has never spoken the full surname, and for more than two years fans have debated its pronunciation based on a gravestone image showing the name with an acute accent over the í. The accent was thought to soften the ending, leading to divergent guesses such as "an-KYU-nin" or "an-KOO-nin."

The five‑minute audio sample, released on August 26, features Newbon reading the opening passage in which Astarion contemplates blood‑tinged turnips as fashion inspiration. According to the recording, the surname is pronounced "an-soo-neen." The audiobook, written by T. Kingfisher and based on material consulted with original Larian Studios writer Stephen Rooney, will be available on September 29 through major retailers and audio platforms including Audible, Spotify and Libby.

The book follows Astarion’s years as a magistrate‑turned‑vampire‑spawn before the events of Baldur’s Gate 3, introducing new characters such as the Aasimar paladin Hahn den Suriel. While some readers note that the text names a character referred to as "Sebastian" in the game, others point to changes such as Astarion addressing Cazador Szarr as "Father" instead of "Master," which have sparked discussion among the community.

The pronunciation clarification comes after years of speculation and has not resolved broader debates about the correct way to say the name, with some fans continuing to use the previously agreed‑upon rendering.

The audiobook’s release on September 29 may provide further insight into Astarion’s backstory, though the community remains divided on the name’s pronunciation.