The spelling of the surname "Gaytan" comes from the Spanish language, where the "g" is pronounced as a voiced velar stop /ɡ/ and the "y" as a consonantal "y" /j/. The stress falls on the second syllable, making it pronounced as /ɡaɪˈtæn/. In IPA phonetic transcription, this would appear as /ɡaɪˈtæn/, where the "a" is pronounced as a short /æ/ sound. The spelling of names and words often varies depending on language and origin, reflecting the complex ways language has evolved over time.