The spelling of "McElrath" may seem straightforward, but it can be tricky due to the Irish origin of the name. The first syllable, "Mc", is a Gaelic prefix meaning "son of". The second syllable, "Elrath", is derived from the Gaelic name "Ailred". The correct pronunciation of "McElrath" is /məkˈɛlrəθ/. The "Mc" prefix is pronounced as "mək", and the "Elrath" is pronounced as "ɛlrəθ". Remembering this phonetic transcription can help avoid confusion and ensure proper spelling of the name.