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Help[Opinions] Sylvain
What do you think of the name Sylvain (for a boy)? I think it's dashing. Although I know some of you may disapprove, I prefer pronouncing it as it looks in English- (SIL-vayn). What do you think of brothers Sylvain and Lucien?
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I think today they would come off as fairly pretentious. Especially Sylvain (with the "vain" sound).
The names definitely go together as a sibset, though. But I could only see it working IRL in a Francophone area, or in another era.
The names definitely go together as a sibset, though. But I could only see it working IRL in a Francophone area, or in another era.
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As I'm in a French-speaking area, Sylvain is a not-uncommon name, a very nice one, I think.
Also Lucien, though mostly for men over 50 these days. Also a good name, and certainly could be brothers.
Also Lucien, though mostly for men over 50 these days. Also a good name, and certainly could be brothers.
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I just think of Sylvanian Families when I see it, sorry! It's quite dashing though, but not my style. I don't mind Lucien and they do go well together in an upper-class Telegraph-reading sort of way.
Edited because I said I'd pronounce it the way you do and then realised I wouldn't! I'd instinctively put the stress on the second syllable.
Edited because I said I'd pronounce it the way you do and then realised I wouldn't! I'd instinctively put the stress on the second syllable.
This message was edited 1/4/2012, 9:10 AM
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First of all, yay that you are here, I'm lonesome here without you. And secondly, Sylvain. I like it more than Sylvan, which makes me think of that tutoring school. And I'll admit that Sylvain is cooler than Sylvester, and I love Sylvester. So therfore in conclusion Sylvain is chic and sleek and I would be tickled to know one.
I would say it "sil-VAYN" though, with emphasis on the second syllable. The "vain" part doesn't bother me one bit. Just make sure your Sylvain is not vain and you'll be golden.
Sylvain and Lucien is downright sexy.
I would say it "sil-VAYN" though, with emphasis on the second syllable. The "vain" part doesn't bother me one bit. Just make sure your Sylvain is not vain and you'll be golden.
Sylvain and Lucien is downright sexy.
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I think Sylvain is awkward, effeminate, pretentious, and unfamiliar. I could not envision it on a baby, young child, or adolescent, but only on an old man. Sylvester is less offensive to me.
Lucien is fine, though. I prefer Lucian.
Lucien is fine, though. I prefer Lucian.
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1st thought: my cousin Sylvain, (pr. the usual way) who's 60ish, runs a bakery, has six kids and is... cuddly
2nd thought: http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luzjtq3zkN1qk3qa4o1_500.jpg
- commonly referred to as 'Sylvia'
3rd thought: Agree with mirfak that 'vain' is too off-putting. I'd also like Sylvan a lot better, and the more I say it to myself, the more I like it.
2nd thought: http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luzjtq3zkN1qk3qa4o1_500.jpg
- commonly referred to as 'Sylvia'
3rd thought: Agree with mirfak that 'vain' is too off-putting. I'd also like Sylvan a lot better, and the more I say it to myself, the more I like it.
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I like how it looks, it does look dashing, but i'm not keen on the sound
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Honest opinions...
This is another case of being torn. I see Sylvain & Lucien and I think of a dashing set of young English men in the late 1800s, early 1900s. When I see them now, though, I think it's a bit OTT and honestly very posh in a negative way. It's trying too hard.
This is another case of being torn. I see Sylvain & Lucien and I think of a dashing set of young English men in the late 1800s, early 1900s. When I see them now, though, I think it's a bit OTT and honestly very posh in a negative way. It's trying too hard.
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I don't think I like Sylvain pronounced that way. To me, it looks like it should either be Syl-VAIN (emphasis on the VAIN which is, I think obviously, negative), or else it should be pronounced just like Sylvan (SYL-vun). SYL-vain is not hitting me the right way; it seems strained to me. If it were said SIL-vun I'd like it, but I prefer Sylvan. I really do like Sylvan. I think it's great.
Sylvan and Lucian, yes. (OT... I think Lucien (and any other -ian names spelled -ien, like Damien and Adrien) looks sort of fey and glammy. Not that I don't see some appeal in fey and glammy man-names. I totally do. But ... I personally would hesitate to give one to a child, if I wasn't a French speaker living in French-speaking places. I mean, I have a hard time picturing most men I know as Lucien, but a fairly easy time picturing them as Lucian. And if I were a man, I'd much rather be Lucian than Lucien. Definitely. I mean, living where I live and all that.)
Sylvan and Lucian, yes. (OT... I think Lucien (and any other -ian names spelled -ien, like Damien and Adrien) looks sort of fey and glammy. Not that I don't see some appeal in fey and glammy man-names. I totally do. But ... I personally would hesitate to give one to a child, if I wasn't a French speaker living in French-speaking places. I mean, I have a hard time picturing most men I know as Lucien, but a fairly easy time picturing them as Lucian. And if I were a man, I'd much rather be Lucian than Lucien. Definitely. I mean, living where I live and all that.)
This message was edited 1/4/2012, 12:20 AM
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Re:Lucien..rather interestingly, there's a well-known local (literary, imaginary) character named Lucien, he does a one-man show, and he's the embodiment of the country- hick working- man .(he works at a pulp and paper mill, an importamt local industry, when he works, that is)! As you say, all depends on where you live.
Fey and Glammy? That would be Alphonse-Luc.
Or our former Lieutenant -Governor, first-named Hermongilde.That's really ott, though he's a perfectly good guy.I think his mother "got it out of a book".
Fey and Glammy? That would be Alphonse-Luc.
Or our former Lieutenant -Governor, first-named Hermongilde.That's really ott, though he's a perfectly good guy.I think his mother "got it out of a book".
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Weird how different people's associations can be. Everyone has a unique perspective. I'd even wonder if Lucien's name is meant to be slightly ironic. I can't remember where you live, though. I guess if there's a lot of French heritage around, that changes the game.
Alphonse-Luc sounds stuffy and stuckup to me, but not fey and glammy. haha
Hermongilde sounds contrived and dramatic, but doesn't have that "vampire character" vibe that I get from Lucien / Adrien / Damien / Sebastien / Julien / Fabien etc. Hermongilde, to me, takes the heroic-literary vibe I get from names such as Byron, Ulysses, Gideon, & Montgomery a bit too far. If I were a guy, I'd rather be Hermongilde than Lucien because I could go by Gil.
Alphonse-Luc sounds stuffy and stuckup to me, but not fey and glammy. haha
Hermongilde sounds contrived and dramatic, but doesn't have that "vampire character" vibe that I get from Lucien / Adrien / Damien / Sebastien / Julien / Fabien etc. Hermongilde, to me, takes the heroic-literary vibe I get from names such as Byron, Ulysses, Gideon, & Montgomery a bit too far. If I were a guy, I'd rather be Hermongilde than Lucien because I could go by Gil.
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Not ironic,it's a common name here.(I'm in a French-speaking part of Canada.)
Our former Lt. Governor is, in fact, a poet and illustrator, careers he's returned to, now that his stint as Lt.G. is over. (Not that I know him, you understand, but I live in a sparcely populated province and he's quite well known, locally.)
So perhaps his parents had an intuition.
Don't know if he is nick-named, it's not so prevalent in French.
Our former Lt. Governor is, in fact, a poet and illustrator, careers he's returned to, now that his stint as Lt.G. is over. (Not that I know him, you understand, but I live in a sparcely populated province and he's quite well known, locally.)
So perhaps his parents had an intuition.
Don't know if he is nick-named, it's not so prevalent in French.
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Ooh! I love Sylvain and Lucien and think they make an awesome sibset. I'm not sure if people would pronounce it like SIL-vayn though. I also like the name Sylvan (SIL-van), which is a name I would actually use IRL in an English-speaking country. It has the accent on the first syllable even though it doesn't have the "ain" sound at the end.
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How do you think English-speakers would be wont to pronounce it? Like Sylvan?
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I live in the northeast US and I would say sil-van not sil-vayne..
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Well, I'd say it more like sil-VAHN because I've heard it in French before. Although honestly if I were just talking in my own accent I'd be more likely to say sil-VAYN. I'd probably still put the accent on the second syllable though... but maybe that isn't how everybody would say it.
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I would say it this way too, with emphasis on the second syllable.
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