[Opinions] Leonie
I've been thinking more of this name lately. I love the French pronunciation, however, I realize where I live (VA), that's not a possibility so I was thinking I could go with LEE-oh-nee. Do you feel that's a reasonable assumption or would people instinctively pronounce it lee-OH-nee due to its similarity to Leona?
WDYT of Leonie? Do you think Leo could work as a nn or does it seem too masculine to you? Any mn suggestions?
TIA.
WDYT of Leonie? Do you think Leo could work as a nn or does it seem too masculine to you? Any mn suggestions?
TIA.
This message was edited 1/22/2012, 9:23 AM
Replies
The accent makes a big difference imo
Unfortunately I think Léonie is one of those French names that's relatively easy for Americans to say but only sounds good with a French or German accent. Same with elodie and ottilie :/
Unfortunately I think Léonie is one of those French names that's relatively easy for Americans to say but only sounds good with a French or German accent. Same with elodie and ottilie :/
I love the name Leonie. I like the French pronunciation best. In English, lee-OH-nee rolls off my tongue easier.
Leonie is on my short list! :) I really like "masculine" names on girls: Sam, Alex, Danny, Ben, etc. So, I love Leo as a nn for a girl. My go-to combos for Leonie were always Leonie Cateline, Leonie Catherine, and Leonie Clementine. I really like pairing it with "C" names for some reason.
Leonie is on my short list! :) I really like "masculine" names on girls: Sam, Alex, Danny, Ben, etc. So, I love Leo as a nn for a girl. My go-to combos for Leonie were always Leonie Cateline, Leonie Catherine, and Leonie Clementine. I really like pairing it with "C" names for some reason.
Sign me up for a Leonie Clementine. Sooooo sweet. :-)
I know what you mean about L and C names paired together. I love Leonie Charlotte, Leonie Corinne, Leonie Camille, Leonie Claire and Leonie Cassandra. They just look right together. I can't use Cateline (love it) or Catherine since I already have a dd named Katherine.
I also like masculine nicks for girls. Alexandra, nn Alex, is far cuter to me than any other nn for Alexandra.
I also like masculine nicks for girls. Alexandra, nn Alex, is far cuter to me than any other nn for Alexandra.
This message was edited 1/22/2012, 4:43 PM
I love, love, love Leonie. The potential for the "lee-O-nee" pronunciation is the biggest reason why I don't suggest Leonie more. Like you, I prefer the French way, ("LAY-uh-nee") followed by "LEE-uh-nee" (which I'm sure we are pronouncing similarly, or super close).
It's the same reason that I don't suggest Viola more, fear of the "vie-O-luh" pronunciation.
That said, I remember hearing on the news of a U.S. federal judge named Leonie ("LEE-uh-nee") which does give me hope. And I believe she was from the South. So all in all I think Leonie is worth using, even with potential pronunciation problems. Given the trend of "yoo-neek" names pronunciation issues may be a normal thing for most people anyway.
I don't like Leo as a nn for Leonie, sorry. What about Lee? When I was growing up that spelling was commonly used for girls / women so it doesn't feel masculine to me at all.
Leonie Virginia
Leonie Alice / Alix
Leonie Frances
Leonie Isabeau / Elspeth
Leonie Fleur
Leonie Catherine (an oldie but a goodie)("Catherine Leonie" sounds nice too.)
Leonie Freya
Leonie Charlotte
Leonie Mavis
Leonie Kate
Leonie Sonnet
Leonie Carys / Charis
It's the same reason that I don't suggest Viola more, fear of the "vie-O-luh" pronunciation.
That said, I remember hearing on the news of a U.S. federal judge named Leonie ("LEE-uh-nee") which does give me hope. And I believe she was from the South. So all in all I think Leonie is worth using, even with potential pronunciation problems. Given the trend of "yoo-neek" names pronunciation issues may be a normal thing for most people anyway.
I don't like Leo as a nn for Leonie, sorry. What about Lee? When I was growing up that spelling was commonly used for girls / women so it doesn't feel masculine to me at all.
Leonie Virginia
Leonie Alice / Alix
Leonie Frances
Leonie Isabeau / Elspeth
Leonie Fleur
Leonie Catherine (an oldie but a goodie)("Catherine Leonie" sounds nice too.)
Leonie Freya
Leonie Charlotte
Leonie Mavis
Leonie Kate
Leonie Sonnet
Leonie Carys / Charis
This message was edited 1/22/2012, 1:01 PM
pronunciation
Your pronunciation is a little off so I thought you might want to listen to it here
http://www.forvo.com/word/l%C3%A9onie/#fr
Your pronunciation is a little off so I thought you might want to listen to it here
http://www.forvo.com/word/l%C3%A9onie/#fr
Thanks a lot. When a name seems quintessentially French to me, I automatically pair it with French mns as well so it's no surprise here that I love Leonie Charlotte and Leonie Camille. I also like Leonie Virginia and Leonie Callista. Leonie Pascale flows beautifully too. Can't use Catherine, Kate or Victoria although the flow is great there as well.
I like it enough, but I don't adore it. It could be cute on a person who was slightly simple, but had a good heart. That's the impression I receive from the name. If you add the accent aigu, that changes things for me slightly, and makes it look smarter and more chic to me. I like diacritics. Léonie is much more together and knows where she is going with her fierce bag.
I would pronounce it lay-oh-NEE though.
I would pronounce it lay-oh-NEE though.
This message was edited 1/22/2012, 9:30 AM
Why would you pronounce it LEE-oh-nuh? Doesn't make sense to me at all and would be constantly mispronounced. In an English speaking country I'd go with LEE-oh-nee.
I don't really like it. I lived in Germany and France and it's super common there. I can think of at least 10 right now and I also know a Leoni and a Leopoldine (which is cool). Also I dislike Leo on a girl.
I don't really like it. I lived in Germany and France and it's super common there. I can think of at least 10 right now and I also know a Leoni and a Leopoldine (which is cool). Also I dislike Leo on a girl.