Message: "Leonie" - Behind the Name

[Opinions] Leonie

by Elena

1/22/2012, 9:22 AM

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.

#Leonie

This message was edited 1/22/2012, 9:23 AM

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- Thetxbelle (guest) +1

1/23/2012, 7:13 AM

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 :/

- Elena

1/23/2012, 10:50 AM

Sigh, I think you may be right. And don't forget Amelie. Love it.

- Marija Luminitsa

1/22/2012, 10:15 PM

I really love the name. Depending on where you are, I think people could easily instinctively pronounce it lee-OH-nee. I also love the French pronunciation. I know someone with the middle name, but she's German. :-D I think Leonie doesn't need a nickname and I do find Leo quite masculine.

- sambchop +2

1/22/2012, 4:13 PM

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.

- Bear

1/22/2012, 4:44 PM

Sign me up for a Leonie Clementine. Sooooo sweet. :-)

- Elena

1/22/2012, 4:42 PM

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.

This message was edited 1/22/2012, 4:43 PM

- Bear +5

1/22/2012, 1:01 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

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This message was edited 1/22/2012, 1:01 PM

- thetxbelle (guest)

1/23/2012, 3:18 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

- Elena +3

1/22/2012, 4:39 PM

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.

- Bear +2

1/22/2012, 4:43 PM

Of course. How could I forget Katherine and Victoria Brooke? So doesn't that mean that Charlotte, as a variant of (Anna) Caroline, is out as well? :-/

I'm so glad you liked one or two. :-)

- Elena +1

1/22/2012, 4:48 PM

No, I'd actually use Charlotte even with a dd named Anna Caroline! Of course, it's not like we plan to have any more children (that ship has long since sailed), but it's fun to pretend. DH likes Leonie too. Maybe for a future kitty?

- Bear

1/22/2012, 4:54 PM

Phew! Namenerd-itosis has been avoided.

- insane romantic

1/22/2012, 10:51 AM

I think people would pronounce it lee-OH-nee automatically, but only because the only Leonie I know, pronounces it that way (my second cousin).

Leo is quite a masculine nickname, but it might work on some girls.

- guru (BBH)

1/22/2012, 9:30 AM

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.

This message was edited 1/22/2012, 9:30 AM

- Marie (Tawnee)

1/22/2012, 9:26 AM

I think you could definitely use the LEE-oh-nee pronunciation. I love Leonie by the way. It's very pretty. I think Leo is probably too masculine a nickname for it though. I think Leonie works very well on its own without a nickname.

- Lily (Destry)

1/22/2012, 9:25 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.

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