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Original poster

Fleur?

33 replies

Mysecretumbrella · 06/10/2011 14:17

For a completely non-French family? I like it a lot but am wondering if some (grandparents maybe) may find the pronounciation tricky and also is it a bit... bleugh??

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OhTheRoses · 13/06/2016 22:15

Reminds me of the rather spoilt and manipulative Fleur Forsyte. You should read the books first.

With the Scottish connection Flora is lovely though.

winewolfhowls · 13/06/2016 22:04

Imagine Sean bean saying it. It's not a good northern accent name sorry but if you live elsewhere then I'm sure that it will be lovely

Emyloohoo · 13/06/2016 16:19

So cute! I just think of Harry Potter. :)

shazzawood · 12/06/2016 10:52

I have a beautiful daughter aged 11 called Fleur Joanne - don't ever be afraid to use this name as everyone comments on how pretty it is. I'm not a traditionalist and didn't want my children to be just one of many in their class with the same name - other daughter is 18 and called Anya.

Dru6 · 10/10/2011 16:34

MamaLazarou - know what you mean about toddlers struggling to pronounce it. I ran it past my 2-year old and she didn't seem to be able to pronounce the 'f' at all! That won't last forever though. Despite the rather negative feedback I've read I think we're going to go for it anyway!
As long as you like it Mysecretumbrella, just go for it!

HengshanRoad · 08/10/2011 00:55

Vomitty.

LazyDaisy123 · 07/10/2011 21:07

Fleur? Pretty name - not great for learning to spell using phonics.
Like Alice though, also like other French names, Amelie and Corinne

Rhubarbgarden · 07/10/2011 21:02

I wanted it on my list but dh said it was pretentious. I think it's lovely.

vixsatis · 07/10/2011 16:15

OK if you're French. Otherwise a bit pretentious

Original poster
Mysecretumbrella · 07/10/2011 15:36

Oh dear, hadn't heard of the tampon brand. I have a close friend who is an Aussie so I may sound her out... think that could be an issue.

Also have a 2 year old so I might get her view to test ease-of-pronunciation!

And I'm not sure I'm going to like my mil's "floo-er" pronunciation.

Not looking good, is it?!

OP posts:
susiedaisy · 07/10/2011 14:36

That would put me off a bit the tampon thing tbh

MamaLazarou · 07/10/2011 14:35

The trouble with Fleur is... it looks so pretty written down, but the pronunciation is a bit iffy. It sounds to me like the beginning of a name rather than the whole thing. I know a little 2-yr-old Fleur and she has real problems pronouncing it!

rachel234 · 07/10/2011 14:31

Depends on how it is pronounced - the French way is lovely but I'm not sure non-French speakers would cope.

lateatwork · 07/10/2011 14:28

hi... knew a fleur at school and no problems with pronunciation.

I would add though, in Australia it is a very popular brand of tampons. That may or may not bother you!!

ShroudOfHamsters · 07/10/2011 07:15

OP, my DH is Scottish.

Depends where she's from, but a kind of 'Flewur' sound is the most likely. The middle bit becoming really strongly pronounced as 'oo' or 'ew' rather than a soft 'eu'

Hmmm!

nooka · 07/10/2011 04:55

I'm afriad I think it sounds quite unpleasant.

FreddieMercurysBolero · 07/10/2011 00:00

I like it, but would be worried about the pronunciation. Flower is English does sound strange Dru6. We considered calling DS (if he was a gir) Blathinid, which is Irish for flower, and it's a pretty sound too. Flower is just not a pretty sound I think.

MelinaM · 06/10/2011 23:24

Reminds me of Forsyte tooSmile

I love the name Fleur, if they can't pronounce it pack them off to elocutionWink

meditrina · 06/10/2011 19:55

Fleur in the Forsyte Saga to me!

HP a more likely playground association.

It's not a name that does it for me, but there's nothing wrong with it.

Dru6 · 06/10/2011 19:46

We're undecided between Fleur and Alice. My husband is French and his mother asked if it's a real name?!? I think she was just being awkward because she doesn't like it. My mum, on the other hand, loves it!

I too am concerned about the 'urrrrgh' and regional accents issue but I'd say about 80% of the response I've had has been positive. I almost think it's works better in English than French because to name your child 'flower' would be a little odd.

Lovethesea · 06/10/2011 18:40

Makes me think of the Fleur in Harry Potter, but that's no bad thing!

I don't like the urrrrrgh either though.

Original poster
Mysecretumbrella · 06/10/2011 18:32

Yes minipie and shroudofhamsters, you've pretty much summed up my thoughts on it. Seems lovely in theory but...

MIL is Scottish - I'm trying to imagine how she might say it but am not sure.

I do like it though so I think it's a strong contender. 6 months to go though!

OP posts:
Meteorite · 06/10/2011 17:23

It is a bit like bleeurrgh, sorry!

babycham42 · 06/10/2011 17:06

I love it and always have.It reminds me of little girls dressed in the beautifully stylish French way.I think it would also be a very attractive name to carry into adulthood.

mathanxiety · 06/10/2011 16:58

Rhymes with Blur and suggests the flux to me (aka dysentery).

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