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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Emmeline

30 replies

newyearnewshoes · 15/06/2014 20:26

I think the name looks very pretty written down but am ashamed to say as I've never heard it allowed I have no idea how it is pronounced. Assume Emm-a-leen? Help!

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thegreengreengrass · 17/06/2014 12:19

Lovely, elegant name.

I prefer the Emma-line pronunciation.

Original poster
newyearnewshoes · 16/06/2014 21:26

Thank you everyone! I've definitely learned something new!

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devoncreamtea · 16/06/2014 20:27

I think it's Emma leen, because of the A.A. Milne poem 'Emmaline, has not been seen, for more than a week...' (great poem!) So line rhymes with seen and been.

Great name.

My daughter is Emma and we call her Emma-leen, after the poem character sometimes! Cute.

LegArmpits · 16/06/2014 19:51

Ben Folds Five song! I love it.

marthabear · 16/06/2014 19:49

Love it. It was on my final girl list a couple of years ago along with Rose, Martha, Genevieve, Annie and Elizabeth.

Guin1 · 16/06/2014 02:25

Love it. The only Emmeline I know pronounced it Em-ma-leen.

Elsiequadrille · 16/06/2014 01:19

It's a lovely and elegant name. Emma-leen is how I would pronounce it.

Oddly, in AOGG (the Megan Follows series) Emmeline is pronounced both as Emma-leen and Emma-lyne by different characters Confused But I think the 'lyne' pronunciation was used more, as a previous poster has pointed out.

My only reservation would be potentially frequent comments, and confusion with Emily, along the lines of "NO, not Emily... it's Emmeline!"

mswibble · 15/06/2014 23:20

Ha - my nickname used to be Avaline! Im a Manc but have a certain Scouse twang with certain words!

KERALA1 · 15/06/2014 22:41

Emmeline has not been seen for more than a week

Love that poem! Great name

Nereida · 15/06/2014 22:36

Like Mrswibble I have also always pronounced it Emma-lin.

MadameJosephine · 15/06/2014 22:18

I never knew there were 2 different ways to pronounce it, I would have always said Emma-leen, which I love but I don't like the other way (reminds me of Avaline from Bread if anybody is old enough to remember that, I'm showing my age a bit there!)

BlueStarsAtNight · 15/06/2014 22:13

I don't like it. I always feel like I'm saying it wrong no matter how I pronounce it!

RabbitSaysWoof · 15/06/2014 21:51

I know an Emmaleen spelled Emmaleen She's lovely and very successful.

pilates · 15/06/2014 21:50

Love that name

Summerfever · 15/06/2014 21:39

Oh yes, and then there's the occasional Emma "Lynn" pronunciation! Mrswibble just reminded me of that one.

mswibble · 15/06/2014 21:34

Fantastic name. I have always pronounced it emma-lin. I dont know the Green Gables connection, immediately though Pankhurst.

Original poster
newyearnewshoes · 15/06/2014 21:31

Ahh this is news to me, I didn't realise there actually was just 2 different pronunciations. I just assumed there was a right one and wasn't sure which one it was! Yes can imagine a lot of people mishearing it as Emily though!

OP posts:
Doilooklikeatourist · 15/06/2014 21:28

Emma
Emma Leen

Doilooklikeatourist · 15/06/2014 21:26

My name is Emma .
I wanted it to be Emmeline
But I'm old , and I remember the song by Hot Chocolate ,
Emma Emmeline

Sleepysheepsleeping · 15/06/2014 21:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Summerfever · 15/06/2014 21:21

Anne of Green Gables was the "line" pronunciation. The inspiring person was Emmeline Pankhurst (Suffragette) - she went by the "leen" pronunciation.

miffybun73 · 15/06/2014 21:18

Emmeline Pankhurst was a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement who helped women win the right to vote.

In 1999 Time named Pankhurst as one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century :)

Summerfever · 15/06/2014 21:18

I have an Emmeline - pronounced "leen", however it is frequently pronounced by others to rhyme with "line" (which is a valid pronunciation). Also, just to warn you, it is continually misheard as Emily so I have to correct all the time.

bubblegun · 15/06/2014 21:18

Emmaline don't walk in time. She's to a song about her.

Original poster
newyearnewshoes · 15/06/2014 21:17

Ahh what is the history of the name? Is it from Anne of Green Gables?

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