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Original poster

Baby name spelling (help)

85 replies

lemonnmeringuepie · 18/07/2018 05:31

We are expecting in October, and have both a boys and girls name picked.

The girls name we love is Joely (pronounciation Jo-lee) feel free to say if you don't like it, but we do, and it has stuck!

The only thing we're struggling on is the spelling.

I LOVE Jolie - but reminds me of Angelina (who I can't say I'm a big fan of) - I think it's the most gorgeous spelling but from unbiased point of views, is it a bit stupid to use this spelling if we don't want the Angelina connotation, or does it not matter?

Or Joely - which I don't think looks as nice.

Opinions on spelling more than welcome, thank you!

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nocluenoidea · 09/03/2019 10:05

I think it has to be Jolie. Joely would surely be pronounced differently?
It has no Angelina Jolie connotations for me but it is confusing with the French word Jolie, which is pronounced slightly differently again. And although I don't speak French that's the only way I can think of pronouncing it!

HogMother · 22/02/2019 20:17

All these different pronounciations all look the same to me 😂
Jolie looks like jolly to me though.
I prefer Joely, but I am biased because I have a Joel.

FaultInMyStars · 22/02/2019 20:05

If it's Jo-Lee, it's got to be Joely as in Richardson.
Jolie is completely associated with Angelina in my brain and I would pronounce it with a slight French accent: zhol-ee
But your baby, your call.

MumUnderTheMoon · 22/02/2019 18:04

It doesn't really matter how you spell it. Most people will hear your child's name rather than see it written down. And when they hear it a lot of people will make the angelina link. I actually really like some of her films but didn't make the instant connection. Go with jolie or jolee but not joely I think people will glance at it and say Joey and it looks a little clunky.

fridacakehole · 22/02/2019 09:03

Sorry, my fault for reinstating a zombie but I love hearing the outcomes of threads like this!

Bumblebeesmum · 22/02/2019 08:58

Hang on - I’ve been a muppet & only just seen this thread is ancient !

Bumblebeesmum · 22/02/2019 08:56

Isn’t it just calling a child pretty as a name? I’ve never heard of it though so it could be just me who hears it that way.

I don’t dislike it though. As I haven’t heard of it I’m not sure on spelling but you could consider Jolie being a nickname a Joelle for example would force the right pronounciation

MercyBodle · 22/02/2019 07:53

I think of Joely Richardson and would definitely spell it Joely. A pretty and appealing name.

Antonin · 22/02/2019 01:47

Angelina’s mother was French and Angelina adopted her mother’s maiden name as her stage name — sounds better than Voight plus I think she was estranged from her father.
I speak only a few words of French but for some reason this word has high visibility and hence the urge to make the J into zh.
You could call your wee one Jolene with nn Jolie or Joely

fridacakehole · 21/02/2019 20:55

@lemonnmeringuepie I'm curious to know whether you used the name Joely/Jolie in the end?!

Sessy19 · 21/07/2018 12:38

What a beautiful name! I love it. It is a rolling, flowery name without being too cutesy or try-hard. Well done 😁

Joely or Jolie, doesn’t matter. It’s the name you and daddy love, so that is great news for your baby 😊

UndergroundSun · 21/07/2018 12:25

The thing is, once you tell people how you want it to be pronounced they'll pronounce it like that. Jolie or Joely I would pronounce Jo-lee.

LovelyLemurs · 21/07/2018 12:02

I know a Joely and a Jolie. Both pronounced Joe-lee. I would go with the most common spelling because I have spent years correcting one of my kid's names as wasn't aware of the more popular spelling. I like it with a Y.

Crunchymum · 20/07/2018 19:58

Def Joely. And I would pronounce it as you intend.

strawberrry · 20/07/2018 17:57

Have had a name change since I last posted - thank you all for your responses, I have read and considered each one SmileSmileSmile

Jodie1122334 · 20/07/2018 14:48

I'm a Jodie and when I was younger used to spell it Jody.

Spelling wise I think I like anything that isn't ie but that's because I like names that are different to mine haha!

Also FYI, your child will have that song sung at them - you know the one - Jolene, Jolene, jolene joleeeeeeennnneeee. It drives me mad, and my name isn't even anything near Jolene!!!

MikeUniformMike · 20/07/2018 14:19

All the 3 Joel's I know complain that people call them Jo-el.
Jo-elly is just ridiculous.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 20/07/2018 13:33

I would pronounce it Jo-li not Jo-elly.

flumpybear · 20/07/2018 13:33

Joley - Joel-eee
Jolie - French word for pretty one so would pronounce French personally

rebelrosie12 · 20/07/2018 13:25

I love Joely...but would pronounce it Jo-elly. I like the pp suggestion of spelling it Joelie for the pronunciation you want

bridgetreilly · 20/07/2018 13:22

I really don't think pronunciation would be a problem with either, tbh. Joely Richardson and Angelina Jolie both get something that is pretty much what you're after. And neither name is common enough that people will have strong associations with someone else who pronounces it differently. As soon as anyone's heard it once, they'll get it.

OP, don't be put off!

MikeUniformMike · 20/07/2018 10:49

I like Joely.
I don't like Jolie.

Glumglowworm · 20/07/2018 10:48

I really like Joely

StrawberryCat · 20/07/2018 10:14

I think it's really pretty and like both the Joely and Jolie spellings (and pronounce them the same). I also really like the suggestion of Joelie as a spelling.

And if jolie means pretty in French then that's an added bonus! It's not like it means toilet! And Rosalind, Calista and Bonnie also mean pretty!

AmazingPostVoices · 19/07/2018 16:09

Lemon all of which is fair enough, I’m just suggesting that googling any name (or set of initials) is a good idea before you name your baby.

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