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Baby names

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

Original poster

How would you pronounce...?

91 replies

Starfish83 · 19/01/2020 10:32

Joel.

With two syllables with emphasis on the first and a subtle change to the second - ‘Jo-ul’?

Or ‘Jole’ to rhyme with ‘sole’, ‘role’, etc.?

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user1493494961 · 19/01/2020 16:30

Jo-ul

LunchBoxPolice · 19/01/2020 16:25

Jo-ull . But I’m Welsh.

Original poster
Starfish83 · 19/01/2020 16:20

well-justified even!

OP posts:
Original poster
Starfish83 · 19/01/2020 16:20

Thanks so much - some really well-justifies responses! It’s the ‘Jo-ul’ pronunciation that I like (as opposed to the ‘Jole’). x

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RuthW · 19/01/2020 16:20

Joel rhymes with Noel as you n Edmunds. (And sole, roll)

isabellerossignol · 19/01/2020 16:13

It would be two syllables with huge emphasis on the first to me. So much emphasis on the first that I nearly replied 'Jole' but when I said it to myself a couple of times I realised that there's definitely a hint of a second syllable.

bluebell94 · 19/01/2020 16:06

Northerner. Definitely jo-el.
I didn't realise people said Noel like sole?! It's no-el for me and everyone I know.
Jo-el for joel.
Jo-ELLE with more emphasis on the 'L' for the female version.

sanityisamyth · 19/01/2020 16:00

Jole

Dinosauraddict · 19/01/2020 15:54

Jo-ul here and I know a couple who use that pronunciation.

bluemoon2468 · 19/01/2020 15:54

In my accent (southern English) Joel, Noel, hole, sole, mole etc. all rhyme!

Artus · 19/01/2020 15:53

Two syllables. Jo ul

Pippilangstrumpfi · 19/01/2020 15:48

Joel has two syllables Jo-el. Both syllables are equally emphasised.

Jole would be pronounced Jole to rhyme with Hole!

bluemoon2468 · 19/01/2020 15:06

Definitely 1 syllable for the boy's name Joel. I've also known 2 female Joelles (2 syllables).

NannyR · 19/01/2020 13:59

With two syllables, but with the emphasis on Jo and a soft schwa sound, sort of like -ul, not two distinct syllables like Jo-El.

1066vegan · 19/01/2020 13:53

I've only ever heard it pronounced with one syllable.

DramaAlpaca · 19/01/2020 13:28

Exactly what BoomZahramay said ^^

It's not pronounced like, Joelle, which is the feminine form of the name and has a very definite two syllables, but nor is it pronounced Jole.

mybabyisteething · 19/01/2020 13:17

Jole

Redonion123 · 19/01/2020 13:16

Jo-El - two syllables

EstebanTheMagnificent · 19/01/2020 13:15

I would pn to rhyme with ‘dole’ etc but pp are right that a midlands accent would pronounce the vowels as a diphthong. The syllables won’t be as pronounced as in Joelle but they will be quite clear.

BoomZahramay · 19/01/2020 13:11

It's one of those words that has two sounds in one syllable: Jo-ul, neither Jole nor Jo+wool, but somewhere in between.

Nonnymum · 19/01/2020 12:48

Probably Jo ul but sometime Jole too. It would depend on how the person called Joel pronounced.

Lavenderblues · 19/01/2020 12:46

I know male Joels who definitely pronounce it Jo el as 2 syllables. Even emphasis on both syllables.

The feminine version Joelle is pronounced Jo ELLE with the emphasis on the 2nd syllable.

Mamato2gorgeousboys · 19/01/2020 12:29

Definitely pronounced Jole as it’s a boys name. If it were meant to be 2 syllables it would be written Joelle and would be a girls name.

MrsBertBibby · 19/01/2020 12:15

It's like 1 1/2 syllables, stress on the Jo, then a kind of swallowed ul. Much like Noel.

Grufallisfriends · 19/01/2020 12:15

Lots of names have dropped the ë dots but are still pronounced the same eg Zoe, Noel or Joel.