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Baby names

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Original poster

How do YOU say Ottilie?

83 replies

OddshoesOddsocks · 21/02/2020 21:41

Current topic of debate in our house as we are discussing potential names for DD3.

I’ve seen it on many lists on MN but never met one in person. The pronunciation clips on google offer several variations so I’ve come to MN for a conclusive answer!

I tend to read it as Ott-ILL-ee
But when I try to say it out loud it comes out more like O-TILL-ee

How would you say it?

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CircleofWillis · 01/03/2020 14:15

Rachel, that is because you are putting the stress on the second syllable not the first. A schwa is heard in unstressed syllables.

Rachel246 · 01/03/2020 13:43

When I say Ottilie, the second syllable (ti) sounds nothing like as in bananas. It sounds like EE. Like the EE in the second syllable of Emilia.

o TEE li eh.

PlantPotting · 01/03/2020 08:59

I really love the name Ottilie

CircleofWillis · 01/03/2020 07:45

For those people questioning the pronunciation of the vowel in the second unstressed syllable. The sound you are saying is probably the same and is neither /i/, /e/, /a/ or any variant but actually a schwa. Which is a relaxed vowel which is produced in a 'neutral' position in the mouth.

Think of the word 'banana'. When you say it naturally or in connected speech the first and third vowels are both schwas.

Rachel246 · 01/03/2020 07:37

I say O tee lee ay with the stress on the tee.

Hate Ottily.

user1480880826 · 01/03/2020 06:57

It’s OTT-illie if you’re in the UK.

Lavenderblues · 01/03/2020 06:54

Emphasis on second syllable:

Ot TEE lee eh

I also like Ottilia.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 29/02/2020 23:14

I met someone I know the other day and she has a new granddaughter and I asked the name- OTTERLY and pronounced like that too!

Made me chuckle after this thread Smile

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 24/02/2020 08:58
Grin
BurningGubbins · 23/02/2020 23:00

Ottilie was the name of the baby across the ward from me when I had my first baby. The parents were totally batshit e.g. mum insisting on keeping the curtains open and being stripped to the waist at all times (literally naked on top all the time, including when both sets of parents were visiting) as she was bfing. Both also very resistant to being discharged and eventually the nurses had to insist.
We were uncultured oiks and had never heard the name before and assumed it was something crazy they’d made up, so in our family lore that baby is called Otterly Botterly Grin

ZebraKid71 · 23/02/2020 22:43

I know two, one pronounces it otter-lee and the other pronounces it oh-tayl-yah. I know the latter a lot better (and much longer) so that would be my go to.

pipilangstrumpfi · 23/02/2020 19:42

Ot tee lee eh

The emphasis is on the second syllable TEE.

Single2catsand1daughter · 23/02/2020 17:19

Otterlee

Skyejuly · 23/02/2020 17:17

Oh till ee

Doodlesquah1 · 23/02/2020 17:17

I say it ‘oh-tilly’. I know it’s not right but can’t help myself

Whoops75 · 23/02/2020 17:16

Ot like OTTer
A
Lee

Literaryseed · 23/02/2020 17:14

My friend has one who is Ott-illy. Gets Ottie for short. Love it!

Poorolddaddypig · 23/02/2020 16:50

Both of those are incorrect pronunciations!Confused

Original poster
OddshoesOddsocks · 23/02/2020 02:11

Thanks everyone, I wasn’t expecting such a good response!

With my Warwickshire accent it comes out more rhyming with how I’d say utterly. But in my head it flows beautifully in such a pretty, feminine way.... if only I were a little posher!

I’m wondering if theres too many vowels in it for dp’s strong north westerly accent. Him saying names out loud has inadvertently vetoed 90% of our name list as it ruins so many beautiful names 😂🙄

OP posts:
Lavenderblues · 22/02/2020 22:04

Ott ee li eh (4 syllables) with emphasis on the second syllable.

MikeUniformMike · 22/02/2020 21:12

Otterly

Stressheadme123 · 22/02/2020 21:07

Like Italy

With an o.

Onceuponatimethen · 22/02/2020 21:02

I know two! One 60s and one age 7

Onceuponatimethen · 22/02/2020 21:00

Oh tuh lee

Wintersun13 · 22/02/2020 21:00

Odette or Odile are definitely French names I've heard before, though very old-fashioned - as most -ette names are these days. If I heard of an Odette I'd definitely expect her to be 50+ years old at least.

That said this may not be a problem in the UK. Names are definitely a regional thing.

Gotta say, though Ottilie doesn't sound particularly French to me, I like it much better than Odette/Odile !