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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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Wintersun13 · 22/02/2020 10:51

I said it a couple of times out loud and it comes out the German way, ot-TILL-ie. But I'm not British, continental european.

That said, does it really matter ? Names are wont to be pronounced any number of ways depending on who says them and where you live. I've lived in many different places and my name (fairly short and classic) has been pronounced a million different ways. If you like the name, just pronounce it however is most natural to you - most people will do the same.

1066vegan · 22/02/2020 10:42

Otterlee with the emphasis on the first syllable.

florascotia2 · 22/02/2020 10:36

There have been many posts on this thread about how to pronounce Irish and Scottish names, and the consensus usually is to follow the native-language pronunciation. Since Ottilie is a German name, that would be approx Ott-EEL-yuh.

Until recently, the more usual English form of the name (it's the feminine version of 'Otto') was Ottoline. The only people I've encountered with that name pronounced it Otto-leen, not Otto-lyne.

EachandEveryone · 22/02/2020 10:33

I know one and up North they do say Otter. Down south where she lives it is Otti. Do youbthink its having a come back? I do really like it.

Electrical · 22/02/2020 10:29

‘Otterly’ 😂

TatianaLarina · 22/02/2020 09:59

Why would anyone pronounce I as er?

I don’t particularly like the name but it’s definitely Ott i lee not Ott er lee.

Nowayorhighway · 22/02/2020 09:52

How would Yorkshire area say it.

Otterly probably, we don’t all use glottal stops you know.

Nowayorhighway · 22/02/2020 09:52

Otterly.

I like it personally but DH doesn’t because of otters...

Electrical · 22/02/2020 09:25

My accent would say it Oddilly, we don’t do Ts in the middle of words. How would Yorkshire area say it. Aw-ill-eh?

SleeplessWB · 21/02/2020 22:38

The one I know is OTT-illy. Beautiful name - my Dh vetoed it for DD2.

AmazingGreats · 21/02/2020 22:37

OTT-illie

BackforGood · 21/02/2020 22:29

Ott-ill-lee -equally stressing each of the syllables.

FriedasCarLoad · 21/02/2020 22:27

In English, OTT-illy, with the stress on the first syllable

This is only pronunciation I've ever heard from native English speakers in the UK.

FakeFraudSquad · 21/02/2020 22:27

OTTilly emphasis on the first syllable.

Lifesabeach86 · 21/02/2020 22:26

Otterlee

Miriel · 21/02/2020 22:24

I've never heard it in real life either. Until recently I'd assumed it was always pronounced 'otterly' with a first syllable stress, which I dislike the sound of. But the German pronunciation is lovely!

wheresmymojo · 21/02/2020 22:20

Otter-ley

As in - in the manner of an otter 🦦

Whatsyourflava · 21/02/2020 22:19

It’s such a lovely name 🥰❤️

Kindlethefourth · 21/02/2020 22:13

You shout it 'Ottie' to rhyme with 'Hottie' numerous times in a high pitched voice whilst walking around Lidl helicopter parenting. Or perhaps that was just my experience on Tuesday Wink

TatianaLarina · 21/02/2020 22:06

I’d say it both the French and the German way. In French the stress is on all syllables equally o til ee but the German stresses the middle syllable and pronounces the e. (As above)

Marcipex · 21/02/2020 22:04

I only know one and she’s called Otter-ly.
I saw it written one day, and it’s actually spelt Otterly😬

WickedlyPetite · 21/02/2020 22:03

Never heard it irl.

Oh-Tilly

IVflytrap · 21/02/2020 22:03

I've never heard it pronounced in real life or seen it outside Mumsnet but in my head I pronounce Ottilie similarly to the way I pronounce "utterly", just with an O not a U. I think that's probably wrong though.

Jellybean100 · 21/02/2020 21:59

Ott-illy. Like Natalie but Ott instead of Nat

MuscatelGrapes · 21/02/2020 21:57

The only one I know personally is German, so exactly as @emkana said, but the English way seems to be ‘OTT-illy’, emphasis on first syllable.

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