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Baby names

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

How do you pronounce Opaline

33 replies

Rachelhaydenberk1 · 23/02/2020 16:09

Is it Opa - lene or Opa- line.

Loving Opaline with the line pronunciation. The ene pronunciation isnt jiving with me as much! Or can you pronounce it either way or would people argue? Considering for a middle name but I still want to verify!

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Rebellenny · 26/02/2020 20:26

This reply has been deleted

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JollyGiraffe12 · 26/02/2020 20:24

I would say Opal-een but I think if you correct people to your preferred pronunciation it should be fine! Very pretty and unusual name

AlpacaGoodnight · 24/02/2020 22:31

Line. It's one of those names that you might need to tell sone people which way you are pronouncing it at first but then they will know!

TrickyKid · 24/02/2020 15:08

Why would you use a type of glass as a name? Bad idea.

Flutteringsatlast · 24/02/2020 15:06

FYI op Starburst are going back to Opal Fruits soon...

FakeFraudSquad · 24/02/2020 15:05

I’ll add that names I’ve encountered that have a similar vibe would be;

Lots of baby Opal’s this year just like Amber and Jade were popular when I was a kid.

Apolline or Apollina - one was French, one Greek or Cypriot.

Abilene - her parents were fans of The Help but now she’s older she gets teased re Maybelline (“Maybe she’s born with it, maybe it’s Abilene”) etc.

Marceline - parents are huge Disney fans and named her after Walt’s birth town though few people realise. Marcie for short. Quite cute.

Michelina - (mish-eleena) - Italian family. Mickey for short.

FakeFraudSquad · 24/02/2020 14:55

I’ve definitely never heard it used as a name and as a teacher I come across all sorts of wacky and wonderful names.

I agree I’ve heard of Opaline glass or growing up I had Opaline budgies as pets. It’s more of a description than a name to be honest. Like marble or granite or dappled.

TatianaLarina · 24/02/2020 13:59

I'm honestly surprised more people haven't heard of it

Oh I’ve heard of it, I’ve some opaline glass in my kitchen. Not as a name because it isn’t one. Nor is opaque or frosted.

RiaOverTheRainbow · 24/02/2020 13:11

What about Opal? Easier to pronounce!

BurneyFanny · 24/02/2020 13:07

would think you'd spelt the French name Apoline wrong

You mean Apolline Wink

Rachelhaydenberk1 · 23/02/2020 23:38

I'm honestly surprised more people haven't heard of it or like it but it's quite alright! Thanks for the pronunciation help!

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pipilangstrumpfi · 23/02/2020 19:46

Opaline = Opaleen or Opalyne in English

user1493494961 · 23/02/2020 19:06

Never heard of it as a name, only as the glass my Mum's lampshades used to be made out of. Good job it's only a middle name.

Rachelhaydenberk1 · 23/02/2020 17:56

Opaline is a variation of Opal like the stone. In sanskrit it means gem for those who have not heard the name which surprises me! Opal has gotten popular, I've always liked Opaline more but I wanted to verify pronunciation as I've heard it pronounced both ways.

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DuchessMinnie · 23/02/2020 17:37

I would say "een" but would think you'd spelt the French name Apoline wrong.

RicStar · 23/02/2020 17:34

I have never heard this name. I would read it as O-pal- een but if someone said it was O-pa-line I wouldn't be surprised.

TopOfTheGherkin · 23/02/2020 17:31

Opal-een

Very pretty. The ‘pine’ ending would be odd to my ear.

Mooey89 · 23/02/2020 17:30

Leen.
Also when I first saw this thread I thought it was about a medication, it sounds like a prescription drug 🙈

ceecee32 · 23/02/2020 17:29

Bit like Ovaltine

Rachelhaydenberk1 · 23/02/2020 17:28

Agreed. I just wondered how its supposed to be pronounced or if you can pronounce it either way? Seeing a lot of mixed responses but it seems like lean is the most common. Maybe I'll warm up to that pronunciation though. I'd just want to be correct unless it genuinely can be pronounced either way in which case I like Opal-line more.

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5LeafClover · 23/02/2020 17:27

Opaleen

BuffaloCauliflower · 23/02/2020 17:26

I’ve never heard of it but would instinctively say Opa-leen. Does sound like a cleaning product or toothpaste though.

Ellmau · 23/02/2020 17:24

I would pronounce it een but I think you could get away by saying it's Eye-ne. You may have to explain it to people by saying "like Caroline" - but realistically how many people are going to be saying her mn aloud anyway?

TatianaLarina · 23/02/2020 16:29

Opal eyen.

Sounds like window cleaner or toothpaste. You know it’s a fish right?

DramaAlpaca · 23/02/2020 16:21

I prefer it with the -ine as in Caroline.

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