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Original poster

French Baby Names - how would you pronounce them?

39 replies

EllaWt · 15/04/2020 19:44

Hi Everyone
My husband and I are both french and we're thinking of names for our first baby expected later this year. For boys names we love

  • Léandre
  • Hilaire
  • Jacques

We're Aware that it might be really hard for people in the UK to pronounce. So we thought we'd ask you ? How would you pronounce them and do you find it impossible?

Thank you so much

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ShesGotBetteDavisEyes · 15/04/2020 19:59

I know it’s not on your list but Etienne (et-ee-Ann) is my favourite French boys name ever! I think it’s really cool and wanted to call ds it but dh wouldn’t have it at all!

Out of your list I like Jacques the best but I don’t really know how to spell how you pronounce it - it has a kind of long Jjjjj-ack!

Hagbeth · 15/04/2020 19:57

Ley-ond-re
Hill-air or Hill-ary
Zhack

givemeacall · 15/04/2020 19:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 15/04/2020 19:53

Lay-ond-re
Hill-air
Zhack (I’m not sure if the zh bit is quite clear.)

I’m guessing the ‘H’ of hilaire isn’t pronounced though.

TitianaTitsling · 15/04/2020 19:52

not looking!

Letthemysterybe · 15/04/2020 19:51

Le Ann dray
Hill uh ree
Zjack

TitianaTitsling · 15/04/2020 19:51

Oh sorry looking for more suggestions!

Nomoreweeping · 15/04/2020 19:51

Lee-ondr
Ill-air
Zhack

But I don't speak French at all, so I'd ask "how do you pronounce that?" If I saw it written down! I'd assume I'd get it wrong!

TitianaTitsling · 15/04/2020 19:50

Ah lochjess said it much better that me with Jacques!
What about Mathieu or Thierry?

PutTheNeedleOnIt · 15/04/2020 19:49
  1. Lee- andre 2)Hill -air
  2. Jax
TitianaTitsling · 15/04/2020 19:48

Lee-and-re
Hill-air
Jacks or Jack-eu
?

GaraMedouar · 15/04/2020 19:48

I think Jacques would be the easiest for non French speakers - most people know Jacques Cousteau and how it’s pronounced. Alternatively he’d just be called Jack by a lot of people anyway.

CatsForLife · 15/04/2020 19:47

Lee-on-dray
Hill-air
Zzzzyac (the French way of saying J)

LochJessMonster · 15/04/2020 19:47
  • Léandre- Lee-undre (As in Peter Andre)
  • Hilaire - Hill-air
  • Jacques - sshack (like Jack but with more of a ‘ssh’ instead of a ‘j’) so ‘Jack with a French accent.
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