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Baby names

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

Original poster

Names you love that don’t work in English

156 replies

MangosteenSoda · 13/04/2021 19:54

A name on another thread made me think about this...

I love Manon in a French speaking environment and I like Belen in Spain, but think neither work well in an English speaking environment.

Are there any names you feel like this about? I’d occasionally come across a name in my expat (and childbearing) days and think YES, then, oh no.

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steppemum · 13/04/2021 22:42

Oh wair, maybe it is

ear - een -ah?

One might be Dutch and one Russian

steppemum · 13/04/2021 22:41

How is Irene meant to be pronounced?

in Russian it is (sort of ) ear - rain - ah with a rolled r too (looks really odd written like that!)

Cowbells · 13/04/2021 22:39

Agnes in French. It's so beautiful. But in English it's hideous.

Original poster
MangosteenSoda · 13/04/2021 22:39

@elQuintoConyo does your DS go to Grange Hill Grin

@steppemum the Dutch names just reminded me of a little girl I knew called Guusja (I’m probably spelling it wrong). Sounded pretty in Dutch, but mangled when I attempted it.

I love loads of Irish names but think they sound most beautiful in an Irish accent. There’s a lilting quality I can’t recreate.

OP posts:
Elouera · 13/04/2021 22:35

@Chicchicchicchiclana- I too like Schehrazade because we did it as a school play! I like it, but its far too long and confusing for people to pronounce until they know it well.

Anoisagusaris · 13/04/2021 22:31

How is Irene meant to be pronounced?

DD has a friend called Manon (French father).

Fia/Fiadh is Fee-a to me. Nothing like Fear - that’s the same as Fir in my accent.

steppemum · 13/04/2021 22:26

Adriaan in Dutch lovely
Dorothea

steppemum · 13/04/2021 22:26

I love the Dutch name Marjoleine (actually not sure now how to spell it)

We didn't use it, as there was no way anyone in UK woudl manage it. They struggled enough with the Dutch name we did use.

steppemum · 13/04/2021 22:23

I am sitting next to my Dutch husband and just asked him how he pronounced Saskia

He pronounces it exactly the same as i do and is bemused by the idea that there is another way to say it.

We have a Dutch friend called Saskia, she says it ...... Saskia?!

elQuintoConyo · 13/04/2021 22:16

Ainhoa - I know her
Laia - liar
Izaskun - no one could pronounce or spell it.
Quirze - ditto.
Belen - still makes me giggle, childishly.

DS goes to school with: Kevin, Adrian, Bernard, Nora, Martina, Ethan, Martin such a mix of 40s, 70s and 80s Grin

.

Wearethetwirl · 13/04/2021 22:12

Bollywood actress Tabu who starred in “A Suitable Boy” full name is Tabassum but pronounced Thu-bu-sum.

Sounds lovely when pronounced properly but English phonetics do not accommodate for its pronounciation.

Also the Arabic name Basharat, pronounced more like Bushaaruth, but in English it reads like Bash-a-rat which makes you sound like a pest controller.

Headstand · 13/04/2021 22:03

I love Libertad the Spanish version of Liberty but without the accent and in the UK it would just be butchered.

NeedToKnow101 · 13/04/2021 22:03

Jesus! Sounds much better is Spanish.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 13/04/2021 21:58

Manon is Welsh as well as French. I don’t mind the English pronunciation tbh.

Original poster
MangosteenSoda · 13/04/2021 21:56

I also love Eleni. So pretty. I like Efthimia too - another name for this thread.

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SwedishEdith · 13/04/2021 21:55

Just spotted Eric in the baby names. I do actually really like this but, again, sounds much better in French.

SwedishEdith · 13/04/2021 21:54

I don't love the names but Nicole and Simone are better in French.

drspouse · 13/04/2021 21:48

I used to know a Sharon (male, Israeli) and a friend who was a Susannah was surprised to find Susan is a male name in Pakistan. And Nicolas (French, male) and Nicola (Italian, male) are pronounced the same.

HalleLouja · 13/04/2021 21:47

I love the names Eleni and Irini. My dd’s friend is called Eleni and they call her Elaney.

Original poster
MangosteenSoda · 13/04/2021 21:44

I’m going to add Esperanza, Eugenia, Noemi and Cayetana to the names I like in Spanish that sound ugly to me in an English context.

OP posts:
BlackLambAndGreyFalcoln · 13/04/2021 21:34

@Palavah

Irene

It used to be pronounced correctly in the UK but seems to have normalised as Eye-reen whichjust doesn't have the same appeal

Completely agree ! Eye-reen is just too close to Eileen!
BlackLambAndGreyFalcoln · 13/04/2021 21:33

@Blyatiful

Daria - sounds like diarrhoea. Dasha - like one of Santa’s reindeer.

How do you pronounce Saskia in Dutch? Is it a slightly longer “a” sound, so more of a Saaskia?

Yes "SAAskia" not "SASkia". The first syllable isn't pronounced as "sass" and it doesn't shorten to "sassy"!
Original poster
MangosteenSoda · 13/04/2021 21:32

Arrgh. PP has just ruined Daria for me!

OP posts:
LalalalalalaLand123 · 13/04/2021 21:30

Stella

Palavah · 13/04/2021 21:28

Irene

It used to be pronounced correctly in the UK but seems to have normalised as Eye-reen whichjust doesn't have the same appeal