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Baby names

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Original poster

Ghislaine

60 replies

NotTheOriginalFeargalSharkey · 05/01/2022 20:25

Ok, I'm not pregnant. Not looking for a name for anything. I have heard ghislaine in the news a lot recently. But it seems every news reader says it differently. Is there a "proper' pronunciation?
I have heard
Giz Lane
Giz lun
Jiz Lane
Jiz lun
Jeez LANE
Gizelle
Elaine
Jeez lane-EE
JeezLANE we
Elaine-ee
GrIZ Lane
GrIZ luh

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Hastina · 06/01/2022 23:22

Like Elaine with a hard G in front.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 06/01/2022 23:18

Gillen with a G as in go.

Wingingitsince2018 · 06/01/2022 23:16

This is my friend's first name. She has been known by her middle name since she was around 6 months old because no-one could pronounce it!

Synchrony · 06/01/2022 23:09

I pronounce it like Zheez-laine because that's roughly how the Brazilian girl I knew pronounced it. Never met anyone else called it. I know that's not how the Ghislaine in the papers pronounces it though.

liveforsummer · 06/01/2022 19:10

P.s my head reads it Giz lane but no clue if that's right

liveforsummer · 06/01/2022 19:09

Goodness I know lots of people don't read whole threads or even all OP's posts but come on at least read the initial post Confused

Frazzled2207 · 06/01/2022 18:25

She says it Gih-Len
But fairly sure in French the s would be heard so gihz-len. Happy to be corrected.

Buttons294749 · 06/01/2022 18:23

The Ghislaine i know says it "Gillun" she has a welsh accent so it sounds incredibly beautiful, in fact dopey me thought until relatively recently it was a traditional welsh name 😅

MichaelGovesBeard · 06/01/2022 16:41

Jizz Lane 💀

BodgertheJogger · 06/01/2022 16:27

Personally I wouldn't want any name with Jizz or Gizz in it!!!

BodgertheJogger · 06/01/2022 16:25

Jiz-Lane GrIZ luh GrinGrinGrin

KirstenBlest · 06/01/2022 16:05

Jyoo-ffreh - the y is very short and the oo short

TheHairyDinosaur · 06/01/2022 16:04

In my board Welsh accent I say "Jizz-Lane" 😳

ClaudiaWankleman · 06/01/2022 16:04

Now does anyone have any ideas on how to pronounce Giuffre?

Jew-frey if it is pronounced like the Italian surname (although short first syllable and no dipthong on the second syllable). Of course there are often variations in how Americans pronounce their names for many reasons. She may pronounce the 'i' sound for instance.

drpet49 · 06/01/2022 16:02

It is such an ugly name

KimikosNightmare · 06/01/2022 16:00

Even if it weren't for Maxwell's notoriety, calling an non-Francophone child this name in England might be considered pretentious. "Giselle" is much much nicer sound and lovely association with the ballet too

There are quite a number of French girls names which are used in UK without much raised eyebrows. I wonder if Ghislaine didn't make the transfer as even the French aren't in agreement on how to pronounce it.

This has reminded me I used to work with a "Gillian" who pronounced her name with a hard G rather than "Jillian" . I never liked to ask why but it's not a million miles from Ghislaine with a hard G.

www.peanut-app.io/blog/french-baby-girl-names

NowEvenBetter · 06/01/2022 15:58

Quite a few people replying to an OP they haven’t even bothered to read😄

GemmaRuby · 06/01/2022 15:55

I’ve only heard it on TV as Gill-en.
Now does anyone have any ideas on how to pronounce Giuffre?

KirstenBlest · 06/01/2022 15:52

I think that Mme Maxwell would have known how to say her daughter's name

Annaghgloor · 06/01/2022 15:47

@SeanChailleach

Ghislaine Maxwell was born in 1961 in France to a French mother. It's a French name and BehindTheName.com says it can be pronounced either ZHEES-LEHN or GEE-LEHN, and a few comments indicate there is some disagreement in France although they mainly expect it to be a hard g. In France the girls name Ghislaine became popular in about 1920, peaking in 1956 with over 3,000 babies, and was used for girls up until 1986 (appears to drop off after that?). The year Maxwell was born she was one of almost 2,500 baby girls named Ghislaine. Still in France, the boys version, Ghislain was used up until 1999, with 200 to 300 a year from 1950 to 1990. Even if it weren't for Maxwell's notoriety, calling an non-Francophone child this name in England might be considered pretentious. "Giselle" is much much nicer sound and lovely association with the ballet too.

The name is said to mean "hostage", but the current English use of "hostage" doesn't cover the mediaeval and earlier meanings. "Promise" might be a better translation, in the sense that people used to be sent to other communities in a way to say we promise not to attack you/ we trust you to treat our people decently.

I certainly briefly knew a French Ghiselaine (spelled like that) about 20 years ago, who pronounced her name, roughly, ZHEES-lehn.

I thought it was very pretty. I don't like the way Ghislaine Maxwell pronounces her name anywhere near as much.

LizzieAnt · 06/01/2022 15:43

There seems to be a bit of variation even in France.

forvo.com/word/ghislaine/

Nillynally · 06/01/2022 14:04

Hard G
Gi-lehn is the French way of pronunciation

ArsenicNLace · 06/01/2022 14:04

Ghislaine Maxwell's name is pronounced 'Gee-lehn'. However on the last Great British Sewing Bee last year there was a lady from French Martinique and she pronounced it 'Gizz-lane'.

Personally I wouldn't want any name with Jizz or Gizz in it!!!

MajorCarolDanvers · 06/01/2022 13:56

Gee-laine

But seriously not a good name to use at the moment.

NearlyAHoarder · 06/01/2022 13:55

Ha ha glad you're not using it.

I heard it said Gill-enn

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