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Baby names

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

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

OP posts:
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HunterGatherer · 06/01/2022 13:52

I think Jizz Lane suits her. We should go with that.

SeanChailleach · 06/01/2022 10:36

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.

Marcipex · 06/01/2022 10:13

I heard her brother say Gillen
I think he must know.

Srettel · 06/01/2022 10:09

Rose West hasn't put parents off using Rose but I suppose it's always been popular and pretty.

It put us off using it in 1995; but at that point the papers were full of stories about the Wests.

musicalfrog · 06/01/2022 07:09

Maxine Carr is on nobody's radar any more (where she deserves to be imo)

I think of Maxine Peake when I hear that name.

KimikosNightmare · 06/01/2022 01:24

@Elllicam

I also thought Gih lane. It’s a pretty name, shame it’ll be unusable for years.
It's very pretty but seems to be very rare even before this.

playback.fm/people/first-name/ghislaine#google_vignette

Rose West hasn't put parents off using Rose but I suppose it's always been popular and pretty.

Myra wasn't particularly popular and to my ears isn't pretty. I always feel sorry for the pianist Dame Myra Hess who organised almost 2,000 lunchtime concerts during The Blitz. The concerts were held at the National Gallery. She was a brilliant pianist and despite the surname was English.

It seems doubly unfortunate to be lumbered with possibly the second worst surname possible at that time and end up with that combination in her later years. She died the year of the Moors Murder trials. Oddly her first name was actually Julia- even without the association Julia is a much nicer name.

I wonder if Maxine , which I think is a very pretty name is much used now- although obviously Maxine Carr is not comparable to Hindley or Maxwell.

whatausername · 06/01/2022 01:09

@Whitepillows

MN comprehension skills at their very finest on this thread, I see!
Grin At least it warns the rest of us who we should instantly disregard, should they ever reply on one of our own threads.
whatausername · 06/01/2022 01:07

@DahliaMacNamara

OP, where did your options come from? In the UK, I think it's been universally reported along the Gi-laine spectrum, with minor differences in pronunciation, some more French than others. So, Gi-lehn, or, Gi -lenn, but no J, ess or zz sounds.
America, I'd imagine. I've heard a few Americans trying to say her name and they've definitely tried to...'exoticise' it or dress it up!
Kitkat151 · 06/01/2022 01:05

@Bluetrews25

Yeah, middle name Myra?
Was just thinking the same🙄
PlanktonsComputerWife · 06/01/2022 00:44

Didn't Prnonce Andrew snippily correct Emily Maitliss's pronunciation?

You could watch the clip and emulate him, or not.

Whitepillows · 06/01/2022 00:42

MN comprehension skills at their very finest on this thread, I see!

threecupsofteaminimum · 06/01/2022 00:40

Okaaaay Hmm

FallonCarringtonWannabe · 06/01/2022 00:39

@threecupsofteaminimum

I'm sorry, is this legit!

Nobody on the planet is going to be considering naming their baby Ghislaine at the moment or for a good while.

You've either been living under a rock or are trolling.

You didnt even read the op!!! Grin
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 06/01/2022 00:35

No one said they were calling their baby Ghislaine. Confused. Op was as just wondering about the pronunciation

threecupsofteaminimum · 05/01/2022 23:37

I'm sorry, is this legit!

Nobody on the planet is going to be considering naming their baby Ghislaine at the moment or for a good while.

You've either been living under a rock or are trolling.

DahliaMacNamara · 05/01/2022 23:34

OP, where did your options come from? In the UK, I think it's been universally reported along the Gi-laine spectrum, with minor differences in pronunciation, some more French than others. So, Gi-lehn, or, Gi -lenn, but no J, ess or zz sounds.

JanuaryPinks · 05/01/2022 23:27

Not sure how Maxwell pronounces it but I have a friend called this and she says it “Gillen”.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 05/01/2022 23:23

I was thinking the same thing.

Bluetrews25 · 05/01/2022 20:43

Yeah, middle name Myra?

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 05/01/2022 20:42

Gi - layne
Ghee - lehn

MopeDope · 05/01/2022 20:42

It's Gill-en.

I read an article on the BBC about Ghislaine Maxwell a couple of days ago:

This one: www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59733623

It says there how to correctly pronounce the name: ''They'd been pronouncing her name inaccurately, he said. It wasn't "Jizlaine". Instead, he insisted, it was "Giilen".

😂 at Jizz Lane.

minniep · 05/01/2022 20:35

It's an absolutely beautiful name.

musicalfrog · 05/01/2022 20:33

The way @SummaLuvin describes above.

The brother of the Ghislaine in question was talking about her on radio 4 and I guess he would know.

Camandmitch · 05/01/2022 20:33

J'lane

NinaDefoe · 05/01/2022 20:33

Gil - len

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