Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Xanthe Elowen or Elowen Fleur?

38 replies

Lucasboo · 08/10/2022 11:56

So we keep on coming back to Fleur, Elowen and Xanthe, I keep fixating on Xanthe DH on Elowen and Fleur. Initially we were thinking of Elise for a middle name but then DH found out how it’s meant to be pronounced and decided too much like Lisa!

I have always loved Xanthe though I pronounce it Zanthee which I understand is technically not correct in Greek but I think the way most English speaking people say it. DH isn’t so sure and has set his heart on Elowen (pronounced the Cornish way not the American way which to me sounds very Lord of the Rings or Fleur which he’s always loved and is a family name. I’m not bothered about the El sound I know an Elle and a couple of Ellie’s and you can never second guess school nicknames!

So

Xanthe Elowen
Xanthe Fleur
Elowen Fleur
Fleur Elowen

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
helpmum2003 · 09/10/2022 17:31

Xanthe Fleur

sueelleker · 09/10/2022 17:27

Baaaaaa · 09/10/2022 10:03

Elowen is quite cute though. Sound Elvish.

She did mention LOTR. It was spelled Elowyn though.

sueelleker · 09/10/2022 17:26

Onedayatatime22 · 08/10/2022 23:41

Just don't call her Fleur Elise... unless you're a major Beethoven fan...

😁😁

autienotnaughty · 09/10/2022 17:19

I love xanthe elowen and it incorporates two favourites

Fraaahnces · 09/10/2022 10:05

Oh, and I associate Fleur with long-haired chihuahuas.

Fraaahnces · 09/10/2022 10:05

Xanthe Elowen. (Only because I know two gorgeous kids with these names and they are intelligent, creative, kind human beings.)

Baaaaaa · 09/10/2022 10:03

Elowen is quite cute though. Sound Elvish.

Baaaaaa · 09/10/2022 10:03

I know a Fleur. She is nice and I have good associations. Nicer than the other two as a first name imo.

Gonnagetacatwhenimovein · 09/10/2022 07:46

They are all a bit try hard

catinboots123 · 09/10/2022 07:40

Neither. Both awful.

Aozora13 · 09/10/2022 07:40

My DD is Elowen so I’m totally biased. We pronounce it the Cornish way (el-Owen) which we shorten Lolo rather than Ellie. I will say, some people struggle a bit with the pronunciation and most people haven’t heard of it and I feel a bit bad that I’ve condemned her to a life of explaining herself. But I just think it’s such a beautiful, unusual name. I also love Xanthe though. Less keen on Fleur.

BCBird · 09/10/2022 07:38

Flour is recognisable but I would say no to Xanthe simply because giving a child a name that will be mispronounced or mis spelt is a massive burden for the person attempting to say it a d the 'victim' having to correct it. Been teaching 20 plus years so believe me I know.

Mymoneydontjigglejiggle · 09/10/2022 07:36

I really like both Elowen and Xanthe (I have actually taught a couple of Xanthes over the years in normal comps so it's definitely not as 'out there' as you might think!). I'd go for Xanthe Elowen I think, mainly because I really don't like the shortening El or Ellie, which would ruin it for me as a first name. I don't really like Fleur, though.

Donotgogentle · 09/10/2022 07:33

Thanks

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 09/10/2022 07:32

Donotgogentle · 09/10/2022 07:30

Is Elowen a Cornish name? I’ve never heard it.

Yeah it means elm tree

She will just end up being called El or Ellie though

Donotgogentle · 09/10/2022 07:30

Is Elowen a Cornish name? I’ve never heard it.

PeppermintyPatty · 09/10/2022 07:27

I really really like Elowen but that’s probably because I grew up in Cornwall. I’m fact there are loads of really nice Cornish names around and if I had had a girl I think I would have fought to use one.

AutumnalCosyness · 09/10/2022 07:21

Love Xanthe!

mathanxiety · 09/10/2022 06:11

Xanthe Elowen.

Fleur always makes me think bleurggh, amd flux.

littleburn · 09/10/2022 00:12

Xanthe reads to me as very similar to the food additive Xanthan.

IVflytrap · 09/10/2022 00:06

What about two middle names? Xanthe Elowen Fleur sounds lovely.

If that's a no-go, I would keep Fleur only as a middle name, seeing as it's a family name. I think it's nice to include a nod to family, but it's also nice to have a name that's entirely your own as your first name.

There isn't one correct way to pronounce Elise, by the way. Just in case there's a pronunciation you prefer: it's along the lines of Eleesa in German, but Eleez in French. And generally Eleese in English, although people also use the French pronunciation here in the UK.

ShinyPikachu · 08/10/2022 23:51

I've always loved Xanthe and DD2 would have been called it if it hadn't been quite similar to DD1's name.

Xanthe Elowen is nicer than Xanthe Fleur IMO but neither are bad. Smile

Kentgirl2525 · 08/10/2022 23:49

Fleur is just the uurrgghh sound with an F! As in yuk!
personally always found that name horrible to hear but it’s quite popular.

Onedayatatime22 · 08/10/2022 23:41

Just don't call her Fleur Elise... unless you're a major Beethoven fan...

Luredbyapomegranate · 08/10/2022 22:18

Elowen Xanthe
or better Elowen Ianthe
or better yet Ianthe Elowen
Fleur always slightly reminds me of someone being sick but as a third name it’s ok