Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

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

Unflip

1 2

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!

Xanthe Elowen
Xanthe Fleur
Elowen Fleur
Fleur Elowen

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Diverseopinions · 08/10/2022 20:27

I think that if Fleur is a family name - good to go with it.

I have a feeling that Elowen will come to sound like Ellie, Ella, Elle - the very popular names, but ones not as distinctive and unusual as Fleur and Xanthe, and if you like unusual names, then I think Elowen won't have the effect and cache when spoken, that it seems to have written down.

It sounds a bit as if your Other Half finds Xanthe a push too exotic, with its unusual sounds. Fleur seems to be a name which could please both of you.

Fleur Xanthe - good if your daughter is adventurous and wants to use her middle name.

KirstenBlest · 08/10/2022 19:06

I'd not use Elowen as a first name because people will say it as LON, not L Owen, and she'll probably be yet another Ellie

I think the greek way to say it Ksanthi. Nobody corrects people if they say Diana as Die-anna

ChagSameachDoreen · 08/10/2022 18:08

Elowen Fleur.

Xanthe sounds like a brand of sugar free chewing gum.

UseOfWeapons · 08/10/2022 13:18

None of the above. But you like them, so pick it out of a hat, or flip a coin, you’ll soon know what your gut wants to do.

MumUndone · 08/10/2022 12:50

All beautiful names.

RuthW · 08/10/2022 12:42

Xanthe Fleur.

Love both.

Mumrey · 08/10/2022 12:15

Love Xanthe Fleur, is Elowen pronounced
El-o-en?

RosesAndHellebores · 08/10/2022 12:08

Elowen Xanthe works for me if there's nothing else in the mix.

Whilst Fleur is pretty, it does sound a bit like "urgh" and reminds me of Fleur from the Forsyte saga who was a bit of a minx.

Personally I'd prefer something more mainstream to accompany either of those names which I do like very much.

Xanthe Rose or Elowen Rose perhaps as a nod to Fleur.

Keroppi · 08/10/2022 12:05

Xanthe is gorgeous and classic

atotalshambles · 08/10/2022 12:05

i would also bear in mind that 'Fleur' might end up being a football-loving non-flowery type of character. I had a girl in my class called Joy who was the opposite of joyful.

9thlife · 08/10/2022 12:04

Love xanthe, always have.
don’t know how to pronounce the other one

atotalshambles · 08/10/2022 12:03

I like Fleur as a first name (easy to pronounce and a simple nice name). Any X names are tricky to pronounce and I think Elowen would just be El or Ellie at school or so if you like either of those then go for it instead

Needmorelego · 08/10/2022 12:01

The only one of those I know how to pronounce is Fleur but I think it sounds a bit like "urrgh". Sorry.
But I did know a Fleur at school and back then thought it sounded well fancy. Her brothers had really ordinary names (similar to Mark/Tom/Dave - that sort of thing) so I wonder how she ended up with her name.

Unflip

1 2