Laurent? | Mumsnet

atthebottomofthehill · 2023-07-18T23:09:39+00:00

Can't use Laurence as it clashes with surname but love the name. Is Laurent an option?

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FloweryName · 20/07/2023 22:04

I know a (French) Laurent and I’m still not really sure how I should be pronouncing his name. I think he just quietly and politely puts up with any way British people try to say it.

It just awkward and clunky to say nicely in British accents.

Vetoncall · 20/07/2023 21:55

I used to know a Laurent very well, his parents are French and he was born there but was mostly brought up and educated in the US then university and career in the UK. He'd gone by the name Larry to everyone except his parents since his teens, the name Laurent wasn't a goer at high school in Connecticut apparently 😄

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 20/07/2023 16:58

I just had a thought- isn’t the Orang Utan character in the Jungle Book based on Louis Armstrong? He’s called King Louie!

Apparently, he graciously accepted it when people (frequently) did call him LEW-ee - but he always stated his own name as LEW-iss.

StillWantingADog · 20/07/2023 14:39

If you’re French and move in circles where people are likely to pronounce properly then it’s lovely
otherwise, no

winelove · 20/07/2023 14:38

I love it and would use it and not a bone of French in me.
I love Lawrence or Laurence as well.
Also love Louis

ChocChipHandbag · 20/07/2023 13:17

ChocChipHandbag · 20/07/2023 12:30

Interesting, can’t say I’ve ever heard him talk, but it makes sense as presumably it’s the same Americanisation as St Louis (which I did know thanks to the Judy Garland film!). Every day’s a school day.

Show quote history

I just had a thought- isn’t the Orang Utan character in the Jungle Book based on Louis Armstrong? He’s called King Louie!

FayCarew · 20/07/2023 13:15

St Louis is in the USA. Louis Armstrong was american,
We're (mainly) in the UK, so Louis is usually Lou-ee.

The posters who say you only need to correct someone once have different experience to those who say otherwise. We're saying for a reason.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 20/07/2023 13:15

No it was a brand like Timotei!

Was it Wagon Wheel or Toilet Duck?!

ChocChipHandbag · 20/07/2023 12:52

Ohmylovejune · 20/07/2023 12:48

No it was a brand like Timotei!

“Timotei” is a name though, not heard of Timothée Chalamet?

Ohmylovejune · 20/07/2023 12:48

No it was a brand like Timotei!

ChocChipHandbag · 20/07/2023 12:45

Ohmylovejune · 20/07/2023 12:42

It was very similar!

Similar, in that it was actually a first name before it was a brand? I’m not sure that’s in the same league as Rimmel or Chanel. More like Estée or Max.

Ohmylovejune · 20/07/2023 12:42

It was very similar!

AbsoIutelyLovely · 20/07/2023 12:36

Ohmylovejune · 20/07/2023 12:31

We were on a plane coming home and a (very loud) lady sat near us saud she could wait to get home to see her daughter "Rimmel" (not that name but one just as obvious). It did create roll.eyes and sniggers around her. Probably her whole loudness and crassness added to.it, but, no....leave brand names alone!

Maybe it’s Maybelline? 😂

TrueScrumptious · 20/07/2023 12:33

Ohmylovejune · 20/07/2023 12:31

We were on a plane coming home and a (very loud) lady sat near us saud she could wait to get home to see her daughter "Rimmel" (not that name but one just as obvious). It did create roll.eyes and sniggers around her. Probably her whole loudness and crassness added to.it, but, no....leave brand names alone!

What brand name?

Ohmylovejune · 20/07/2023 12:31

We were on a plane coming home and a (very loud) lady sat near us saud she could wait to get home to see her daughter "Rimmel" (not that name but one just as obvious). It did create roll.eyes and sniggers around her. Probably her whole loudness and crassness added to.it, but, no....leave brand names alone!

ChocChipHandbag · 20/07/2023 12:30

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 20/07/2023 12:27

Huh, you mean Satchmo the trumpet player? I thought he was Lou-ee?

Yes, Satchmo. He always referred to himself as 'LEW-iss'.

Interesting, can’t say I’ve ever heard him talk, but it makes sense as presumably it’s the same Americanisation as St Louis (which I did know thanks to the Judy Garland film!). Every day’s a school day.

ChocChipHandbag · 20/07/2023 12:28

I think maybe Louis Smith the British gymnast is pronounced Lou-Iss?
But of course most people now know Prince Louis, who is definitely a Lou-ee.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 20/07/2023 12:27

Huh, you mean Satchmo the trumpet player? I thought he was Lou-ee?

Yes, Satchmo. He always referred to himself as 'LEW-iss'.

ChocChipHandbag · 20/07/2023 12:25

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 20/07/2023 12:18

Except when you're talking about the city of St Louis in the US...

And Louis (LEW-iss) Armstrong.

Huh, you mean Satchmo the trumpet player? I thought he was Lou-ee?

SmartHome · 20/07/2023 12:21

I don't get this whole people are stupid so won't pronounce it right thing? Maybe in GP surgeries etc wher they don't know him but otherwise it goes like this. Kid turns up at nursery, toddler group, reception of wherever with his parents. Parents introduce kids to staff and say this is Laurent, pronouned properly. Staff clarify pronounciatian a couple of times if it's tricky (Laurent isn't). Staff call kid Laurant as do all his peers from day 1 and little kids think nothing of it.

My kids go to school with lots of French (and other nationalities) kids and no ones name gets mispronounced. Antoine is called Antoine, not An-tonee. Usoma is called Usoma not Us-omma. Etc etc. Kids really aren't that thick and if you meet the odd adult that hasn't travelled much, so what, GP receptionists often mispronounce my boring British name, the world doesn't end.

I like Laurent, it's a really nice name. Also Loic. And Lorien. I would probably assume one or both parents was french though but, again, so what.

FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper · 20/07/2023 12:18

Except when you're talking about the city of St Louis in the US...

And Louis (LEW-iss) Armstrong.

Marynotsocontrary · 20/07/2023 12:10

FayCarew · 20/07/2023 11:09

But Louis is Lou-ee, and Lewis is Lew-is, so quite different

Except when you're talking about the city of St Louis in the US...

FayCarew · 20/07/2023 11:09

But Louis is Lou-ee, and Lewis is Lew-is, so quite different

Frogmila · 20/07/2023 10:55

I like it. Very elegant written, and I don't think there is an awful difference between the french and an anglicised pronunciation. Kinda like Louis/ Lewis.

TheBirdintheCave · 20/07/2023 10:53

I worked with a very nice Laurent for a few years and no one had an issue with his name. It was our colleague Marine that they all struggled to pronounce.