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Baby names

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Original poster

Baby name Leni

80 replies

Joy1990 · 20/05/2024 20:34

Hi what are people’s thoughts on the baby name Leni? I love it but pronounced Lay-nee but I’m worried she would get called Lennie all the time? What would most of you see this name as?

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Catnipcupcakes · 30/05/2024 14:48

Littlelillies · 22/05/2024 15:54

Leni Riefenstahl is not a great name association!

Yeah. My first thought was Leni Riefenstahl but I don’t think most people would make that connection. The only reason I did was that I happen to have an inexplicable fascination with documentaries about mountaineering.

Catnipcupcakes · 30/05/2024 14:42

I’d say Lenny on first look. I know that in Europe/Scandinavia it would be pronounced in some lovely way I can’t guess at.

As a Brit if I wanted it elongated I’d spell it Laney.

zingally · 30/05/2024 14:34

The pronunciation Lay-ne would never have occurred to me I'm afraid. I'd have assumed Lenny.

Cmille62 · 30/05/2024 00:52

This is so strange! My little girl is called Leni ( Leni-Rose full Sunday name haha) and she just turned 1 on the 20th of May, which is the day you posted! I was looking up her name popularity and came across this!

To answer your question though her name is the pronunciation ‘Lenny’ but we adore it and get so many compliments on her name x

mathanxiety · 23/05/2024 02:37

I'd pronounce it Lenny.

If you want Laney, then spell it that way.

sunshinedaisy123 · 22/05/2024 21:12

I know someone who spells it Lanie

MaxandMeg · 22/05/2024 15:55

sprigatito · 20/05/2024 20:44

It makes me think of Leni Riefenstahl

Yup....

Littlelillies · 22/05/2024 15:54

Leni Riefenstahl is not a great name association!

Pieceofpurplesky · 22/05/2024 15:09

I've taught a Laynie, Lainie, Lena and a Leni (Lenny). So I would say it would mostly be pronounced Lenny by strangers but once they know it should be OK

Littlelillies · 22/05/2024 14:27

I would spell it Layna or Leynie in that case. That helps English speakers how to pronounce it in English.

WittyFatball · 22/05/2024 13:33

Yes it's the nearest sound in English as we don't have the same eh sound.

Littlelillies · 22/05/2024 13:30

Neither Leni or Lena are pronounced with an AY sound.

Maybe that's the best English speakers can do ConfusedGrin

user1492757084 · 22/05/2024 13:08

Leni is easily learnt and easily corrected.
Use it; people will soon get used to the pronunciation.

Then there is Lena - pronounced like Lois Layna.

BobbyBiscuits · 22/05/2024 12:21

@LiterallyOnFire either way it's literally my favourite girls name! Ever since I knew a girl at school called it.

LiterallyOnFire · 22/05/2024 12:13

BobbyBiscuits · 22/05/2024 08:57

I adore Leni. I thought it was pronounced Lennie though? The girl I know called it was. It's adorable. Scandi name isn't it?

TBF, you get both pronunciations because the full/root name, Helena, also has two pronunciations: the anglicised way and the Germanic way.

legendwill · 22/05/2024 10:05

Sounds a common name

BobbyBiscuits · 22/05/2024 08:57

I adore Leni. I thought it was pronounced Lennie though? The girl I know called it was. It's adorable. Scandi name isn't it?

Littlelillies · 22/05/2024 08:54

If you want Laynie, how about Elaine?

Leni is not pronounced with a Y sound.

pinkmags · 22/05/2024 08:52

But the German name Leni is pronounced as lay-nee.

No it's not!

Why are people assuming such incorrect pronunciations? Confused

giadaros · 21/05/2024 19:15

pinkmags · 21/05/2024 08:08

There is absolutely no Y sound in Leni or in Eleni. Englisch speakers seem to add random sounds Confused

This. I'm a Leni, short for Eleni. I hate it when people pronounce it Lay-nee

pinkmags · 21/05/2024 18:31

people are suggesting different spellings to Leni such as Laney

For English speakers, Laney is perfect!

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 21/05/2024 18:09

Toooldforthis36 · 21/05/2024 07:50

Missing the point here. It’s not the name poster means - it’s the butchered spellings!

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Yes I had realised and apologised upthread!

pinkmags · 21/05/2024 13:55

As someone who spends half their life dictating the spelling of their name I’d say don’t do that to your child.

Yes! And don't pick a foreign name that doesn't work in English.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 21/05/2024 08:16

I’d probably make the spelling to be how you want it to sound. As someone who spends half their life dictating the spelling of their name I’d say don’t do that to your child.

pinkmags · 21/05/2024 08:10

It's the 10th most popular German girls name and "Lay-nee" is the standard German pronunciation of the name Leni

It is absolutely NOT pronounced Lay-nee !!!!!