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Baby names

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

Original poster

Leonie?

34 replies

ghouliee · 03/08/2024 13:02

Would be pronounced LEE-oh-nee with the stress on the first syllable. What do you think?

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sel2223 · 14/08/2024 11:07

Love the name Leonie

Only ever heard it pronounced Lee-oh-nee with no real emphasis on one syllable over the other

AutumnColours9 · 08/08/2024 23:20

I know

Leoni (Lee OH nee)
Leona
Leonie (LAY oh ne)

It is more used in Australia and Germany

RedOnyx · 05/08/2024 10:13

I work with two, both German and therefore pronounced "Lay-oh-nee". It's a nice enough name.

MaltipooMama · 04/08/2024 21:07

I remember knowing a girl called Leonie (she was in Brownies with me 30 years ago so I don't know why I remember it lol), but she used to get so annoyed that people always pronounced it "lee-oh-nee". I think it's a nice name though whichever way it's pronounced!

chesterlestreet · 04/08/2024 20:55

Adding a new pronunciation - my Canadian cousin Leonie pronounced it Lay-nee

inthekiddle · 04/08/2024 20:45

Leonora nn Leonie is better

GoldenRetrieverBert · 04/08/2024 20:38

The fact that there are 101 pronunciations on this thread alone is the exact reason full shouldn't call your child that.

They'll be forever explaining/correcting their name.

Take it from someone who has had to do the same for nearly 50 years...please don't.

FayCarew · 04/08/2024 19:58

LEE-o-ny, LAY-o-ny, Lee-O-ny, Lay-O-ny. LEE-uh-ny, LAY-uh-ny

RuthW · 04/08/2024 19:37

Lovely. Didn't know there was any other way to say it.

peaceinourtime · 04/08/2024 15:21

I knew one when I was in primary school, she was school admin support staff aged in her fifties in the 1990s

crostini · 04/08/2024 12:36

It's absolutely gorgeous.

Mandarinaduck · 04/08/2024 10:22

I love this name, pronounced the way you’ve described.
It’s international and very classic; strong but pretty.

Sundaysunshine21 · 03/08/2024 21:54

I really like it, I’ve only met one, she pronounced it Lee-oh-nee.

Summertimer · 03/08/2024 17:05

miniaturepixieonacid · 03/08/2024 13:55

No. Durham. Don't know that she stayed there though. I only taught her for a few weeks when I was on teaching practice. She was in Year 2 in mid 00s.

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Definitely not the same one. The one I know went to Oxford and was in the final of University Challenge

iamsoshocked · 03/08/2024 15:32

My relative has this name and pronounces it as "Lear-knee".

HoHoHoliday · 03/08/2024 15:10

I really like it, pronounced Leon-y, I think that's how you mean. I like the other pronunciation less (Lee-OH-ny).
I've only ever met one so like a pp said it's that nice balance of not commonly used but everyone will recognise.

murasaki · 03/08/2024 15:03

FayCarew · 03/08/2024 15:01

@ghouliee , I'd say LEE-uh-nee would represent your pronunciation.

I think that like Naomi it will get several pronunciations.

Haha. I end up answering to anything that sounds vaguely like it.

Apart from when I was 5 and the santa in the grotto in John Lewis said Mary and I worried that he'd go to the wrong house with my presents.

FayCarew · 03/08/2024 15:01

@ghouliee , I'd say LEE-uh-nee would represent your pronunciation.

I think that like Naomi it will get several pronunciations.

Original poster
ghouliee · 03/08/2024 14:32

Pronunciation would be like Leah-nee, wasn’t sure how to represent that!

sounds like some pronunciation confusion will happen but generally consensus seems positive.

OP posts:
Moreteaandchocolate · 03/08/2024 14:11

I love this name! One of my favourites and so underused! I know two but they are both pronounced LAY-uh-nee, with the emphasis on Lay. I think it’s a gorgeous name.

FayCarew · 03/08/2024 14:03

She'll get Lee-O-nie a lot. I'd say it Lay-O-ni

WhatThenEh · 03/08/2024 14:01

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SossijRoll · 03/08/2024 13:55

Lovely, I know a grown up one. Pronounced Lee-oh-nee. Emphasis on the ‘oh’ though.

miniaturepixieonacid · 03/08/2024 13:55

Summertimer · 03/08/2024 13:32

In Cambridge?

Show quote history

No. Durham. Don't know that she stayed there though. I only taught her for a few weeks when I was on teaching practice. She was in Year 2 in mid 00s.

JuliaJohnson87 · 03/08/2024 13:47

I prefer Leonah. I think the emphasis on the " lee" part doesn't sound quite right and she'll have a lifetime of having it mispronounced.

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