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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help please!

40 replies

Livvysmumhasgotitgoingon · 28/11/2024 13:42

We have sort of settled on a name (not 100% but it's a top contender) for baby girl. We love Lenny/Lennie/Lenni but unsure about spelling. Would love opinions on nicest spelling of this name for a girl and also middle name suggestions that might go nicely with this? So far we're thinking Lenny Jean, Lenny Violet or Lenny Rey? Thank you in advance!

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TheBirdintheCave · 02/12/2024 19:01

@Sunnyflow Ok well, all I'm doing is parroting what I heard on Forvo and read on Behind the Name (usually an accurate source of naming info!).

shoopshoopdedoo · 01/12/2024 20:34

Sunnyflow · 01/12/2024 15:41

*No native German speaker would ever pronounce Leni as Lennie or as Laynie.

It's always pronounced with a LONG eh sound.*

But it’s just a matter of accent/where you’re from isn’t it? A German speaker would say it in one way, whereas a Greek speaker would preumably say Leni in the same way as Lenny, especially if a diminutive of Eleni (pronounced Eh-Lenny)! I’m sure most people would remember the intended pronunciation even if it needed to be corrected initially.

Sunnyflow · 01/12/2024 15:42

Strange that i can't make any font appear in bold?!

Sunnyflow · 01/12/2024 15:41

*No native German speaker would ever pronounce Leni as Lennie or as Laynie.

It's always pronounced with a LONG eh sound.*

Sunnyflow · 01/12/2024 15:40

*@Sunnyflow As far as I know it has a number of pronunciations! I listened to a few German people say it on Forvo before I posted the original message.

Some use a short 'e', some use an 'ay' sound and some use 'ee'. Quite versatile!*

No native German speaker would ever pronounce Leni as Lennie or as Laynie.

It's always pronounced with a LONG eh sound.

Original poster
Livvysmumhasgotitgoingon · 30/11/2024 15:34

CurlewKate · 30/11/2024 12:30

@Leeloo1233 "Lenny Jean! What a cool girl name" why is it "cool" for a girl to have a boy's name?

We are happy with our name choice. We'll never please everyone and that's OK, you don't have to like it. We weren't asking opinions on our choice, we were asking opinions on how to spell it, so while I appreciate not everyone will like it, posting comments telling me I shouldn't use a boys name is probably just going to be a waste of your time. 😊

OP posts:
Leeloo1233 · 30/11/2024 12:54

CurlewKate · 30/11/2024 12:30

@Leeloo1233 "Lenny Jean! What a cool girl name" why is it "cool" for a girl to have a boy's name?

I was mostly referring to Jean, which is a cool girl name in my opinion. But Lenny Jean sounds awesome. And to me Lenny sounds quite feminine actually, but then again I wasn't born in the UK and have lived abroad quite a bit. There are other countries than England you know!

TheBirdintheCave · 30/11/2024 12:54

@Sunnyflow As far as I know it has a number of pronunciations! I listened to a few German people say it on Forvo before I posted the original message.

Some use a short 'e', some use an 'ay' sound and some use 'ee'. Quite versatile!

SnowFrogJelly · 30/11/2024 12:38

CurlewKate · 30/11/2024 12:30

@Leeloo1233 "Lenny Jean! What a cool girl name" why is it "cool" for a girl to have a boy's name?

Exactly

SnowFrogJelly · 30/11/2024 12:38

Lenny is a boys name

CurlewKate · 30/11/2024 12:30

@Leeloo1233 "Lenny Jean! What a cool girl name" why is it "cool" for a girl to have a boy's name?

Sunnyflow · 30/11/2024 08:31

TheBirdintheCave · 28/11/2024 15:27

So the German diminutive is spelt Leni. I'd keep it simple and go with that.

But Leni has a long E sound.

The op wants it pronounced with a short E!

I like Lennie Jean!

Leeloo1233 · 30/11/2024 08:08

Lenny Jean! What a cool girl name 😎

CurlewKate · 29/11/2024 19:30

@Livvysmumhasgotitgoingon "
So my partner is Greek and it's a gender neutral name where he's from"

That's great-if she is going to grow up Greece. It's a boy's name in the UK.

LadyGabriella · 29/11/2024 11:53

Elena with Lennie as nn?

user1492757084 · 29/11/2024 11:47

I prefer Leni, as a nick name for Lenore or Eleni.
I like ..
Lenore Kate
Lenore Iris
Lenore Victoria
Lenore Phoebe
Eleni Kathleen
Eleni Rosa
Eleni Louise
Elena Jean

Sashya · 29/11/2024 01:28

The problem with giving a name that is a diminutive of a different name is that your child will be a grown up one day. And a cutesy little girl's name will not be as cute on a grow up woman.

Why not give her a name that works for an adult - say Helena (a very Greek name just as well) - and use Lenni as the name she goes by as a child.
At least she'll have a choice as a grown up which name to use.

RogueFemale · 29/11/2024 01:20

I don't understand Lenny/Lennie/Lenni for a name, girl or boy. I know they could be a nn for Leonard, (e.g. Lenny Bruce), so I don't understand why you'd choose a nn as a girl's name. Yes, there's also Leni Riefenstal, but that's a nn for Helene.

livanlaterlaterlater · 29/11/2024 00:26

Lennie Eliza is a great compromise.

Firsttimebabymummy · 29/11/2024 00:22

Leni Violet is my favourite .

Leni Jean is cool too.

Suggestions

Leni Margot
Leni Juliet
Leni Alexandra
Leni Katherine

shoopshoopdedoo · 28/11/2024 21:22

Livvysmumhasgotitgoingon · 28/11/2024 21:04

So my partner is Greek and it's a gender neutral name where he's from and I quite like the sound of it for a girl anyway. Just our personal preference 😊

Show quote history

Oooh, in that case I change my opinion - Eleni (Leni) works perfectly!

TheBirdintheCave · 28/11/2024 21:18

@Livvysmumhasgotitgoingon Eleni is right there if your OH is Greek. Makes far more sense than Lennie in that context.

Original poster
Livvysmumhasgotitgoingon · 28/11/2024 21:04

CurlewKate · 28/11/2024 16:59

Why are you giving your dd a boy's name? At least give her a girl's name and shorten it. Helen or Eleanor for example.

So my partner is Greek and it's a gender neutral name where he's from and I quite like the sound of it for a girl anyway. Just our personal preference 😊

OP posts:
shoopshoopdedoo · 28/11/2024 20:23

I love it spelt Leni. Personally, I’d use Eleanor or Helen(a) as the “official” name but introduce her as Leni from the start. I know lots of people don’t see the point in this kind of thing though!

Leni Jean is my favourite. ❤️

Moreteaandchocolate · 28/11/2024 19:34

OSU · 28/11/2024 18:00

I think Leni looks the most feminine although my phone auto corrected it to Lenin.

How about Leonora then shorten so she has choices.

Leonora Kate sounds nice.

Love Leonora nn Leni