Do I tell her?

There's also a Scottish village called Saline pronounced Sah-Lin so that's what I think of when I see it.

Yes tell her x

Saline just means salty, or solution of salt in water. It's being used in product names - to represent a water solution of salt.
Is it really that bad?

Sure, mention it once - but don't gossip about it with friends. And don't expect your friend to be surprised by the meaning or even change the name.

But she's French? Shouldn't it be a case of her choice if she wants to give the child a French name?

Many years ago my French au pair confided in me that if she had a daughter in the future she’d name her Fanny. Well that was awkward conversation. Anyway roll on 20+ years and her daughter is named Sophie. Phew.

I'm not English, but thanks for making assumptions. And don't tell me what I think or believe about other nations, you're totally wrong.

Tbf kids have a much wider variety of names now than they did when I was at school, so on reflection I don't think they'll think anything of it. There was a child called Pirate in my child's class. The adults were mildly surprised, the children were not. They really don't care when they're very young. Secondary school age... more likely, but at that point kids will use anything to get at others if they're the bullying type.

I think you have to tell her or her child will be teased forever. Of course she might still decide to go with the name but I think if she does they'll change the pronunciation of it pretty quickly.
Just mention it, your friend might not have even thought of that.

Thinking about it, I had a similar-ish situation with a South African friend, who was considering a name for her DD which was - about 25 years ago - very closely associated with a comedy character on a TV show. If I remember correctly, I said something along the lines of “it’s a lovely name - but just so you’re aware, some British people might think of this character”. And I googled it for her. She was (I’m pretty sure!) grateful for the heads up (as the “Channel” lady would have been, by the sound of it) and her DD is now called something else. I think I’d take the “just so you’re aware in a British context…..” approach here.

Yes, it's only fair. No need to say it in a 'how stupid, what were you thinking?' way but just neutrally.

"We're calling her Saline."
"Ah, as in the salty solution used in medication and to clean contact lenses?"

"We're calling him Adolf."
"Ah, as in the former evil Nazi leader of Germany who was responsible for millions of innocent deaths?"

@Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService , my name was never on the pencil cases and souvenirs. I didn't care.
A friend with a common name used to get ones but with the slightly more popular spelling.

You've got to tell her.

Yep, I have always said say-leen so it makes complete sense if I have picked it up from American hospital dramas 😅

And same - I read it as sah-LEEN.

But although the other kids can get pencil cases, Coke bottles and Toblerone with their names on, how cool will you be as the only one with half of your bathroom cabinet already personalised to you?!

She must have been born some time ago, as she's now all grown up and a MN stalwart!

Definitely tell her, if she stays in the UK it will be a source of mild amusement/confusion for everyone the poor girl meets for the rest of her life. It’s a bit of a cross to bear for the child. But mention it once, then drop it. It’s not as bad as chlamydia, or Maelena, or Rose if your surname is West.

I would probably pronounce the IV fluid as Say-leen (in the UK), likely because of my embarrassing amount of exposure to US hospital TV shows and lack of exposure to UK hospitals in any regard.

But interestingly when I saw it written as a name I read it as Sah-leen (so closer to Celine).

@Goldwren1923 , yes, I know. You are not the only French and Spanish speaker in the world.

Whatever. Same sense of superiority

@Goldwren1923 , many of us here aren't English. Many of us are British, but British and English are not the same.

I speak Spanish.
It is salino for masculine/salina for feminine, first of all, but it’s obvious to every Spanish speaker what Saline means and it comes from a word salty./salt related.

in French it’s salin for masculine and salinE for feminine. Meaning salty or salt related.
it is used in salt marshes, salty water etc.

I’d tell her if only to save her kid a lifetime of teasing whether she’s brought up in Spain or France rather than the UK. Disclaimer, I have an unusual name so got lots of teasing at school.

There are far better names like Selina, Celine etc.,

It’s not a brand name.
and French person knows what Saline means

honestly English people sometimes make me laugh, they think they know everything better than anyone else and all other nations are idiots 😁

I'd definitely say something.

I mean it's quite a pretty name... but I would tell her.

And in English saline usually pronounced say-line, rather than sa-leen, which to me would be another reason for avoiding it as a name.