If your friend wanted to call their daughter Lily

[Vagaceratops]

(totally outing myself here but ho hum)

And they thought that the spelling Lille was really nice, would you point out that that is a place in France and the pronunciation was different?

Or would you leave it and let them find out on their own?

Mrsjay, she really, really was. I get on with most types of people, but she really was too stupid to like. And it manifested itself in all kinds of bigotry. She hated foreigners, for one thing... She actually told me this. Her foreign friend. And I got judgey about her in all kinds of ways which would get me flamed on mn.

as you said exfriend thick and ignorant people annoy me, I am not the brightest bulb but when they are a bit thick in that way I give them a wide berth,

Oops, I didn't mean to spell Aimee the same way twice there

yes it was a bit samey

Friends don't let friends accidentally name their children after rather dull cities.

(I've spent two weekends in Lille. It was not pleasant).

We have several Mollie's round here.
I always feel guilty for thinking of one of them as "Mollie who spells it a ridiculous way"

I can't remember what the spelling is, looks vaguely Celtic, but it's different.

So the Norgewian pronunciation would be Lill-ee then?
Fine then How do you know that is not what she is aiming for? lots of names are spelled differently to their English pronunciation.

I spoke to her this morning on the way home from school.

I played it dumb, and said 'isn't there a place in France spelt like that', she looked a bit concerned but said she didnt know.

Just got a text - she is googled it and it is a city in France, so she is going to think about it.

aw good now delete this thread she might read it i

Well done that was the kindest thing to do and done without making her feel silly, you just gave her the info to make her own decision.

I thought the Norwegian pronunciation was more "Lilleh" than "Lillee". Anyway, more people a kid in Britain mixes with are likely to know French than Norwegian.

Anyway, yes, I agree, delicately handled, OP.

I'm Scottish and the name 'Catriona' is pronounced Katrina. When (normally non-Scottish) people use the spelling but pronounce it cat-ree-oh-nah it's a shame because it isn't the name they think it is, they're just saying it wrong. Not being judgey: uniqueness, alternative spellings, and different tastes are obviously fine. But not knowing how to pronounce a name and using it incorrectly is a pity. For the child's whole life it'll be a case of people pronouncing it right (e.g. Leel and Katrina) and the actual person named it saying it wrong (Lily and Cat-ree-oh-nah). That's a shame! You did the right and kind thing, OP.

I a sure there will some language/dialect somewhere in the world that would pronouce it Lily yes but not in the UK where the child will presumably grow up, and enjoy a life of saying not it's LILY not LEEL every bloody day.

TBH if I'd picked a name that other people would have trouble saying or had a mad or rude meaning, I would want a friend to tell me before the baby is born, rather than let me and my baby look a fool.

I would politely suggest the actually ways of spelling Lily

Lilly
Lilli
Lillie
Lili

It would really annoy me having people mispronounce my DD's name, its annoying enough people cant spell it right.

OP - Did you mention to the friend that the French town was pronouced Leel? She might think they pronounce it Lilly and still call her child it.

What next, Katy written as Cate

Like Cate Blanchett

Yes, I said the French town was Lille, and pronounced it Leel.

What did she say OP?

Wonder if she found the incontinence pads too when she googled ...

I might, but you can spell/pronounce names how you like.

If she really wants a daft spelling she would need to add an extra e really, so lillee. God it actually causes my physical pain to type that.

I might, but you can spell/pronounce names how you like

Of course you can, but why create a future unnecessary problem for you and your child. I mean why give a child a difficult or awkwardly spelt name and then spend the rest of your life getting impatient with people who can't spell or say it?

"but you can spell/pronounce names how you like"

Not here in Germany!

Well done, but to be honest I would have said "but in English, that isn't the right letters to make the "Lily" sound".
Bollocks to "you can spell names how you like".
What, I can spell Sally "Frying Pan". No, I can't.

I actually quite like Lille, pronounced Lily, but I don't think it will work in practice - people who hear 'Lily' will write Lily, and people who see Lille written down will say Leel. It's like Elle being pronounced Ellie, and there, may I suggest, is the compromise: I give you Lillie!