Need accurate pronuciation and spelling. French Speakers particularly welcome!

[HappyWifeandMum]

My husband and I really like the name Anjali, but want a name that is closer to our own faith in meaning. I have been told that Angelie is the only legitimate spelling for the pronunciation we want, which is "Ahn-zhe-lee" Is this accurate? Are there other legitimate spellings for this name that have this pronunciation, and is the pronunciation correct in the first place? Thank you so very much!!! :)

For those who do not know, Anjali is Sanskrit and means "Tribute" "Offering" or "Offering with both hands" The concept behind the meaning is one of making an offering to the gods with both hands. Angelie comes from Angel, which means "Messenger" or "Messenger of God".

I'm a bit confused by your question.

What faith are you? Where do you live? Are you more keen on the meaning or the sound?

Angelie is not a French name, it's an English one and is pronounced anne-ge-lee (like Angela). If it existed in French it would be pronounced ohn-zje-lee. If you live in England you'll have a hard time convincing anyone to pronounce it the French way, especially as it's an English name.

I can't think of another English name that's pronounced the same, Angela is similar though, or Angeline/Evangeline.

Anjali is lovely...why don't you just use that? It's fairly well recognised afaik over here.

Might seem pretentious to those who think that way, but I really can't think of a suitable replacement which would be said the same way.

i would pronounce is anne zha lee

The French name is Angèle. There's also Angélique.

I knew an Anjali at school. She got called Anj.

L'officiel des prénoms lists Ange, Angela, Angèle, Angelica, Angelina, Angeline, Angélique and Angie. No Angelie.

I would not pronounce Anjali properly.

Sorry... I'm across the pond. (U.S.A.) I was told by another name board whose members are from Spain, Scandinavia, and various other European countries that "Angelie" is the only way to properly spell the French pronunciation. I am trying to verify the accuracy/inaccuracy of that information. I am looking for both pronunciation and spelling together. We want a name that is more reflective of Christianity than of Hinduism and Buddhism, and since Sanskrit's primary function is to serve as the liturgical language for those two religions, we thought to try to find something closer to our own. If that makes sense to you... Anyway, I just want to make sure I am not making up some assumed pronunciation and erroneously slapping a name on a child. I am looking to educate myself on the name rather than just charge blindly ahead and later have the rest of the world think I am moron! Do you know the pronunciation for Angéle? I have gotten mixed reports on that one as well...

Thank you so very much for your time, and for any help you can give me! :)

Angèle is pronounced ohn-zjelle. No -ee sound at the end.

I don't know why they've said that Angelie is how to spell the French pronunciation, there is no French name that is pronounced like that, sorry.

But I really think you'll have trouble getting non-French speakers to use a French pronunciation.

I had a feeling that info might be off more than a bit... Which is what brought me here!

I totally agree with you! Nothing worse than trying to get people to stretch beyond the sounds of their own language! Though it is likely to be a middle name, so we won't really have to worry about it getting butchered with an American accent... It is more for us to be able to enjoy our child (If we have another girl) having a truly lovely name. :)

It'll be pronounced the same way as Angel or butchered to on-JELL. But if the meaning is more important than the pronunciation go ahead and use it :)