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Original poster

Fleur?

33 replies

Mysecretumbrella · 06/10/2011 14:17

For a completely non-French family? I like it a lot but am wondering if some (grandparents maybe) may find the pronounciation tricky and also is it a bit... bleugh??

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BlueChampagne · 06/10/2011 15:26

No it's great. Makes me think of the poet Fleur Adcock and she's from New Zealand. And most people do some French at school.

ItsGrimUpNorth · 06/10/2011 15:29

Very pretty name.

oohlaalaa · 06/10/2011 15:39

Its lovely

Original poster
Mysecretumbrella · 06/10/2011 16:14

Ooh good, positive responses so far. Thank you. DH is worried that Dmil is going to mangle the pronounciation but hopefully once we'd explained it the first time it would be OK.

Awaiting some negative comments now...

OP posts:
overmydeadbody · 06/10/2011 16:17

Not a name I personally like but I can pronounce it and don't think many people (esp. family) would pronounce it wrong once you have told them, so go for it if you like it.

MrsJohnDeere · 06/10/2011 16:17

Love it. Surprisingly underused IMHO.

minipie · 06/10/2011 16:24

I am in two minds on this one.

Written I think it's pretty and the meaning is v pretty of course.

But then when I say it it just sounds a bit too much like Ugh .... Fleeuurghh if you see what I mean.

But I do still like it...

ShroudOfHamsters · 06/10/2011 16:48

Yes it looks nicer written than pronounced... or rather, the pronunciation can be lovely but it's got the potential to sound terrible with certain accents!

'Fleeeeeuuurgh'

Good name though. How badly do you think your MIL might mangle?

Fflur in Welsh. Often pronounced 'Flea-arr' by the non-Welsh. Eeek.

mathanxiety · 06/10/2011 16:58

Rhymes with Blur and suggests the flux to me (aka dysentery).

babycham42 · 06/10/2011 17:06

I love it and always have.It reminds me of little girls dressed in the beautifully stylish French way.I think it would also be a very attractive name to carry into adulthood.

Meteorite · 06/10/2011 17:23

It is a bit like bleeurrgh, sorry!

Original poster
Mysecretumbrella · 06/10/2011 18:32

Yes minipie and shroudofhamsters, you've pretty much summed up my thoughts on it. Seems lovely in theory but...

MIL is Scottish - I'm trying to imagine how she might say it but am not sure.

I do like it though so I think it's a strong contender. 6 months to go though!

OP posts:
Lovethesea · 06/10/2011 18:40

Makes me think of the Fleur in Harry Potter, but that's no bad thing!

I don't like the urrrrrgh either though.

Dru6 · 06/10/2011 19:46

We're undecided between Fleur and Alice. My husband is French and his mother asked if it's a real name?!? I think she was just being awkward because she doesn't like it. My mum, on the other hand, loves it!

I too am concerned about the 'urrrrgh' and regional accents issue but I'd say about 80% of the response I've had has been positive. I almost think it's works better in English than French because to name your child 'flower' would be a little odd.

meditrina · 06/10/2011 19:55

Fleur in the Forsyte Saga to me!

HP a more likely playground association.

It's not a name that does it for me, but there's nothing wrong with it.

MelinaM · 06/10/2011 23:24

Reminds me of Forsyte tooSmile

I love the name Fleur, if they can't pronounce it pack them off to elocutionWink

FreddieMercurysBolero · 07/10/2011 00:00

I like it, but would be worried about the pronunciation. Flower is English does sound strange Dru6. We considered calling DS (if he was a gir) Blathinid, which is Irish for flower, and it's a pretty sound too. Flower is just not a pretty sound I think.

nooka · 07/10/2011 04:55

I'm afriad I think it sounds quite unpleasant.

ShroudOfHamsters · 07/10/2011 07:15

OP, my DH is Scottish.

Depends where she's from, but a kind of 'Flewur' sound is the most likely. The middle bit becoming really strongly pronounced as 'oo' or 'ew' rather than a soft 'eu'

Hmmm!

lateatwork · 07/10/2011 14:28

hi... knew a fleur at school and no problems with pronunciation.

I would add though, in Australia it is a very popular brand of tampons. That may or may not bother you!!

rachel234 · 07/10/2011 14:31

Depends on how it is pronounced - the French way is lovely but I'm not sure non-French speakers would cope.

MamaLazarou · 07/10/2011 14:35

The trouble with Fleur is... it looks so pretty written down, but the pronunciation is a bit iffy. It sounds to me like the beginning of a name rather than the whole thing. I know a little 2-yr-old Fleur and she has real problems pronouncing it!

susiedaisy · 07/10/2011 14:36

That would put me off a bit the tampon thing tbh

Original poster
Mysecretumbrella · 07/10/2011 15:36

Oh dear, hadn't heard of the tampon brand. I have a close friend who is an Aussie so I may sound her out... think that could be an issue.

Also have a 2 year old so I might get her view to test ease-of-pronunciation!

And I'm not sure I'm going to like my mil's "floo-er" pronunciation.

Not looking good, is it?!

OP posts:
vixsatis · 07/10/2011 16:15

OK if you're French. Otherwise a bit pretentious

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