Unconventional pronunciation of Melanie?

[MolotovCocktail]

I know someone who is expecting a baby, which is likely to be a girl. My friend has mentioned Melanie, but not pronounced mel-a-nee (where the vowel part is said quickly), but mel-ay-nee (so there's emphasis on the vowel sound).

I haven't come across this before. Can this be a legitimate way of pronouncing the name?

TIA!

I haven't heard it that way, but I do know a Melanie pronounced Ma-lar-ney.

I've never heard of that pronunciation, but it's quite pretty.

If it were me, I'd use a different spelling; Melainey, perhaps, or her DD will always be correcting people.

I think it's pretty, too, but I was a little puzzled by the pronunciation as I've literally never encountered that how it's spelt/how it's said combo.

I agree that the alternative spelling would be a good idea and will suggest this.

Oh, and there's mel-ar-ney, too?

I feel like I've been living under a rock where 'Melanie' is concerned!

I went to university with a girl called Sharon. Pronounced Sha-ronne.

Only by her though. Because everyone else thought she was a nutter who just wanted not to be called Sharon.

I really wouldn't do this to a child. No-one is ever going to pronounce it anything other than Melanie, then when they are told, they are going to roll their eyes like we did with Shazza.

Well, Birds, there is that, too. I'm quite polite in my reactions and although I think mel-ay-nee is a pretty way to say it, I did get a big, invisible '?' appear above my head.

I wondered whether there was any regional accent variation in pronunciation, or if Melanie is pronounce in this (or any other way) internationally?

Well, here it's Mel-an-ya. Spelled Melania.

I guess in French it would be Melanie pn Melanie with a bit more oomph on the end bit.

(I reckon they've made it up )