I love albie & anais, he likes Hugo & fleur

[soph252]

Would love to have some honest opinions. Don't yet know what we are having but can you sway me or help me persuade him please

I love Albie but my hubby isnt so keen! How about Freya Anais for a girl...combine the two :)

I love Anais, but apparently in the UK most people think it's pronounced Anay.

I don't like Fleur at all. It looks nicer than it sounds.

Hugo is a good name, quite strong.

Albie is a bit twee, and yes, Anais will get mangled, unfortunately. I might be tempted to use it anyway, as it's so pretty.

Albie and Anais sounds like a brand name of organic muslin squares or the names of teddy bears. I'd prefer a full grown up son to be called Hugo. I prefer Flora or Anais to Fleur because they sound 'stronger' in a way.

Flora Anais or Anais Fleur, and Hugo Albie is my vote. You can still call him Albie and treat him like a teddy bear when he's small. win win.

Freya also easier to pronounce than Fleur, which sounds like Bleurgh or Uuurh or a person with a strong Welsh accent saying 'ear'

Alba is great

I would pronounce Anais 'Anay' - how is it supposed to be said?

Lenny? Romilly? Said Rom-illy

I love Hugo & Fleur, beautiful names

Anais is pronounced Ana-ees

Anaïs would be a pita in the UK because no-one would bother with the diaeresis. Dancing, it's ann-eye-eece.

my dd is Anaïs, and noone has called her Anus ffs.
Sometimes people try and call her Anay, but once corrected its fine.

its not pronounced Ana-ees either. Its more like Anayce

Branleuse, are you French? It's certainly pronounced with three syllables in the original French.

Im not, but my partner is, and noone ever pronounces it Anayees, unless theyre saying it so fast you cant hear that there is an extra syllable??

I have however heard several english people who think theyre very continental pronouce it like that, and it sounds a bit weird.

but at least its better than when they say Anay

I prefer Hugo and Fleur :)

Fair point - I think you're right that native French speakers 'swallow' that middle vowel sound.

OP, what about Albert?

I thought Anais was pronounced ANNAY, like I pronounce the flowery 90's perfume! So I wouldn't pick that just in the basis that I and others would so totally get it wrong! I quite like Fleur, also Fern which is similar but not as close to the sound 'blugh' (am from the midlands and my accent is muchos common). Hugo I would have said no to but a friends sister just had the most adorable Hugo and so now I love the name..Hugo Reggie, he is the sweetest little thing.

Albie was the name of a mute albino assassin in a book I once read so that's a NO from me

There are 2 children called Albie in our preschool and they are both thugs behaviourally challenged

oops,I ment to strike through thugs

I have a French DH as well and he pronounces it with a somewhat longer ee, not just short -ayce. Might be a regional thing. In any case, not Annay

I have a Fleur. Still love the name. I prefer Hugo over Albie.

Ah I loved Hugo but dh wouldn't go for it...like you, on the grounds of it being too 'posh'
I also suggested Albie, funnily enough, for a middle name His reply? Albie having none of that (he is not usually such a
wanker charmer btw!)
Albie is not that common, I wanted to honour an Albert but hated Albert, the only Albie I have heard of was a traumatised football fan in Cracker.
Anais will be hard to pronounce, as amply demonstrated on here. Smiling as I recall my mum asking for Annay Annay perfume. Fleur is okay. I don't love it. I love Colette and Aurelie if it was French thing.