Juliet - having a wobble over pronunciation...

[waxweasel]

DD2 is due in 2 months' time, and we're completely set on Juliet. It's been top of the list since before I even got pregnant

But I'm now having a bit of a stress over pronunciations. DH and I both pronounce it 'joo-lee-ET' (i.e stress on the final syllable). That is how we would want it to be pronounced. But I am sure I have heard people say 'JOO-lyut' (i.e stressing the first syllable). DH says that I'm talking nonsense and nobody says it that way.

I would rather spell it the English way (Juliet), but would people tend to use the JOOLyut pronunciation if I do? I guess the French spelling of Juliette suggests greater emphasis on the final syllable so might be more likely to give the pronunciation we want, but I just find it a bit too frilly and know the poor girl will be in for a lifetime of explaining the spelling...

What do you think?

There was a thread about this on MN here.

IIRC there is some argument that Shakespeare intended it to be 2 syllables, sort of Jul'yut.

Thanks everyone! And I love that Dire Straits song - reassuring as they also pronounce it our way, and also lovely to be reminded of it! DD1 and I had a little dance to it while making breakfast

i've thought about it some more overnight and have decided that actually I don't mind the stress being on the first syllable, though it's not how I would say it. What I actually don't like is people turning it into a -yut/y't noise at the end (like the OP in the thread linked above, actually). Sounds like not many people will do that though, so panic over! I showed DH my research last night but he still maintains it's a non issue and my pregnancy hormones talking. He also made the very sensible point that my family will find a way to mangle any name however straightforward, so best not to worry about it too much

Personally I dont think it matters as the pronunciations are so similar, it's just the emphasis that differs. It wouldn't bother me if people's pronunciation of it varied slightly.

DS has a name which gets pronounced wrongly on the other hand - think Sarah/Sara. Still doesn't really bother me that much and I have no regrets.

I think I put more stress at the end but it's minimal difference when I say it aloud.

I think the difference is so slight , and everyone's accent is different, that in the end you'll just associate the name - however pronounced- with your DD.

I didn't even particularly like DD's name when we named her - but 4 years in, I couldn't image her being called anything else.

I have one and I think even I switch between pronunciations, which are very slight to my ear, and accent.

The Juliets/Juliettes I know are all Ju/Jules/Jools/Jet/Joolsy anyway. And the name has other advantages; we have never met another, no one ever questions it, and it has heritage in many languages so it works well internationally.

I was going to say the same as bikerunski - the difference really is slight. As she meets people with different accents, they will all have a slightly different way of saying any name.
My favourite one recently is a friend whose name is Jo, is is called what sounds to me like "Jaw" by our Geordie colleague

I would pronounce Juliet and Juliette differently.

Agree with others, go for -ette if it's an issue.

As an aside, I think the stress on the 1st syllable is nicer.

My DD is a Juliet and I have literally no idea what you're talking about re. pronunciation! I've never noticed anyone saying her name any other way than the way I would - except when she was little and introduce herself as Joo-YET.

I do sometimes call her from the bottom of the stairs in the "HOO-LI-ET-TAAA!!!" manner. I think it's a 90s thing.

Oh, and people do mix up the spellings. It happens - but then it's been happening to me for years with my name so I think I'm a little desensitised to it.

Never heard it pronounced any other way than Joo-lee-ETT! I have always assumed both spellings, Juliet and Juliette are pronounced that way. I'm sure the vast majority of people would also see both spellings as that pronounciation.

it has to have the stress on the first syllable in Romeo and Juliet, or the poetry won't scan!

Completely over thinking it!

Sometimes I say Joo-lee-et, other times JOO lee-et, doesn't really matter

I seem to remember that Juliet Bravo was a JOO-leeut but I pronounce Juliet/ette the same with the emphasis on the last syllable.

I wouldn't use Juliette, because I'd pronounce that with a softer 'j' sound.

I don't think you're overthinking it at all, op because I too would say:

Juliet = JOOLyet

Juliette = Jooly-ETTE

So if you prefer it pronounced the French way, I'd definately spell it Juliette. Looks more feminine too imo.

In other words Juliet, Hariett, Julius and Julian both emphasise the first syllable, whereas names like Juliette, Bernadette and Colette all emphasise the last syllable. Hope that makes sense .