Baby name spelling (help)

[lemonnmeringuepie]

We are expecting in October, and have both a boys and girls name picked.

The girls name we love is Joely (pronounciation Jo-lee) feel free to say if you don't like it, but we do, and it has stuck!

The only thing we're struggling on is the spelling.

I LOVE Jolie - but reminds me of Angelina (who I can't say I'm a big fan of) - I think it's the most gorgeous spelling but from unbiased point of views, is it a bit stupid to use this spelling if we don't want the Angelina connotation, or does it not matter?

Or Joely - which I don't think looks as nice.

Opinions on spelling more than welcome, thank you!

Jolie is very pretty and I wouldn't associate it with Angelina. Everyone will get used to the pronunciation and spelling quickly.

Jolie would be pronounced 'JoLIE'. With the emphasis on the second syllable. Also, the J is soft, like 'dj'.

Joely is best IMO.

Jolie is pronounced Szho- lee Not Joe-lee

Joely is not common but there is an actress called joely so it has some precedent.

They both look made up to me, and googling I see that Jolie is a French word but not used as a name in France and Joely is only known for being used by Joely Richardson. So both made up very recently.

I prefer Joan (Joanie / Joni), Jolene, Jodie or Josephine (Josie) of the similar sounding names which have a bit more of a pedigree.

Joely is lovely, but I wouldn't say it JoLee, I'd have a hint of a third syllable in the middle

Thing is, you all say that but DD's friend has literally never had this, and all supply teachers know how to say it. Nobody puts the emphasis on the Lee either, it's the Jo that's stressed. Apparently DD and her friends call her Angelina in a fakey French accent sometimes, but there's worse nicknames to have.

@Bibesia I've just read it was around in the 1940s, so hardly made up by Angelina Jolie's parents

To the OP, I think both are nice. Joely seems more modern while Jolie is a bit more traditional iyswim

Joely.
Anything else looks made up.

Lemon all of which is fair enough, I’m just suggesting that googling any name (or set of initials) is a good idea before you name your baby.

I think it's really pretty and like both the Joely and Jolie spellings (and pronounce them the same). I also really like the suggestion of Joelie as a spelling.

And if jolie means pretty in French then that's an added bonus! It's not like it means toilet! And Rosalind, Calista and Bonnie also mean pretty!

I really like Joely

I like Joely.
I don't like Jolie.

I really don't think pronunciation would be a problem with either, tbh. Joely Richardson and Angelina Jolie both get something that is pretty much what you're after. And neither name is common enough that people will have strong associations with someone else who pronounces it differently. As soon as anyone's heard it once, they'll get it.

OP, don't be put off!

I love Joely...but would pronounce it Jo-elly. I like the pp suggestion of spelling it Joelie for the pronunciation you want

Joley - Joel-eee
Jolie - French word for pretty one so would pronounce French personally

I would pronounce it Jo-li not Jo-elly.

All the 3 Joel's I know complain that people call them Jo-el.
Jo-elly is just ridiculous.

I'm a Jodie and when I was younger used to spell it Jody.

Spelling wise I think I like anything that isn't ie but that's because I like names that are different to mine haha!

Also FYI, your child will have that song sung at them - you know the one - Jolene, Jolene, jolene joleeeeeeennnneeee. It drives me mad, and my name isn't even anything near Jolene!!!

Have had a name change since I last posted - thank you all for your responses, I have read and considered each one

Def Joely. And I would pronounce it as you intend.

I know a Joely and a Jolie. Both pronounced Joe-lee. I would go with the most common spelling because I have spent years correcting one of my kid's names as wasn't aware of the more popular spelling. I like it with a Y.

The thing is, once you tell people how you want it to be pronounced they'll pronounce it like that. Jolie or Joely I would pronounce Jo-lee.

What a beautiful name! I love it. It is a rolling, flowery name without being too cutesy or try-hard. Well done 😁

Joely or Jolie, doesn’t matter. It’s the name you and daddy love, so that is great news for your baby 😊