Genevieve or Anoushka

[Whatareyoutalkingabout]

Which do you prefer and why?

We love Genevieve and had settled on it but we have Indian background and thought it might be nice to use a name with Indian heritage, but the only one I like is Anoushka and I'm worried the name is vaguely ridiculous in the UK - must admit that even to me it conjures up images of a fabulous eccentric elderly woman who used to work in showbiz and now wears one of those cool old-showbiz-lady turbans and long silk cardigans etc. You know? Who calls everyone dahling and smokes cigarettes from a long cigarette holder.

Also like Lorelei, but again, don't think it tops Genevieve. (I know a Lorelei is a siren who lures men to their doom but I quite like that about the name).

Nickname wise we like Eve or Vivi for Genevieve, Annie for Anoushka (DH likes Anu, I guess is how you'd spell it, which is the Indian nickname (or at least the nickname for this name in his part of India). I can't say properly because of my accent but which sounds a little like An-oo. I'd stick with Annie due to loving it and not being able to properly pronounce the alternative!) I like both Rory and Lorie for Lorelei.

Any thoughts?

Both lovely. I think you could definitely avoid Gen/Genny for Genevieve because Vivi etc are also natural shortenings. However I think it might be harder to avoid noush for anoushka because it really does seem the most natural thing to say. Still, if you push for Annie and always correct people then it's possible. Just wait and see what she looks like - I think the names are sufficiently different that it will be obvious either way

If you like the nickname Anu/Annie, are there any other Indian names that can be shortened to that? I've taught some "Anu"s who had longer names. That would avoid the 'noush' bit.

I think your BFF should be more forgiving of Zhen-ev-ee-èv. There are many French accents and different countries that speak French could say it quite differently. I love the French name, and always feel a bit let down by the English version, as if there's something missing.

If you prefer the Janna veev pronunciations, have you considered the name Jenna?

That's my name! I used to hate when people asked to call me Annie

I love the name Anoushka, I’d feel weird using it myself as it is either Indian or Russian and I don’t have either heritage but at one point I did seriously consider adding it to my list! I find Anouk (sp?) which I think is Dutch has a similar feel.

Love Anoushka.

Never liked Genevieve and I think it’s quite dated. It’s all very well saying you could call her Eve or Vivi but her friends will call her what they choose and that will probably be Gen/Genny.

Works much better in French.

I think Genevieve is beautiful but other people tend to create their own nicknames for people so Genevieve might be Gen and Annoushka , nush by default. If they did get called this, which would you prefer?

I like anoushka, it's got a good feel to it 😀 you could easily shorten to Annie or Anna rather than Noush.
I also love Lorelei - but based entirely on the Gilmore girls. I'm working on persuading dh he likes it in case the bun currently baking is a girl!

Love both, with a slight preference for Genevieve - it was on my list too had this child been a girl. Like 'Anouk' as a nickname for Anoushka.

My eldest is Genevieve and we have had so many lovely comments about her name. No one yet has struggled to pronounce it and my daughter seems to like her name too. We haven't shortened it yet, she's very much a Genevieve. Good luck - choosing names its hard work!