Name regret, WDYT of this name?

[Finnemoo]

Hi everyone,

We chose an unusual name for our daughter mostly because I've always loved it (and still do). My husband really liked it too but was wary about pronunciation in the UK. It's a French name, and we do have a French connection.

He was right

She's 8 months old now and she does suit the name, but no one here says it right and I'm finding that more grating than I thought I would.

Her name is Anouk. Pronounced "ah-NOOK", nook rhymes with Luke.

Be honest: is she going to hate us for it? What do you think of the name and how would you say it?

I don't know why I'm posting this because it's too late to change it anyway, but maybe someone will have something nice to say to cheer me up. I do still really love the name in theory but I'm just worried that the pronunciation thing will be a pain for her forever. I didn't really think it would prove to be so problematic.

Thanks and I hope you're all doing well.

What accent do you and the majority of the people saying her name have? Luke and book sound the same in my accent, so it may not be a problem depending on where she lives when she's older or, she may prefer the other pronunciation? I think it's a lovely name when u hear myself saying it

Both my children have names where people change the vowel sound, it doesn't bother me much at all. They people who hear me saying it enough get it right.

Please don't change it. It's beautiful. My DS (8 yrs) has a Welsh name (DH is Welsh). We live in the Midlands. Everyone seemed to struggle with the pronunciation when he was a baby / toddler and I started to worry I had made a mistake and saddled him with a name he'd be explaining forever. I thought about calling him by his middle name instead. Once he started school the "problem" seemed to disappear. All the kids, their parents, and teachers pronounce it correctly. He likes his name. I'm glad I didn't change it.

It's a lovely name, and you would be amazed how many more common names have pronunciation problems. For example Fin LAY or Fin LEE. Lucas or Luca. Just correct people and if they keep doing it wrong then don't get stressed about it.

@LittleBoyJuly2020 I don’t understand how these are different to each other? Both of the ways you’ve written are pronounced the same to me.

Keep going.

Difficult names are a great shibboleth. Constant mispronouncing will soon weed out people who are impolite, inconsiderate or just don’t give a damn about her identity and feelings.

Teach her to stand up for her name and how to politely correct people every time!

What is the difference between Luke and book? (Also Scottish)

B-oo-k and l-ew-k

Or

Longer oo un luke than book?

Either way nice name OP. If you say it the way you like others will follow and most will only need corrected once.

Luke and book sound the same in Scotland! I actually don't understand what you mean about the different pronunciations sorry but think it's a lovely name x

It's a beautiful name and you'll probably find that she'll be proud of it and as she gets older will correct people if they mis-pronounce it. I had a wobble with my daughters name. She's called Josephine and people are always trying to shorten it to Josie but now that she's three she'll tell people off if they do!

The thing is, there’s nothing you can do about how people pronounce it.

But it’s not a difficult name to say!

You’re going to have to learn not to let it bother you. There’s not much else you can do.

FWIW I would pronounce it like Luke, not book!

I don't think it's that tricky to say.

Surely you'd only need to correct someone 1 or 2 times before they mastered the correct pronunciation. Even if they got it slightly wrong it's still would be pretty close to the correct sound. Lots of even fairly standard names sound a little different depending upon the accent of the person saying them.

I think you are overthinking it. You love the name. It's absolutely fine.

I'm in the North West and would pronounce it how you intended. However, for those not understanding the difference between book and Luke, book often pronounces more like 'buck' round here, hence the flatter sound the OP refers too.

I love it. I would have pronounced it correctly too.

Love it. But then I also love Anoushka and it reminds me of that.

"People say the "nouk" part to rhyme with "book" rather than "Luke","

How weird. I say 'book' and 'Luke' the same way 🤷🏼‍♀️

The people who pronounce them the same, how are you saying them?

The long ew sound like zoo?

Always loved Anouk. Doubt she will hate you for it.

I wouldn't know how to pronounce it, but it is easy to say once you know, and it is very very pretty.

It's a pretty name OP.

We are a dual nationality family and the name we chose for our daughter does seem to have two ways it can be pronounced here. I just politely correct people who use the wrong one as I love her name. I've reasoned that lots of people have names that have a couple or ways they can be pronounced like Esmee, Tania and Maya and it's not a big deal.

I like it but if I saw it written down I would say it to rhyme with look rather than Luke (I’m from London - I realise in some accents Luke and look may rhyme).

You definitely shouldn’t change it because of what others think - if you both like it and your daughter suits it then that’s all that matters.

I have a very unusual name that most people struggle to pronounce when they see it written down. But all it takes is telling them once and then they know. I think it’s nice to be called something a bit different and if anything, it’s a conversation starter! Just keep reminding people how to say it (make sure you correct them, even if they’re close friends) and it will stick.

It would be such a shame to change it for the sake of others and then regret it.

Like it and would pronounce it how you said

@HuggedTheRedwoods thank you for that, I genuinely didn't realise that's how it could be pronounced

Love that name, and would pronounce it how you said

Ha, yes they all sound the same in Scotland! I had this discussion years ago with my English DH So these threads always amuse me!

Shorten to Annie is nice.

To be honest I don't like it when I first read it it sounded Middle Eastern to me but I'm not very geographical

Nice name but confess I would pronounce it Ann-ook rather than ah-nook unless told otherwise.