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.

I absolutely love it and would pronounce it how it sounds in the link .

@MollyBloomYes Hello Neil! 👋🏼

Someone might have already said this but I think it's the name of the Egyptian goddess who is resurrected in the film The Mummy. Pretty sure they pronounce it Anuk, lovely name though

I love the name Anouk! It was top of my list to call DD but DH didn't agree so we went with Anoushka instead.

I was secretly hoping she would shorten it to Anouk when she's older but now we just call her Noush and I love that too.

Book and Luke are the same to me unless I really make an effort to over pronounce Luke. (I'm scottish)

Very pretty name and I would have pronounced it the right way although I'm not familiar with it

@SimonJT don't work on his tact! My Mum never corrected people mispronouncing my name as a kid and as an adult I find myself too embarrassed to correct it too! It's an awful name (to me! It seems to be a mumsnet favourite!) but if you change one letter (as people ALWAYS do!) it becomes even more mortifying and an old, old lady name! Embrace him correcting people. I admire his bravery

I know a littke Anouk who's 5 (no French connection). Everyone seems to know how to pronounce her name. Don't worry!

@Finnemoo 😂😂😂

I just want to add that I also think it's a beautiful name. One of my daughters has a name that's sometimes mispronounced. It doesn't worry her and she loves her fairly unusual name.

I pronounced it to myself as I read it (before reading your pronunciation) and said it correctly :)

I wouldn't worry, it's a lovely unusual name and as she grows up the kids in her class, friends, family, teachers etc will know the pronunciation and that's what matters!

It's a lovely name op. I think it's natural to have a little wobble, especially if you've PND. As pp said even the simplest of names have the potential to be misread, pronounced wrong etc.

Love it!

Beautiful name

It’s lovely and I’m sure she’s lovely too. People inhabit their names eventually. Maybe call her Ani for a little while to take the focus off it. It will blow over.

I have been there and got myself into a terrible state over name regret. Looking back I think I had PND but I was adamant at the time it wasn’t that. Only with the wisdom of time can I see that period clearly.

But anyway it’s a beautiful name - don’t change it, don’t worry about it. I bet she’s gorgeous.

I know how to pronounce it and like it. Keep it.

I always thought anouk was pronounced a-nook to rhyme with book.

It’s lovey! It’s pronounce it correctly.

Don’t change it. If you do, she’ll only find out as a teenager and then be obsessed with using it anyway!

It's a nice name, but it's pronounced how it's spelt so can't see a problem personally

I said An-uke in my head but when you said ah-nook I said it like 'book' until I read further, so think your description is wrong maybe?

I would have automatically pronounced it to rhyme with Luke, but actually it is so much prettier rhyming with Book. Because it is such a minor difference in pronunciation I really think you should change it. Your child will get used to the change.

Thank you, you’ve really reassured me

I love it. I think all you need to do is get used to others pronouncing it slightly differently - don't correct them except close family the first time. Accept it will always happen and let it go - it can only keep grating on you if you hold on to it, accept and you'll feel better.

I once knew an Anouk. As a teenager no-one struggled with her name, it was just accepted that she was Anouk.