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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Leonie

52 replies

PolarnOPirate · 07/02/2021 22:11

Just looking for consensus on how you would pronounce this name at first guess. It’s a bit of a Naomi issue - Lee-O-nee, LEE-uh-nee, or LAY-o-nee.

Don’t care what it ‘should’ be, just what you’d plump for upon first meeting one. As it happens I like them all! Just wonder if it would be a burden.

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DreamingInColours · 07/02/2021 23:29

Lee Oh Nee and its a lovely name! Would love it for any future DD but it's too similar to my DS's name.

littlemissbakery · 07/02/2021 23:29

My niece is Lee-o-nee

KatherineJaneway · 07/02/2021 23:31

Lee-O-nee

CeriBerry · 07/02/2021 23:42

I teach three of them- aged 12-16. All Le-oh-nie

Carouselfish · 08/02/2021 00:34

Lay oh nee

DramaAlpaca · 08/02/2021 00:36

Lee-OH-nee. Stress on middle syllable. Such a lovely name.

Skyechasemarshalontheway · 08/02/2021 00:51

Its my name with the second e at the end.

Lee oh nay is how most people say it to me.

chipsandgin · 08/02/2021 01:12

LAY-o-nee. Lovely name, I can see the potential pronunciation issues, especially having a DS with a name I had no idea you could mispronounce - however anyone who your DD is in regular contact with will pronounce it whichever way you’ve chosen & if the odd Doctor or Dentist (the two main culprits!) starts with a ‘Lee-o-nee’ & she says ‘it’s Lea-o-nee’ it’s not a big issue!? Both completely valid and not in danger of being perceived as ‘you-nique’!

Glenchase · 08/02/2021 01:16

Lee-O-nee. I haven’t heard that name since the 80s!

PolarnOPirate · 08/02/2021 07:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

unchienandalusia · 08/02/2021 07:59

It's lay oh ni

borntobequiet · 08/02/2021 08:02

Lovely name. One of the nicest girls I taught was called Leonie, pronounced Lay-oh-nee, emphasis on the middle syllable.

joystir59 · 08/02/2021 08:04

Lovely name. Lee-o-nee.

JemimaTiggywinkle · 08/02/2021 08:04

Lee-OH-nee

AdelaideK · 08/02/2021 08:08

Lee OH Nee. It's a lovely name.

Thebusiness · 08/02/2021 08:13

I know one. Lee-Oh-nee.

YoniAndGuy · 08/02/2021 08:24

Lee-OH- nee. Have known two and they both pronounced it thus.

I like it

Synchrony · 08/02/2021 09:14

I know one. Would never occur to me that it could be pronounced any way other than Lee-Oh-nee.
I only know one way of saying Naomi too though (Nay-O-me) so don't really get the problem!

Original poster
PolarnOPirate · 08/02/2021 09:16

Many people say NAYami. My friend says NAIRmi!!

Leonie is french I believe and sometimes pronounced like LAYonie.

Seems most people would go for the same one so that’s handy!

OP posts:
Usernamenotava1lable · 08/02/2021 09:23

Lair nee, with the O only slightly hinted at. Similarly I would pronounce Naomi Nair me, with only a slight suggestion of an O.
Have known a couple of Naomis, and one Leonie, and this is how they have pronounced their names.

MerryChristmasToYou · 08/02/2021 10:00

LAY-o-nee. Don't like it said as Lee-OH-nee.

Screenburn · 08/02/2021 14:32

LAY-o-ni if spelled Léonie

Lee-OH-ni if spelled Leonie.

I know an absolutely amazing Leonie, so am biased, but I think it’s a fantastic name.

Cressie2 · 08/02/2021 14:37

“Lee O nee”- a lovely name!

Floridaflipflops · 08/02/2021 14:39

Have a Lee O nee in our family.

HeronLanyon · 08/02/2021 14:42

I’ve known an adult Lee-OH-nee. Stress on second syllable. Propels also call her LAY-oh-nee. She says she doesn’t mind. I like both but I like her which always makes a difference.
Thought of Naomi also, op? Like that too.