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Original poster

Baby girl name Olympe

27 replies

Ana0700 · 13/04/2022 23:31

Hello,

What do you think of the name Olympe for a little girl?

I'm French and Olympe sounds really nice in French. But I live in England with my English husband and I obviously want my future kid to not struggle with her name.
Help me !

Thanks xxx

OP posts:
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Mumoftwoinprimary · 13/04/2022 23:52

How do you pronounce it correctly?

I have a nasty suspicion that a British accent will butcher it.

I would instinctively pronounce is “O-limp” but suspect that that is not correct.

weewillywig · 13/04/2022 23:53

O-limp?

Cryingbutstilltrying · 13/04/2022 23:55

Where I am that would probably be said uh-limp.
Which is horrible.
Who wants to be called a limp? Limp biscuit? Limp lettuce?
In French I think it is probably lovely but here, not so much.

LouisRenault · 13/04/2022 23:57

I have a nasty suspicion that a British accent will butcher it.

Yes. And the only other Olympe most English people will have heard of, if they've heard the name at all, is Madame Olympe in Harry Potter.

Luredbyapomegranate · 13/04/2022 23:58

@weewillywig

O-limp?
Sadly this.

It just does not sound good in English.

Use it as a middle name?

Original poster
Ana0700 · 14/04/2022 00:07

It's exactly what I was worried about...
It's not pronounced O-limp more soft than that if you get what I mean...

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 14/04/2022 00:13

I have just googled how to pronounce it
There is no way on earth the vast vast majority of people here would ever get that right
I guess it depends how much that would be a problem for you!!!

MallampatiCatty · 14/04/2022 00:15

Sorry - I'm bilingual but it just makes me think of Harry Potter and the french headmistress!

I also agree the English pronunciation would ruin its elegance!

IstayedForTheFeminism · 14/04/2022 00:15

I agree that when pronounced with an English accent it doesn't sound great.

Plus my first thought was of Madame Maxime from Harry Potter.

Topseyt · 14/04/2022 00:20

It's a no from me. I don't think it sounds good.

Also, wasn't it the name of a giant that Hagrid fancied and tried to befriend in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire?

MarmiteCoriander · 14/04/2022 00:24

I'm also not familiar with the name, and as an English speaker would have said Ohh-limp. I also would not have known it was French- despite have a reasonably good command of the language.

I'm familiar with the name Olympia- which I believe is Greek though. I googled how to pronounce Olympe and in English it sounded more like Ohh-lump! Sorry, but that is even worse! Any other names you like that work in both languages?

mathanxiety · 14/04/2022 00:28

It will be pronounced O-limp.

Or if she's really unlucky, O-lump.

I would go back to the drawing board if I were you.

Kitkat151 · 14/04/2022 00:30

Not good 🙄

Apileofballyhoo · 14/04/2022 00:39

I thought it sounded more like o-lamp.

Aquamarine1029 · 14/04/2022 00:41

It will be O-lymp.

It's a no, sorry.

IHeartKingThistle · 14/04/2022 00:43

Olympia is nice though.

MinoucheSapphic · 14/04/2022 01:55

Nice in French but I don't see it working in the UK, unfortunately. I suspect the only people who would actually pronounce it correctly would be you and her French teacher!

Snoopsnoggysnog · 14/04/2022 01:57

It’s lovely in French but not in English. I also thought if the giant in Harry Potter sorry.

Olympia is great though.

RoseMartha · 14/04/2022 02:20

I think you would be better going with Olympia

Dinoteeth · 14/04/2022 03:13

I must be the odd one I'd have guessed O-limp-ee, like some sort of version of Olympic

Thehundredthnamechange · 14/04/2022 06:02

O-limp is how it will be pronounced in the UK, it doesn't work. Doesn't sound good in British English. Olympia is nice.

MartinMartinMarti · 14/04/2022 06:13

I guessed O-Limp-Ee too, but I agree that it’s not going to work.

Agree with PP that Olympia is nice. She could be Olli day to day if it’s too much of a mouthful.

KatherineJaneway · 14/04/2022 06:18

Agree with others, not good in the UK.

OrangeAndYellowAndBlue · 14/04/2022 07:25

I know a baby Olympia, which would be easier

RishiRich · 14/04/2022 07:35

English pronunciation will mangle it and she'll be associated with a giant from Harry Potter. I'd steer clear.