Xanthe Elowen or Elowen Fleur?

[Lucasboo]

So we keep on coming back to Fleur, Elowen and Xanthe, I keep fixating on Xanthe DH on Elowen and Fleur. Initially we were thinking of Elise for a middle name but then DH found out how it’s meant to be pronounced and decided too much like Lisa!

I have always loved Xanthe though I pronounce it Zanthee which I understand is technically not correct in Greek but I think the way most English speaking people say it. DH isn’t so sure and has set his heart on Elowen (pronounced the Cornish way not the American way which to me sounds very Lord of the Rings or Fleur which he’s always loved and is a family name. I’m not bothered about the El sound I know an Elle and a couple of Ellie’s and you can never second guess school nicknames!

So

Xanthe Elowen
Xanthe Fleur
Elowen Fleur
Fleur Elowen

The only one of those I know how to pronounce is Fleur but I think it sounds a bit like "urrgh". Sorry.
But I did know a Fleur at school and back then thought it sounded well fancy. Her brothers had really ordinary names (similar to Mark/Tom/Dave - that sort of thing) so I wonder how she ended up with her name.

I like Fleur as a first name (easy to pronounce and a simple nice name). Any X names are tricky to pronounce and I think Elowen would just be El or Ellie at school or so if you like either of those then go for it instead

Love xanthe, always have.
don’t know how to pronounce the other one

i would also bear in mind that 'Fleur' might end up being a football-loving non-flowery type of character. I had a girl in my class called Joy who was the opposite of joyful.

Xanthe is gorgeous and classic

Elowen Xanthe works for me if there's nothing else in the mix.

Whilst Fleur is pretty, it does sound a bit like "urgh" and reminds me of Fleur from the Forsyte saga who was a bit of a minx.

Personally I'd prefer something more mainstream to accompany either of those names which I do like very much.

Xanthe Rose or Elowen Rose perhaps as a nod to Fleur.

Love Xanthe Fleur, is Elowen pronounced
El-o-en?

Xanthe Fleur.

Love both.

All beautiful names.

None of the above. But you like them, so pick it out of a hat, or flip a coin, you’ll soon know what your gut wants to do.

Elowen Fleur.

Xanthe sounds like a brand of sugar free chewing gum.

I'd not use Elowen as a first name because people will say it as LON, not L Owen, and she'll probably be yet another Ellie

I think the greek way to say it Ksanthi. Nobody corrects people if they say Diana as Die-anna

I think that if Fleur is a family name - good to go with it.

I have a feeling that Elowen will come to sound like Ellie, Ella, Elle - the very popular names, but ones not as distinctive and unusual as Fleur and Xanthe, and if you like unusual names, then I think Elowen won't have the effect and cache when spoken, that it seems to have written down.

It sounds a bit as if your Other Half finds Xanthe a push too exotic, with its unusual sounds. Fleur seems to be a name which could please both of you.

Fleur Xanthe - good if your daughter is adventurous and wants to use her middle name.

Elowen Xanthe
or better Elowen Ianthe
or better yet Ianthe Elowen
Fleur always slightly reminds me of someone being sick but as a third name it’s ok

Just don't call her Fleur Elise... unless you're a major Beethoven fan...

Fleur is just the uurrgghh sound with an F! As in yuk!
personally always found that name horrible to hear but it’s quite popular.

I've always loved Xanthe and DD2 would have been called it if it hadn't been quite similar to DD1's name.

Xanthe Elowen is nicer than Xanthe Fleur IMO but neither are bad.

What about two middle names? Xanthe Elowen Fleur sounds lovely.

If that's a no-go, I would keep Fleur only as a middle name, seeing as it's a family name. I think it's nice to include a nod to family, but it's also nice to have a name that's entirely your own as your first name.

There isn't one correct way to pronounce Elise, by the way. Just in case there's a pronunciation you prefer: it's along the lines of Eleesa in German, but Eleez in French. And generally Eleese in English, although people also use the French pronunciation here in the UK.

Xanthe reads to me as very similar to the food additive Xanthan.

Xanthe Elowen.

Fleur always makes me think bleurggh, amd flux.

Love Xanthe!

I really really like Elowen but that’s probably because I grew up in Cornwall. I’m fact there are loads of really nice Cornish names around and if I had had a girl I think I would have fought to use one.

Is Elowen a Cornish name? I’ve never heard it.

Yeah it means elm tree

She will just end up being called El or Ellie though

Thanks