Solenne?

[Magenpie100]

What do people think of the name Solenne? For a girl in the UK. Probably nicknamed Leni. Thanks!

I think it’s one of the many French names that doesn’t work in English - it sounds like a brand of window cleaner sadly.

Selina or Selene (sell-ee-nee) both work much better and would more naturally give you Leni.

I’d love to hear some more opinions - think I might have hit on that mumsnet forum magic of finding a name I actually want to defend! I really love it, think it’s quite unusual but not bizarre, sophisticated enough for an adult but enough playful/nickname options to keep me happy..

Solenne sounds fine but as a UK person I'm not sure that Leni is a natural nickname. I think Sol or Len is more likely to be her nickname if her name is shortened by others.
Leni is cute and a better sounding name to me.

I have personal experience of the name Solène which is very often mispronounced in the UK. However, I think Solenne maybe less likely to be pronounced like Soleen so you might have more luck. I think it's a lovely name, I often hear compliments about it!

It sounds like a brand name to English speaking ears. Am I do think giving your child a name which will lead to "Are you French?" is not really fair...

No,sounds too much like potato vine flowers, very poisonous!

There were 3 in the UK in 2013 and another 3 in 2019,by the way-and that's it!

I think it's terrible! Plus it means "solemn" which isn't exactly exhilarating. What about Solange or Soleil? Or even something Scandi like Solveig?

I think I like it!

Reminds me of another name I like which is Severine. Which I think means Severe! So you have Solemn and Severe. But heck- why not? It makes a change to have female names that are not flowers or shiny things or non-threatening personality traits or endless words for beautiful. People on here say (with no self-knowledge it seems) that they are looking for a "strong" name for a boy and a "feminine" name for a girl all the time. Why can't a girl have a strong name for a change? I think it is good for an adult, it shortens nicely and has a bit of interest if she wanted to do something more distinctive where having a memorable name was an advantage. I like the en on the end. Both Solenne and Severine sound elegant to me and I love Leni. I also like Sol as a shortening. Or Sola. I think it's a much nicer sound than Solange which someone was mentioning.

People would think you have French heritage with an unusual French name like Solenne - my cousin's mother is French Algerian & she's called Sandrine, so people often ask her about her heritage.

If Leni is pronounced the English way as in 'Lenny Kravitz' it does sound quite male.
The other short versions of the name are quite masculine too - Sol & Len.

It is a nice name if it's not shortened imo.

It's written 'Solène'. Quite nice.

Leni is a really cute and perfectly natural nickname for the name. It’s not masculine - spelled this way it’s an obviously female name. I like it.

Sounds like a brand of sunscreen to me. I think, if French, it’s likely to be pronounced incorrectly in the UK too.

I like it but would spell it Solène.

I think it’s lovely.

Don't like at all. I don't think it sounds nice when said out loud and I can imagine how annoying it will be being asked about your French heritage if you're not French.

I like the PPs suggestion of Selina or Selene.

Reminds me of a cheap all inclusive hotel name somewhere in Spain, sorry

Hi,

We have a daughter Solenne born last year and think it is a beautiful and feminine name. It means 'sunlight' (Spanish/Latin origins) which suits her perfectly. We also shorten to Leni or Sunny. People find it so unusual and are always telling us how beautiful it is and how much they love it :).

xxx

Agree. You saved me having to write similar.

I love it, I wish we’d had the guts! It’s such a beautiful name and Lenni is a most gorgeous nickname. Ours ended up a Rosalie, which is nice, but Solenne is just soooooo delicious.

Sounds like suncream to me....

I really like it. But yes people would generally pronounce it wrong when they first read it

I really like it! And more importantly, you absolutely love it!

Do it … do it … do it!

It's OK. Just OK in my opinion. I don't love it, I don't hate it. It does sound a little like a brand name.

It’s not terrible. Own brand sunscreen vibes.
Is it to be Lenny, leeny or laney? Not fond of any of the nicknames. Solly maybe.