Laurent?

[atthebottomofthehill]

Can't use Laurence as it clashes with surname but love the name. Is Laurent an option?

Huh, you mean Satchmo the trumpet player? I thought he was Lou-ee?

Yes, Satchmo. He always referred to himself as 'LEW-iss'.

I think maybe Louis Smith the British gymnast is pronounced Lou-Iss?
But of course most people now know Prince Louis, who is definitely a Lou-ee.

Interesting, can’t say I’ve ever heard him talk, but it makes sense as presumably it’s the same Americanisation as St Louis (which I did know thanks to the Judy Garland film!). Every day’s a school day.

We were on a plane coming home and a (very loud) lady sat near us saud she could wait to get home to see her daughter "Rimmel" (not that name but one just as obvious). It did create roll.eyes and sniggers around her. Probably her whole loudness and crassness added to.it, but, no....leave brand names alone!

What brand name?

Maybe it’s Maybelline? 😂

It was very similar!

Similar, in that it was actually a first name before it was a brand? I’m not sure that’s in the same league as Rimmel or Chanel. More like Estée or Max.

No it was a brand like Timotei!

“Timotei” is a name though, not heard of Timothée Chalamet?

No it was a brand like Timotei!

Was it Wagon Wheel or Toilet Duck?!

St Louis is in the USA. Louis Armstrong was american,
We're (mainly) in the UK, so Louis is usually Lou-ee.

The posters who say you only need to correct someone once have different experience to those who say otherwise. We're saying for a reason.

I just had a thought- isn’t the Orang Utan character in the Jungle Book based on Louis Armstrong? He’s called King Louie!

I love it and would use it and not a bone of French in me.
I love Lawrence or Laurence as well.
Also love Louis

If you’re French and move in circles where people are likely to pronounce properly then it’s lovely
otherwise, no

I just had a thought- isn’t the Orang Utan character in the Jungle Book based on Louis Armstrong? He’s called King Louie!

Apparently, he graciously accepted it when people (frequently) did call him LEW-ee - but he always stated his own name as LEW-iss.

I used to know a Laurent very well, his parents are French and he was born there but was mostly brought up and educated in the US then university and career in the UK. He'd gone by the name Larry to everyone except his parents since his teens, the name Laurent wasn't a goer at high school in Connecticut apparently 😄

I know a (French) Laurent and I’m still not really sure how I should be pronouncing his name. I think he just quietly and politely puts up with any way British people try to say it.

It just awkward and clunky to say nicely in British accents.