Nimue and Vivienne and Ninniane, Niniane, Lenore

[JessieIsabelle]

I love Nimue and Vivienne. Ninniane and Niniane are other alternates for the "lady of the lake" and Lenore is her mother.

I wanted to know what you think:

Nimue - nim-oo-ay, we would consider this, but not sure we're brave enough

Vivienne - we're considering this, emphasis on the last syllable

(Ninniane, Niniane - wouldn't consider this, but interesting)

(Lenore - I like it, but not enough to use)

We went with a Welsh name which we constantly have to spell and pronounce for people
My experience, with an Irish name working in the UK is that it takes a lot of people a lot more than one hearing to get an unusual/foreign name. I have had lots of experience of my name being mangled, and for those who are happy to ignore people who can't pronounce their unusual names, this isn't possible with colleagues and clients.
This.
Even with names you think won't cause much problems.

Well, i think they sound better in Spanish.
One of my daughters best friends is a Nimué (it is pronounced Knee-moo-éh) with the strees on the last syllable. I quite like it. She is the only person I know with that name.
Leonor is the name of the Crown Princess, it is medieval sounding here, like a bit retro.
Vivienne I find would suit a woman born in the 50s.
Your other choices I find a bit meh and out there. I would use the first one.

Why would anyone say them in Spanish?
Leonor is nicer in Spanish.

But they sound they same pronounced in English and Spanish 🤔 (to me, at least).

@Zampa , I hear it in an english accent accent as Leo-nor (non-rhotic) and in a a spanish accent as Leh-OH-norr (norr like in Norris)

I would go for a combo of your two - Lee:OH:norr

Lenora

My 73 year old mum is Lenore so I'm biased towards that, although love Vivienne as well.

My mum pronounces it Len-or, her nn is Leni - despite growing up in the 80s/90s there were very few references to the fabric softener, except for one kid who said "Lenore? I bet she lives life in comfort."

@NoisyDachshunddd I very much think that 2% will be the ones benefiting from you swerving them.

How judgemental, there are some names that people have never come across before or ones with several different pronunciations

Ninian - an esteemed male aka Sir Ninian Stephens
Vivienne is lovely
Leonore is my fave of your list.
Nina

I think of The Lady of Shalotte