Baby name Leni

[Joy1990]

Hi what are people’s thoughts on the baby name Leni? I love it but pronounced Lay-nee but I’m worried she would get called Lennie all the time? What would most of you see this name as?

@supercalafragilisticexpealidocious

Yes, Leni is pronounced Laynee.
And the Greek version Eleni, is pronounced E-laynee.

It's really not unique (or silly as a PP also said). It's the 10th most popular German girls name and "Lay-nee" is the standard German pronunciation of the name Leni.

What that got to do with this thread?

In that case unfortunately OP then I think you'll probably subject her to a lifetime of mispronunciations if you're in the UK. It's a beautiful name but I've always thought it was pronounced Lennie (and actually had it on my first baby name list thinking that's how you pronounce it 🤦‍♀️). I think you've got to cater for the uncultured brits and either call her Lennie or Lainey

I would assume it was short for another name, unless told otherwise.

Similarly, I would assume it was pronounced Lenny, before being told otherwise.

I spent years living in Greece and only ever heard the name pronounced El-leh-nee, never El-lay-nee. I believe in the US it’s often pronounced more El-lay-nee or uh-lay-nee.

Leni is a beautiful name and looks lovely too, but I initially thought Lennie when I clicked this thread. Lay-nee also lovely but I’d use a different spelling.

Riefenstahl. Sorry.

Yes I agree, I've only ever known the Greek name Eleni pronounced as Eh-leh-nee (but I'm not Greek so happy to be corrected by any Greeks!) But the German name Leni is pronounced as lay-nee.

Leni (Laynee) is a very classic/old fashioned name.

I love Leni with the German pronounciation, yes English speakers might say Lennie on seeing it written down but you only need to correct people.

I was referring to the suggested Laney or Lainey or Layni, etc. spellings.

I know Leni is a German name.

I was referring to the suggested Laney or Lainey or Layni, etc. spellings.

I know Leni is a German name.

Racism? Please explain.

Apologies @RogueFemale. I see what you meant now.

Because people are suggesting different spellings to Leni such as Laney or Lainey or Layni, etc.

I would think Lenny too.
What about Leoni or Lenora?
Elena
Elaina, Lainie for short.
Layla
Lilah
Laura

I would have read it as "Lee - nee" but by the looks of the thread that's just me!

Leni (Layni) is a lovely name and it is the sort of pronunciation that you'd hope people would only need correcting once.

Lana

It doesn't transfer well to the UK, I'd go for Helena with the nn Leni. Leni on it's own looks like Lenny or Lena misspelled.

Noooo because if you spell it backwards that becomes her NN!

As a greek I disagree.
The name is spelled 'Ελένη', which would make its pronunciation as Eh- leh- nee . Never heard of an Eleni called as E-laynee in Greece.

Beautiful name OP, really elegant. Don't worry about it being mispronounced..it's easily corrected.

Have you read the book 'Of Mice and Men'? It's on the English syllabus and the main protagonist is called Lennie. You will get LOTS of people (if you live in UK) mispronouncing Leni.

Snap.