[name_f]Anouk[/name_f] (ah-NOOK) is SUCH a long-time favourite of mine/ours, and I think it’s my objective favourite from our current shortlist of girls’ names. I love its soft-yet-spiky sound, its unexpectedness, and the potential for [name_f]Anoushka[/name_f] as a pet name, which I think is fabulous!
I’m due in [name_f]February[/name_f] with our final baby, so this would be my last chance to use this gorgeous name. But I do have some hesitations with it, which I’d love your thoughts on…
Is it too difficult to say? I feel like I stumble over it a bit sometimes, especially after “and”. And is the pronunciation intuitive from the spelling, or not?
Does it sound a little too similar to our elder daughter’s name, [name_f]Juno[/name_f]? I know they’re not that similar on the surface, but I don’t know… “[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Anouk[/name_f]” — lots of repeated sounds?
Is it a little bit… pretentious? We do have [name_m]French[/name_m] speakers in the family, but DH and I are both English through-and-through (though I speak fluent [name_m]French[/name_m]). Would it be a bit “try hard” for us to give a daughter a chic [name_m]French[/name_m] name like [name_f]Anouk[/name_f]? If it makes a difference, our kids totally look the part, with dark curly hair and big dark eyes.
I think it is easy enough to say and that the pronunciation is intuitive from the spelling. I can’t think of another way that someone would say it, other than maybe [name_f]ANN[/name_f]-ook. Personally, I find names like [name_f]Aurora[/name_f] way harder to pronounce lol.
I don’t think they are too similar at all. I think it is kind of cool how both names have an O and U, but in reverse order…kind of like a little, subtle sibling tie
Quite honestly, I had no clue that [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] is [name_m]French[/name_m] (then again, I speak no [name_m]French[/name_m] nor have any ties to [name_f]France[/name_f] whatsoever). I don’t think it sounds pretentious at all!
I think [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] is a beautiful name and not one that I’ve heard where I’m at. I think it goes great with [name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_u]Kit[/name_u]. I picture an [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] to be a self-confident go-getter, with a kind heart and a ready smile. If [name_u]Baby[/name_u] does end up being a girl, I think you should go for it (or at least use it as a middle name, if you still waver). It is a name that you love and I fear that you’d just regret not using it.
To me the pronunciation seems fairly straight-forward. Unlike with say, [name_f]Mireille[/name_f] or [name_m]Guillaume[/name_m], I don’t see why people would really struggle with it. There are no silent letters, or combinations of letters that are pronounced differently in English.
I don’t think they are too similar.
[name_f]Anouk[/name_f] does have an exotic sound but I’m not sure if many people would be able to pinpoint it as being specifically [name_m]French[/name_m] (or Dutch). I don’t think [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] Aimée is that famous in this country among the general population.
Some people may find choosing a foreign name to be pretentious but I think people these days are exposed to a wider variety of names so it probably doesn’t matter.
Anouk strikes me as a really modern name, and indeed it wasn’t used at all in France before the 1950s, and didn’t become popular until the 90s, inspired by Anouk Aimée. Either way, it’s definitely a lovely name, and although I would personally prefer Anna “Anoushka”, Anouk would make a brilliant match for the cosy, playful, classic-with-a-twist Juno and Kit.
I don’t think it’s pretentious at all. Anouk isn’t like typically French names such as Éloïse and Cécile (which lots of Brits use anyway) - it’s more like a modern, international classic that isn’t too tied to one culture, and is free for all. And my name sounds much more like my sister’s than Anouk sounds like Juno, and we’ve never had any trouble with it!
Congratulations on your pregnancy, by the way! I will look forward with enthusiasm to seeing what name you choose in the end.
I’m not sure it works sorry. I think a lot of people will struggle with it and I’m not sure it sounds right with [name_f]Juno[/name_f]. Us name nerds may get it but 98% of non name nerds will not.
Other suggestions -
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Annora[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Honor[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Lovisa[/name_f]
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Clarissa[/name_f]
I think it’s a great name. I don’t find it difficult to say (even after the word and in a sentence), too similar in sound to [name_f]Juno[/name_f] (I think it compliments it nicely), pretentious or try hard. It sounds like the perfect director your family honestly! Good luck.
[name_u]Kit[/name_u], [name_f]Juno[/name_f], and [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] are ADORABLE. My tongue kind of slips up with the “and [name_f]Anouk[/name_f]”, but it also sounds just beautiful. However, if the name continues to feel perfect but not quite right, I would put in on the back burner.
I personally struggle with [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] a bit, but I don’t think it’s all that difficult. I’m not entirely sure on how much emphasis to put on the ‘ou’ sound, i.e. [name_m]Ah[/name_m]-NOOK (like nook and cranny) or with the ‘noo’ rhyming with moo or the end of who. I’d probably be fine if I heard it, but I’m not a fan of names I have to think about before I say them.
I think [name_f]Anouk[/name_f]’s fine with [name_f]Juno[/name_f]. They’re not too similar with different initial and end sounds.
I don’t really think of [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] as [name_m]French[/name_m] or pretentious. Going back to the pronunciation, I find it a little difficult to imagine, but I more see it as modern and stylish.
I also really love this name - one of my favourites. If it helps, I do know one little [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] under five and I wouldn’t say there are problems with pronunciation. If anything the name really stands out in a good way. As you said, it’s unexpected. [name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] are not too similar to me.
The [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] I know does have [name_m]French[/name_m] parents, but I don’t think it’s pretentious to use it if you aren’t [name_m]French[/name_m]. If you think about it people use [name_m]French[/name_m] names all the time without having a [name_m]French[/name_m] connection themselves. Tons of names ending in “ine” have a [name_m]French[/name_m] origin and they wouldn’t raise eyebrows. I do see where you’re coming from though since [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] is pretty distinct. If I had another girl I would love to name her [name_f]Niamh[/name_f], but I have zero Irish in me.
@[name_f]Alyssa[/name_f] I love that vowel link between [name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Anouk[/name_f]! I hadn’t spotted that and it’s kind of cool.
@kew Good to hear about sister names with similar sounds being doable — thanks.
@wittyusername Hmm, that’s what I’m concerned about. I can think of a few friends and family who would totally love the name, but several more who won’t be familiar with it at all and probably won’t like it as a result. Not a dealbreaker for us necessarily, but for her…?
@llbaby Thanks, glad to hear you think it’s a good fit for our family.
@tranquilstars “If the name continues to feel perfect but not quite right, I would put it on the back-burner”. This is such great advice!! Advice that I really, really struggle to follow with longtime loves like [name_f]Anouk[/name_f]
@[name_m]Jam[/name_m] the “oo” sound is where I stumble a bit too. I like it best with the authentically [name_m]French[/name_m] vowel, sort of halfway between “book” and “boo”, but it really would be pretentious (not to mention impossible) to insist that all our English acquaintances say it in a flawless [name_m]French[/name_m] accent every time. Which leaves me sort of hovering between the two English vowels, never really sure which will come out!
@babymagic Ooh, a real life [name_f]Anouk[/name_f]! Thrilled to hear it works (and interested in how she pronounces it?) That’s a very good point about “foreign” names becoming more and more mainstream — and for what it’s worth, I think [name_f]Niamh[/name_f] is usable with no Irish heritage, at least here in the UK. I know non-Irish girls called [name_f]Niamh[/name_f] and [name_f]Aoife[/name_f], and an English [name_m]Eoin[/name_m] whose parents simply preferred that spelling.
I love it and think it fits with [name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_u]Kit[/name_u].
I dont think anyone would have to be told more then once or twice on how to pronounce it. Spelling it might be a little harder for some but even the most basic of names people will still spell wrong.
[name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_f]Anouk[/name_f], don’t sound so similar that they couldn’t be siblings. I actually think [name_f]Juno[/name_f], [name_u]Kit[/name_u], and [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] are a sweet sibset.
Not pretentious at all
Can’t wait to see what name you both settle on for #3 I’m positive it will be another jaw dropper.
Once again congratulations on your 3rd baby, @katinka!
[name_f]Anouk[/name_f], as you probably know is one of my favorite names and high up on the list if we are blessed with another girl. For a couple of years now [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] has always been on top of my list, but certain things like pronunciation have made me struggle. Now I feel a lot more confident if I were to have an [name_f]Anouk[/name_f], because it honors my [name_f]MIL[/name_f]'s name and it never hurts to be on the sweet side with the [name_f]MIL[/name_f] and also because it leads to Anousha and [name_f]Anoushka[/name_f] which are the two nicknames we’d use. Anousha because it honors my Arabic roots and [name_f]Anoushka[/name_f] because I simply love it more than words!
I honestly think that [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] compliments [name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_u]Kit[/name_u] with absolute perfection and a lot more than any other names I have seen on your list. It shares a few core letters with [name_f]Juno[/name_f] without sounding similar and the prominent K with [name_u]Kit[/name_u], which ties everything perfectly together and just makes the trio seem complete to me. I so hope that if you have a girl [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] will be her name, although I know you have brilliant taste and style and any name you choose will be perfect. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] I was helpful!
I don’t think the pronunciation is difficult. I’m not sure of the typical pronunciation, but I pronounce it AWN-ook (AWN as in fawn, ook as in [name_m]Luke[/name_m]) with the stress on the first syllable. I love saying it and would love to meet an [name_f]Anouk[/name_f]!
I don’t feel that [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] is repetitive with [name_f]Juno[/name_f], although I see what you mean.
I do not get a pretentious vibe from [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] at all.
I love it so much! And I think it sounds lovely with your other children’s names.
Honestly though the pronunciation worries me. And I think that’s mainly because I’ve never met an [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] in the flesh - I’m never quite sure if it should sound like book or something with a longer oo sound like [name_m]Luke[/name_m]. I’ve heard people go with both and I’m not quite confident enough in my own name geekery to know which is more correct! It’s the same feeling I have with one of my other absolute faves, [name_f]Ines[/name_f] - also because I’ve never met one in real life I suspect.
But if you’ve got a pronunciation you’re happy with and you don’t mind telling people the first time when you introduce her, I don’t see it as necessarily an issue - there are lots of names out there that are not immediately familiar to people and their owners seem to do just fine
I really like [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] and think it works well with [name_f]Juno[/name_f] and [name_u]Kit[/name_u]. I don’t think it feels pretentious. I’m jealous that you have a clear favorite name already!
I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] IT! its not pretentious at all, its easy to say. And even if she has to correct people once or twice i do too and i have a relatively common name, people can make mistakes with any name. My friend [name_f]Sofia[/name_f] has the most common name in the world and people still spell it [name_f]Sophia[/name_f]. [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] is lovely and distinctive. Go for it! and [name_f]Anouk[/name_f] and Junois such a great sibset
