This beautiful name came as a suggestion from @tallemaja, and I was absolutely struck!
According to Behind the Name, it’s a modern Swedish name meaning “little devoted one”. It feels almost like it was created with me in mind. I absolutely love Ls and Vs in names, [name_f]Lily[/name_f] is an important honor name, I have Swedish ancestry, and the flow is similar to other names I love such as [name_f]Eleni[/name_f] and [name_f]Nephele[/name_f]. Is this the full name for [name_f]Liv[/name_f] that I’ve been searching for??
I’m Swedish and I definitely wouldn’t say it’s a modern name, the average age of people named Lillevi in [name_u]Sweden[/name_u] is 57, but I do agree with what Behind the Name says the meaning is, “lille” literally means “little” in Swedish. We pronounce it LIL-eh-vee, but you could also use another pronunciation. I think it’s a really nice name and useable in [name_f]English[/name_f] speaking countries!
A little biased since I suggested it, but I love it!
It’s dainty and pretty but bold and interesting, and the nicknames are really cute! It’s a really unexpected [name_f]Lil[/name_f]- name that’d stand out without being weird.
I instinctively pronounced it like @hedvigpihh said it was pronounced.
@theycallmemommy, ooh where do you see that meaning? I can’t find this name almost anywhere lol.
@night_blossom, go for it! This would be an amazing character name!
@hedvigpihh, maybe “modern” isn’t the right word, but BtN said the name wasn’t in use until the early 20th century, which is what I meant. That pronunciation is exactly what I want!
@caramel107, @jonquils, anyone else who has trouble with the pronunciation, how would you say it? I can’t think of anything other than LIL-eh-vee, but I want to know what others could potentially see as well.
Beautiful and unique. One of those names that if someone mispronounces it, they will love it when they hear it correctly. So I wouldn’t worry about that.
Oh I love it! I’ve never seen it before, but it seems my first guess at pronunciation was right at least. I really like [name_f]Lily[/name_f] and [name_f]Evi[/name_f]/Evy (eh-vee) and this really puts them together. [name_f]Liv[/name_f] as a nickname would be fantastic!
I know a Hillevi and I don’t find that name hard to pronounce, but Lillevi is more challenging even though I am pronouncing it the right way I think ([name_f]Lil[/name_f]-eh-vee, so that it rhymes with Hillevi).
After reading what you and everyone else has said about it I think it’s a lovely idea for you. It seems to fit all your ideas and you seem to already have a strong connection to it.
However, I initially read it as lil [name_u]Levi[/name_u]. As in a little boy being referred to as lil’ [name_u]Levi[/name_u].
I also thought it sounded very similar to a colonisation of bacteria when pronounced this way. I’m in Australia but I don’t think that has anything to do with the way I read it, probably just what my eyes caught onto first.
To avoid this perhaps adding an e to the end would make it more clear it was [name_f]Lil[/name_f]-[name_f]Evie[/name_f] and not the “eye” ending. Or changing the e to and a so it didn’t contain the name [name_u]Levi[/name_u]. Lillavi. Lillevie.
I don’t think having to explain a names pronunciation is the end of the world though. If you love it don’t hesitate to use it.
I have a [name_u]Levi[/name_u] so that’s where my mind went too. Cause when he was a baby I even called him little [name_u]Levi[/name_u]. But when you introduced someone as Lillevi, I suppose that would clear things up.
