I’ve been pondering the name [name_f]Leonie[/name_f]…and I was wondering how you pronounce it. [name_m]Lay[/name_m]-OH-nee, [name_u]Lee[/name_u]-OH-nee…or something else. Everyone I’ve brought it up to verbally seems to pronounce it differently, especially emphasizing different syllables. I’m wondering if pronunciation would be an issue for a little girl with this name…
Also, I don’t really know what to pair with it. Here’s my choices so far but I don’t love any of them:
I would pronounce [name_m]Lay[/name_m]-OH-nee. I think the [name_u]Lee[/name_u]-Oh-nee pronunciation unfairly dates this name. [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] [name_f]Saga[/name_f] is my favorite of the bunch, though I think I prefer [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] [name_u]Sage[/name_u]. I like [name_f]Saga[/name_f] but the flow is a bit strange to my ears. [name_f]Leona[/name_f] [name_u]Story[/name_u] is a slight variation and I really love it.
I prefer [name_m]LAY[/name_m]-oh-nee. It’s a very pretty name, but there would definitely be pronunciation issues. Still, I think if you loved it that much, you should use it. Of your list I like [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] [name_u]Juniper[/name_u].
If you’re emphasising the OH it can only be [name_u]Lee[/name_u]-o-nee, otherwise you’re mixing pronunciations.
If you put the stress on the first or last syllable, you could go with [name_m]Lay[/name_m] as you have the [name_m]German[/name_m] and [name_m]French[/name_m] pronunciation right there.
I have only met lee-OH-nee girls. I can definitely hear alternate pronunciation but would encourage and accent mark as said above, for clarification.
Many of your combos are nice. I’m not certain which pronunciation you are using while saying them aloud, so to be clear, these are suggestions for a lee-OH-nee named girl. (ps [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] is a great name)
Thank you all! See what I mean, about how everyone pronounces it differently? It’s definitely growing on me, though. I really like some of the combos and will ponder them and pass them on to my fiancee for feedback. Any other suggestions are always welcome.
Of your list I like [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] [name_u]Juniper[/name_u].