How do you feel about Orlean as an alternative for Oliver? We’ve recently came up with this as an option but decided to take it to the forum to see how people feel about the name. Cheers and thanks!
i think [name_f]Orlean[/name_f] is so unique and can totally see it for a boy as long as you choose a solid middle name. how would you pronounce it though, or-LIN or or-LEAN?
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We’re thinking Or-Lin so as not to confuse anyone:) Thanks for the input!
Hmm I would definitely guess to say “or-leen” and it does read girl to me. Strangely I don’t say [name_u]New[/name_u] Orleans this way… I would say or-lins. You might even get some people saying or-lee-ann!
It’s a cool sounding name for sure!
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Thanks! You’ve actually raised the only concern we have - it sounding as a girl’s name. Then again if maybe we can pronounce it with stress on “O”, as in O-rlins not orLEEns. Also, if Paris and Brooklyn can be unisex, why can’t Orlean? But yeah, there is this doubt that it won’t be confused with Arlene
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Ooh [name_f]Orlean[/name_f] is really charming
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I really like it, and it does definitely sound masculine to me! [name_f]My[/name_f] only issue is, like others brought up, everyone pronounces it differently. I definitely always say [name_u]New[/name_u] Or-leens and would pronounce the name [name_f]Orlean[/name_f] that way as well unless corrected. I also know people who say it more like Ar-lins so you could get that pronunciation a lot as well. I would say if you’re not picking the name specifically because of the [name_u]New[/name_u] Orleans connection, I would probably spell it [name_m]Orlin[/name_m] if that’s the pronunciation you want to go with.
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I don’t think you’ll have any issues introducing him since “or-lin” sounds definitely like a boy. He may get more confusion from people who are just reading his name off a piece of paper like a teacher or a doctor.
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I like it the french way best (Or-Lee-Ahn) but in the states it end up Or-Leen or Or-Len both are fine though I’m partial to to the softer sound of Or-Len. It think it could work anyway you cut it.
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I do think it’s a cool name, but I would question how to pronounce it…my first thought was Or-leen then Or-Lee-ahn.
I would assume [name_f]Orlean[/name_f] was a female and not sure why but probably because it instantly reminded me of [name_f]Raylene[/name_f], [name_f]Darlene[/name_f], etc. I do prefer [name_u]Oliver[/name_u].
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Thanks for this, you’ve actually helped us understand why people think it errs on the female side.
I would go for [name_m]Orlan[/name_m] instead.
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I would pronounce it Or-Leen.
I think its a cool name! I wouldn’t compare it to Oliver (I’d suggest Gulliver or Oleander as an alternative)
Similar ideas for Orlean:
Orrin
Roland
Orlando
Oberon
… I also like the suggestion to spell it Orlan!!
I think it’s really pretty!! I can totally see it working on a boy, but my only hesitation would be pronunciation. I’d pronounce it like or-lee-an.
It’s really cool! I’d probably pronounce it or-lan like the way it’s said in [name_u]French[/name_u] so it seems the only issue is pronunciation because there are lots of different ways to say it, but that’s the case for many names so I wouldn’t let it stop you
I like it! It’s fun and fresh, and rare enough that I don’t think it leans towards either gender for me. I would instinctively say “OR-lee-un”, which sounds completely gender-neutral to me, but I am in the UK and have to make a big effort to say “New or-LEENS” and not “New OR-lee-uns” 
I think in the US the most common pronunciation you’ll get will be like the city.
I think it is a very unique name next to his siblings ! I instinctively pronounce [name_f]Orlean[/name_f] like Orr- LEAN (stressing the EE) . Rhymes with mean , seen, been
However I am Canadian and typically pronounce [name_f]Orlean[/name_f] the [name_u]French[/name_u] way
I would maybe spell it [name_m]Orlin[/name_m] if that’s the pronunciation that you are going for
Good luck!