How do you feel about [name_f]Orlean[/name_f] as an alternative for [name_u]Oliver[/name_u]? 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!