Pronunciation of Leni?

Girl Names
1

[name_m]How[/name_m] do you pronounce [name_f]Leni[/name_f]? I love it as [name_u]LYNN[/name_u]-ee, but I’ve just recently started wondering if anyone would think it’s [name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nee (which I don’t love). So, I thought I better ask the experts :slight_smile: Also, do you think this is fine as a full name, or is it too nick-namey? I have loved it for a long time, but don’t love any full names that create it as a nn. Thanks for any help!

2

Either, Leh-nee or [name_u]Lee[/name_u]-nee.

3

I say it as [name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nee, which I believe is the correct pronunciation, at least in [name_m]German[/name_m]. I’d be more likely to try [name_u]Lee[/name_u]-nee as a second guess than [name_u]Lynn[/name_u]-ee.

I do see it as a full name, as it was used by [name_f]Heidi[/name_f] Klum for her daughter, although for the other famous [name_f]Leni[/name_f] - [name_f]Leni[/name_f] Riefenstahl - it was a nickname for [name_f]Helene[/name_f]. If I could get my husband on board with [name_f]Helena[/name_f], I’d love [name_f]Leni[/name_f] as a nickname!

4

I’ve always said it as ‘LEN-ee’ like the end of Eleni ‘eh-LEN-ee’.

Leni: Leni pronunciation: How to pronounce Leni in German, Italian

In German that sounds like a cross between ‘LEN-ee’ and ‘LAY-nee’ to me. It seems to come out more like ‘LEHR-nee’.

5

I would pronounce it [name_f]Lin[/name_f]-ee

6

I wouldn’t be at all sure. If I had to read it out loud I would have to guess. I would guess between [name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nee, [name_m]LE[/name_m]-nee and [name_u]LEE[/name_u]-nee. [name_f]LIN[/name_f]-ee or LIE-nee (not sure which you meant) would never occur to me, they just don’t match the spelling as far as I can see. Wouldn’t it have to be Lini for that?

7

@maggiefromcanada
[name_f]Heidi[/name_f] Klums daughter is also a [name_f]Helene[/name_f], which in [name_m]German[/name_m] would be Heh-leh-ne. [name_f]Leni[/name_f] in [name_m]German[/name_m] would be Leh-nee.

8

I don’t think many people would get [name_u]LYNN[/name_u]-ee from [name_f]Leni[/name_f]. I’ve always said it LEH-nee or [name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nee but I’ve also heard [name_u]LEE[/name_u]-nee

9

Oh, I didn’t realize her full name was [name_f]Helene[/name_f]. I say [name_m]Lay[/name_m]-nee and Leh-nee pretty much the same.

10

I instinctively thought it was pronounced the same as [name_m]Lenny[/name_m].

11

Thanks for all the quick input! I asked my mom as well, and she said without the 2nd “n” ([name_m]Lenni[/name_m]/[name_m]Lenny[/name_m]/[name_u]Lennie[/name_u]) that she wouldn’t know for sure how to say it. I’m just not crazy about two n’s - I really have no good reason why though! But, I really don’t want so sideline my daughter with trying to correct everyone’s pronunciation and spelling at every turn. [name_f]My[/name_f] maiden name was a constant battle all my life - so I certainly don’t want to do that to a child for their first name.