My [name_m]SIL[/name_m] is pregnant (well, two of my [name_m]SIL[/name_m]'s are pregnant and one sister…lots of babies around here) and the name she really likes right now is [name_f]Annalee[/name_f]. Now, I am not a particularly ‘mind-in-the-gutter’ type of person but all I see and hear is “anally.” WDYT? She’s also considering Madalee (the way she says it rhymes with [name_f]Natalie[/name_f]…) which I really don’t like LOL!
[name_f]Annalee[/name_f] is rather cute, and I do like it, but I totally see what you mean. I pronounce it more as [name_f]Anna[/name_f]-lee, with the emphasis on [name_f]Anna[/name_f], but in another accent I can see it being an issue. I’d suggest maybe spelling it as [name_f]Annelie[/name_f].
I’m also not bothered by Madalee either way (I could see it growing on me) but it’d cause a LOT of spelling issues since Ms and Ns are already usually hard to distinguish between in spoken word.
Maybe kindly suggest some other -lee names too her, as she seems to prefer that ending? LOL I’m pretty partial to them - they’re kind of a guilty pleasure of mine (anything in -ee is really; [name_f]Courtnee[/name_f], [name_f]Chelsee[/name_f], [name_f]Paislee[/name_f], [name_f]Destinee[/name_f], [name_f]Aubree[/name_f], [name_u]Rylee[/name_u], etc.).
I actually really like [name_f]Anneli[/name_f]/[name_f]Annalie[/name_f]/[name_f]Annalee[/name_f]! It feels cute and spunky. I do know an elementary aged girl with this name, so I think it is wearable. Also, I really prefer [name_f]Natalie[/name_f] to Madalee.
Would your [name_m]SIL[/name_m] consider [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f]/[name_f]Annalise[/name_f], [name_f]Atalie[/name_f]/[name_f]Athalie[/name_f], or [name_f]Mallory[/name_f]?
I don’t mind [name_f]Annalee[/name_f], and I would put the emphasis on [name_f]ANNA[/name_f], so I don’t have the same issue you do.
I’m really not fond of Madalee at all- it’s an unattractive spelling, in my opinion. I agree with the previous comment about perhaps suggesting other -lee names if that seems to be her style?
LOL well maybe I just have a dirty mind. FWIW, we have fairly strong southern accents and the way she said it just sounded so much like anally. I don’t know how to replicate the accent in typing…but imagine saying the first three letters of [name_u]Ainsley[/name_u], and that’s how she starts out [name_f]Annalee[/name_f]. If that’s not confusing LOL
[name_f]Paislee[/name_f] and [name_f]Ainslee[/name_f] are also on her radar so that’s what I’m silently rooting for! 
I like the sound of [name_f]Annalee[/name_f] but as soon as I see it, all I think of is the word Anal. Ew.
No thank you.
I actually, to be perfectly honest, think of the same thing with the name [name_f]Annalise[/name_f], which happens to be my favorite spelling of the name. Haha.
I think the exact same thing every time I see or hear that name, which is sad because I think I’d really like it otherwise. I still like it better than Madalee, but it might be that I’m biased against made-up sounding names. [name_f]Annalee[/name_f] at least sounds like a “real name” to me. But to each their own!
I am with you 100% on this! You just know there’ll more than a few Freudian slips of “Anally-Uh whoops, I mean [name_f]Annalee[/name_f]” and “Uh, did I just hear you correctly? Your name is Anally? Oh [name_f]ANNAlee[/name_f]. Yeah, sure, whatever… ”” [name_m]Just[/name_m]. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t. [name_f]Do[/name_f]. It. Madalee is also ridiculous. Go with [name_f]Natalie[/name_f], save your kid some grief, and call it a day.
If that still doesn’t appease her, perhaps suggest
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_f]Adia[/name_f]
[name_f]Aveline[/name_f] ([name_m]Ah[/name_m]-vuh-leen/[name_f]Ave[/name_f]-uh-leen)
[name_f]Athena[/name_f]
[name_f]Althea[/name_f]
[name_f]Carina[/name_f]
[name_f]Carolina[/name_f] (caro-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-nah)
[name_f]Catalina[/name_f] (cat-uh-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-nah)
Madalena (Mad-uh-LEH-na)
[name_f]Marceline[/name_f] ([name_f]Mar[/name_f]-seh-LEEN)
[name_f]Nicoline[/name_f] (nick-oh-LEEN)
[name_f]Selene[/name_f]
EDIT TO ADD: Anneliese (anna-LEES)
I definitely see anally with [name_f]Annalee[/name_f]. I think it’s fine to mention that to your sister, but maybe don’t tell her you hate Madalee since that’s just a personal opinion. I have seen [name_f]Athalie[/name_f] around nameberry ([name_f]Natalie[/name_f] w/o N) which she might like.
I’m from [name_f]Alabama[/name_f], so I know exactly what pronunciation of [name_f]Anna[/name_f] you’re talking about. I agree that [name_f]Annalee[/name_f] looks and sounds too much like anally.
I agree!! This is one of my least favorite names (and all variations where I see or hear anal…) too. I don’t know why, I understand the appeal but I can’t get past the closeness to the word anal.
When I saw the name, I pronounced it [name_m]AH[/name_m]-nuh-lee, not AY-nuh-lee, so I don’t hear “anal” at all. [name_m]Even[/name_m] pronouncing it AN-uh-lee I don’t hear it, but I have a rather non-regional accent for living in Eastern Kentucky (grew up close to Cincinnati). lol So I can totally see how you would hear that based on the accents of people I know. I think it’s a cute name, but in a thick Kentucky accent could definitely cause some problems. [name_m]Even[/name_m] so, I prefer [name_f]Annalee[/name_f] to Madalee. I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] a pp’s suggestion of [name_f]Atalie[/name_f] (or spelled [name_f]Atalee[/name_f]/Attalee if she prefers the ‘ee’ ending). I adore that name, but a lot of people seem to think it’s going to get confused with [name_f]Natalie[/name_f] as it’s pronounced the same, but without the ‘n.’ FWIW, I disagree, but you know…it’s possible. haha
I totally see anally as well. I would let her know! I’m not a fan of Madalee either. Sounds like she really loves names that end in [name_u]Lee[/name_u]? Here’s some other names that end in [name_u]Lee[/name_u]
[name_f]Rosalee[/name_f]/ [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Coralee[/name_f]/ [name_f]Coralie[/name_f]
[name_f]Kaylee[/name_f]
[name_u]Everly[/name_u]
[name_f]Whitlee[/name_f]
[name_f]Brynlee[/name_f]
[name_f]Atlee[/name_f]
I’m sure someone has made this connection…but…
Quagmire from Family Guy named his daughter Anna Lee to make the anal joke.
I don’t hear anally at all when I see/say [name_f]Annalee[/name_f], but I guess it could happen with certain accents. Madalee isn’t my style personally, but I think it is a fine name.
I don’t think you should say anything unless she is asking for your opinion.
suggest…
[name_f]Ainslee[/name_f]
Averlee
Avalee
[name_f]Adalee[/name_f]
[name_f]Athalie[/name_f]
[name_f]Coralee[/name_f]
Everlee
[name_f]Emmalee[/name_f]
[name_f]Hadlee[/name_f]
[name_f]Haylee[/name_f]
[name_m]Henlee[/name_m]
[name_f]Jaylee[/name_f]
Kenlee
Kinlee
[name_f]Kinsee[/name_f]
[name_f]Kimberlee[/name_f]
[name_f]Kaylee[/name_f]
[name_f]Kylee[/name_f]
[name_f]Karlee[/name_f]
Maelee/[name_f]Maelie[/name_f]
Maverlee
Novalee
[name_f]Paislee[/name_f]
[name_u]Rylee[/name_u]
Tinlee
Great grandmother’s name was [name_f]Annalee[/name_f]. Never had a problem with that kind of association. Probably the kind of thing you never think of when a person is attached. I think most people are just going to see it as a combo of two fairly common names.