Hey all!
I’m French born but live abroad and mybaby girl’s father is Spanish-speaking. She will be French but we will keep having an international life, so it’s important for me that her name will not be too difficult in an international context.
I’m setting on the name Izaé, which works wonders in French and is beautiful in Spanish, but I’m a bit worried about how it’d be pronounced and received in English. Phonetically it is said Ee-zah-eh. What are your thoughts? Would it work in an English speaking context? The alternative is Alba. Much more simple and less unique, but nature-related, which I like (dawn in Spanish). Any thoughts on this one too?
Thank you so much! Feeling very lost at the moment.
1 Like
To be honest, I can’t see [name_f]English[/name_f] monoglots pronouncing Izaé correctly. A lot of [name_f]English[/name_f] speakers struggle with those combinations of vowels. You would probably get something that sounds like “ee-zay” or [name_m]Isaiah[/name_m].
I think [name_f]Alba[/name_f] is really beautiful, and works fine in an English-speaking context.
Thank you! It’s valuable input.
We also consider [name_u]Sol[/name_u]. Which is trickier to wear in [name_u]French[/name_u] but I think works fine in [name_f]English[/name_f]?
I’ll add it to the decision making trio 
thanks everyone in advance for your thoughts.
1 Like
Unfortunately I agree that Izaé would be a very tough name to wear in [name_f]English[/name_f]. [name_f]My[/name_f] guess is that people who read it would pronounce it like Isaiah’s first two syllables, and people who heard it would default to a pronunciation like [name_u]Izzy[/name_u].
I imagine [name_f]Alba[/name_f] or [name_u]Sol[/name_u] would be much easier to live with.
I think [name_u]Sol[/name_u] would be fairly easy to wear. In the UK, there is a famous football player/manager named [name_u]Sol[/name_u], though he is male.
Congratulations and welcome to Nameberry!
Izaé is pretty and not too complicated. I think others are right in that [name_f]English[/name_f] speakers might not get the pronunciation on the first attempt, but it’s not too difficult to pronounce or remember. If it’s your favourite, I think it’s definitely usable.
[name_f]Alba[/name_f] seems like a perfectly international name. It’s still pretty uncommon and very pretty, I really like it.
[name_u]Sol[/name_u] is lovely! It was on my own list but I was put off by the fact that here in the UK, there is a beer called [name_u]Sol[/name_u]. Not a huge issue by any means, and I think the name is beautiful – short, strong and sunny 
Good luck!
1 Like
Ditto what others have said about Izaé: although beautiful, it would likely be hard for English-speakers to pronounce correctly. Whilst I like [name_u]Sol[/name_u], [name_f]Alba[/name_f] gets my vote. It’s just such a beautiful name, somehow unusual and simple at the same time and not too commonly used. It was on my list for my own daughter.
As an English-Speaker myself, I can unfortunately say the name pronunciation will likely be butchered and mispronounced very often. I think it’s beautiful, but probably best as a middle name.
[name_f]Alba[/name_f] is beautiful! [name_f]Alba[/name_f] Izaé is much friendly for [name_f]English[/name_f] speakers.
Unpopular opinion, but I LOVE Izaé! I think its so beautiful. I really don’t think pronunciation in [name_f]English[/name_f] will be too hard to correct (it’s almost like [name_f]Isabel[/name_f] without the b and l), and if she will be growing up in [name_f]France[/name_f], stuff like school roll call in [name_f]English[/name_f] won’t be a common problem. Go for it!
I can’t see [name_f]English[/name_f] speaking pronunciation Izaé right at first try, but there are more complicated names out there so it might work as well. The world is becoming more international anyway.
I agree that it would be very hard to get it right in English… unfortunately, I just assumed it was a creative spelling for Ysée (which is ee ZAY I think?). It’s interesting for sure, but even with my limited experience with [name_u]French[/name_u], I find it hard to say, unfortunately! [name_f]Alba[/name_f] is definitely more familiar, but also very accessible in multiple languages, so I see both the hesitation and appeal of [name_f]Alba[/name_f].
Could you do something like [name_f]Alba[/name_f] Izaé or [name_f]Alba[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f] Izaé?
Good luck!
I do think Izaé would be pronounced wrong if I’m honest, but it could be easily corrected. It’s a lovely name. That said, I adore [name_f]Alba[/name_f]
If the baby’s father is Spanish, how about [name_f]Marisol[/name_f]? (Mary [name_f]Sunshine[/name_f]! :D)
[name_u]French[/name_u] sounding names:
[name_f]Iseult[/name_f]
[name_u]Marie[/name_u] Claire/Marie Christine/Marie [name_f]France[/name_f]
[name_f]Severine[/name_f]
[name_f]Adeline[/name_f]
Ludovine
[name_f]Isobel[/name_f] (Sorry - don’t have a [name_u]French[/name_u] keyboard, so no accents!)
[name_f]Gaelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Joelle[/name_f]
That’s all I can think of for now…
I too think that while Izaé is beautiful, it might not be the best for English-speaking countries. [name_f]Alba[/name_f] is lovely and would work in so many contexts. I’m not the biggest fan of [name_u]Sol[/name_u] for girls, but I think [name_f]Soleil[/name_f] would work very well!
Hmm I think in [name_f]England[/name_f] we are likely to stumble over a name like that to be honest. I also prefer [name_f]Alba[/name_f] too. I think that’s pretty.
Thank you very much everyone!
So I see that the pronunciation would indeed be a problem in [name_f]English[/name_f].
I’m still a bit torn between the uniqueness and “fairyness” of Izaé and [name_f]Alba[/name_f], which is very common in spanish speaking countries.
[name_u]Sol[/name_u] will be the middle name, as either Izaé [name_u]Sol[/name_u] or [name_f]Alba[/name_f] [name_u]Sol[/name_u] Izaé.
Getting there…
I think Izaé is lovely! [name_f]My[/name_f] first language isn’t [name_f]English[/name_f], so I pronounced it the way you said. But I can imagine [name_f]English[/name_f] speaking people having a hard time with that name. [name_f]Alba[/name_f] is a beautiful name (I have [name_f]Alma[/name_f] on my list!), and goes very well wil [name_u]Sol[/name_u] as a middle.
Some others you might like:
- [name_f]Alma[/name_f]
- Lune/Luun (pronounced the same)
- [name_f]Etta[/name_f]
- [name_f]Juna[/name_f]
- Imae
- Yuca
Izaé is beautiful and charming! I’ve never seen it before but it’s stunning. Usually names take a while to grow on me, but I loved it as soon as a read your post!
Unfortunately, I think [name_f]English[/name_f] speakers would initially pronounce it “iz-ay” or “iz-ee.” If you really love it, I still think you should go for it. You didn’t mention what country you live in right now, but if you’re surrounded by [name_u]French[/name_u] or Spanish speakers, I think the occasional odd [name_f]English[/name_f] pronunciation is okay. I have an unusual name (it’s not in my username) and always need to correct people, but it’s never bothered me because I love how unusual and special my name is to my parents.
[name_m]Even[/name_m] if you live in a predominantly English-speaking country, once you teach people how to say it, I’m sure they’ll get the hang of it. If she doesn’t want that hassle, she can go by Izzy/Iz with friends.
I’m not a fan of [name_f]Alba[/name_f]. I think it’s a bit old-fashioned and outdated.
I do like [name_u]Sol[/name_u], though. Short, sweet and unusual. Maybe [name_f]Soleil[/name_f] as a full name? I think if you let go of Izaé, [name_u]Sol[/name_u] is the next best option!
Some other beautiful [name_u]French[/name_u] names:
[name_f]Adalene[/name_f]
[name_f]Amélie[/name_f]
[name_u]Blaise[/name_u]
[name_f]Fleur[/name_f]
Giselle/Gisèle
[name_f]Valerie[/name_f]
[name_f]Aline[/name_f]
[name_u]Jeanne[/name_u]
[name_f]Delphine[/name_f]
[name_f]Joelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Odette[/name_f]
[name_f]Rochelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Sybille[/name_f]
[name_f]Zélie[/name_f]
This is gorgeous 