I’m considering this name (though I am bothered a bit by the popularity factor) and wondered what your opinions are on the alternative/French spelling?
We do have some French heritage, so that isn’t an issue. And our kids will be educated in French/French immersion, so I know it will be pronounced in French at school.
However, at home and in our family/friend circle we speak English. [name]How[/name] do you think English speaking people would pronounce the name with the French spelling?
Would she get the regular [name]Vi[/name]-let? Or do you think people would assume Vee-o-lette?
Is it best to keep the English spelling and let her French teachers pronounce is however they like at school?
I would pronounce it the same as [name]Violet[/name]. Same as [name]Juliet[/name]/[name]Juliette[/name]. English speakers will assume they are pronounced the same.
I think the way you intend to pronounce the name yourselves is the way to spell it.
If you intend to say Vee-o-lette, spell it [name]Violette[/name], if you intend to say [name]Vi[/name]-let, spell it [name]Violet[/name].
French speakers will say Vee-o-lette and English speakers will say [name]Vi[/name]-let no matter what the spelling is.
See, this bothers me (which is why I wouldn’t go for [name]Violette[/name]). I like the dainty, French appeal of [name]Violette[/name], but if I used a French name, I would want the legit French pronunciation, which I think would be hard to get (especially in the US). Plus, I like the sound of VIE-let much more than vee-oh-let. I think it would get lumped in with [name]Violet[/name], anyway, so the changed spelling would really only be a hassle. It’s a plus that it’d be said correctly in school, but I’m not sure it would be worth it to try and enforce it everywhere else.
Thank you all for your opinions. I think we would stick with the English spelling and pronunciation in the end “[name]Violet[/name]” and just let the French teachers at school pronounce it “Vee-oh-let” if they like!
[name]Violet[/name] is VIO-