Baby name: Emmanuelle

FeistyFille

Before you read the other replies...

What is your first impression of this name for a baby girl? 

Someone I kinda sorta know someone who is considering it. I know what my first impression of it is, but I'm curious if anyone else thinks the same.

userdeleted

My initial thought was that it's a boy name no matter how you change the spelling. But, I looked it up on Behind the Name and apparently it is a real name, French. And another form is Manuela, which I wouldn't think twice about.

I prefer the spelling Emanuela, for some reason. 

Nessia

Isn't a boy name? Poor child will be telling people how to spell her name her entire life. I assume she would be called Emma so why not just name her Emma which is a beautiful name.

Jess.O

Before reading anything else...

My first thought is that it sounds like a boy's name, even though I can tell it's feminine by the ending.  

My second thought is that it sounds religious or Biblical.  

august8080

Without reading any other replies, I think of it as a boy's name, even with the 'e' on the end.

amyliisa

Probably because of the time of year, my first thought is of the church hymn:

"Rejoice, rejoice!  Emmanuel has come to you, O Isreal!" = Emmanuel = Jesus.

Second thought = Emmanuel Lewis, aka:  Webster.

So even though it's EmmanueLLE and being considered for a girl, my first 2 impressions are associated with the male gender.

amyinaustin

SUPER French.  I've only known people from France named this.  An old coworker married a sweet French girl w/ this name and she ultimately was my teacher in a French class I took at the Alliance Francaise a while ago. 

I think, in the context of it being French, it is really pretty.  But I also think that it sounds very masculine to the average American person.  It's all in the pronunciation though - the male name Emanuel is accented on the "man" part of the name, the feminine name is accented more on the "elle" part making it so very French and rhyming w/ Gabrielle.

So since I have a lot of background in French/France I would recognize it as a feminine name - but those that don't have that background would probably not.

austxgrl

I kinda like it.  It has so many potential shorter names Emma, Elle, Ella, Emmy.  All of which I really like and I like the pronunciation of it.  Its different but still classic in a way. 

Emer

Ummm, I think of that series on Skinemax.  

SarahPLiz

I like it. But my favorite Christmas carol (besides D*ck in a Box) is O Come O Come Emmanuel. 

It can be shortened to the ever popular Em or Emmy, but is still a very grown up name. Generally I'm not a fan of male names on girls, but the -lle does technically make it female, in French anyway.  

Mrs.Froggianna

It looks like a misspelled version of the boy name to me. I would be very surprised if someone introduced their daughter with this name. And I'm not usually against unisex names.

Chandley

Rach03k:

My initial thought was that it's a boy name no matter how you change the spelling. But, I looked it up on Behind the Name and apparently it is a real name, French. And another form is Manuela, which I wouldn't think twice about.

I prefer the spelling Emanuela, for some reason. 

 

true story: my grandparents maid (when i was little) was named manuela. she was very southern and i think believed in voodoo. she scared the crap out of me with stories about spirits that would come and get me in the middle of the night if i wasn't a good little girl.

ebat

My first impression when reading the title was it's ok,  but mms.  My impression when opening up the post is that it's a boy's name.

intheatx

My thoughts: I sure hope they call her Emma or Elle. Otherwise, that people will always think that poor girl is a boy if they only hear the name first. That's not a name like Kyle or Chris, where there's always a chance it could be a girl. 

lovemydog

I think of that French actress, Emmanuelle Beart.  She's gorgeous.

s-a-r-a-h

I actually like it. I associate it with being a girl's name because it's the name of one of the main actresses from Entourage.

AustinBride06

intheatx:

My thoughts: I sure hope they call her Emma or Elle. Otherwise, that people will always think that poor girl is a boy if they only hear the name first. That's not a name like Kyle or Chris, where there's always a chance it could be a girl. 

I have a 'traditionally' male name and I like it.  It throws people off for a minute when I meet them and I feel like that gives me a bit of an advantage, especially in a professional setting.  Not that anyone would give preferential treatment to a male but I like that moment when they're taken aback for a minute when they meet me for the first time.

Also... I like the name Emmanuelle (sorry, probably butchered the spelling).  I think it's beautiful.  I don't think it needs to be anglicized.  And it sounds like a girl's name to me.

michelleaxo

I would think it was a boy if I just saw the name. I don't like it, especially for a girl.

nanann

I can't stop singing since I read the post title.

Emanuel.  Ema a a an uel.  Emanuel. Ema a a an u el. (and then the rest is just a mess since I don't know all the words): Wonderful Counselor.  ______ Prince of Peace. Mighty God. Holy One! 

 etc etc

sorry if someone's done that already, but I didn't read!

Anyone, sounds like a boy name and that someone thinks very highly of their child.  Like naming them Jesus.  And it looks just wrong wrt the spelling.

AustinMimi

I like it. I think it's pretty and romantic.

SaraLouiseBride08

I didn't even know it was a real female name. My first thought was that it's a boy's name. And for the right people, I usually like boy names on girls. Ryan, Bret, Kyle, Chris ... I like all those on girls This one, I don't like on boys, not to mention on girls.

Bad.

ETA: I also usually LOVE long, ultra feminine, and especially foreign names. But I just can't get Emanual out of my head with this one.

mrs.wildman

amyinaustin:

SUPER French.  I've only known people from France named this.  An old coworker married a sweet French girl w/ this name and she ultimately was my teacher in a French class I took at the Alliance Francaise a while ago. 

I think, in the context of it being French, it is really pretty.  But I also think that it sounds very masculine to the average American person.  It's all in the pronunciation though - the male name Emanuel is accented on the "man" part of the name, the feminine name is accented more on the "elle" part making it so very French and rhyming w/ Gabrielle.

So since I have a lot of background in French/France I would recognize it as a feminine name - but those that don't have that background would probably not.

Ditto this. I like it a lot, but I'm familiar with the language and culture. I would also immediately adopt a nickname such as Emme.

Persa

Emer:

Ummm, I think of that series on Skinemax.  

Me too

molliedb

sounds like a girl.  seems like a contrived name to me, but i can't throw stones.  i named one girl genevieve and dh's family hasn't been truly french in like 4 generations

molliedb

nanann:

I can't stop singing since I read the post title.

Emanuel.  Ema a a an uel.  Emanuel. Ema a a an u el. (and then the rest is just a mess since I don't know all the words): Wonderful Counselor.  ______ Prince of Peace. Mighty God. Holy One! 

 

dying laughing b/c i had amy grant singing that in my head before i read your response

brooke152

I had a couple of first thoughts...the Skinemax series, then a very pretty French name.  I didn't think of it as a boy's name at all.  I think someone already mentioned the difference in pronunciation between girl and boy version.  It's nms, but I do like it. 

esbeek

I like it. But I speak some French.

thethomps

I think it's a beautiful name and it definitely says "girl" to me.  However, it does make me think of the song, "Emmanuel, God with Us."  I suppose Emmanuel is the masculine form. 

bluestreet

Haven't peaked yet!

First impression: Beautiful and French.

Second impression: Oh yeah, 1970's porn that I watched with my friends in college.

Further consideration: Thumbs up!

kiarox2002

I keep thinking of the Christmas Carol- Oh Come Oh Come Emanuel.  One of my favorites!