Alouette

braveangel2 · September 2010

I thought this Name Berry name looked familiar, and sure enough. Alouette is a French-Canadian children's song. I originally didn't know the meaning (skylark/lark) but the song itself isn't exactly great when you translate the lyrics.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alouette_(song)

All that aside, what do you think of this word-name?

led2009 · September 2010

Having looked at every A name out (every 1st child in DH's fam. must have an A name) there I've seen it before. I'm not a fan. This one got vetoed immediately!

alliejo725 · September 2010

I can't quite shake the children's song connection (which I believe is about plucking and cooking the "alouette").

I do, however, like the NN options of Allie, Alou, Lu, Lettie...

If I didn't immediately associate it with the song, I'd probably be neutral to positive on the name.

KandM05 · September 2010

Its not my style, but I dont hate it.....

Temp984666312503071 · September 2010

I think of the song.

But I am hungry so right now the first thing that came to mind was the yummy spreadable cheese .

strangebird · September 2010

I've contemplated this one before. We finally vetoed it because the liklihood of it getting diminished to Aly, which I really dislike.

busybeegirl1976 · September 2010

I'm reminded of the cheese spread too but it is also a line of cosmetics.

ToBeMrsC6907 · September 2010

Alouette is also a kind of cheese. Herbed goat cheese I believe? It's delicious on a baguette.

ToBeMrsC6907 · September 2010

And I'm sorry but I think it's ridiculous as a name. Just my .02

joanithegreat · September 2010

Having sang this song as a child, I would never ever use it as a name for a child. The song is pretty well known in Canada, not just in french speaking communities.

Nova726 · September 2010

sweetheart18:
I think of the song.

But I am hungry so right now the first thing that came to mind was the yummy spreadable cheese .

Lol, I thought of the cheese too.

strangebird · September 2010

ToBeMrsC6907:
And I'm sorry but I think it's ridiculous as a name. Just my .02

Didn't it occur to you that it's a brand because it's also a name? The company didn't invent it as a product line. Without knowing their history, I can only assume it was in fact a company surname or an associated surname before it was the name of their product line. So I don't understand saying it's 'ridiculous as a name.' It is a name.

sunnyday016 · September 2010

sweetheart18:
I think of the song.

But I am hungry so right now the first thing that came to mind was the yummy spreadable cheese .

Me too!

braveangel2 · September 2010

Yeah, the brand names thing doesn't bother me at all. Many brand names come from actual names (Nike for instance is a Greek name meaning 'victory').

Now would you say Al hoo et or Al hoo et uh? (doing my best to do a phonetic of the French and French-American)

alliejo725 · September 2010

braveangel2:

Yeah, the brand names thing doesn't bother me at all. Many brand names come from actual names (Nike for instance is a Greek name meaning 'victory').

Now would you say Al hoo et or Al hoo et uh? (doing my best to do a phonetic of the French and French-American)

I'm an American, but when we sang the song, we pronounced it "al hoo et uh."

When I look at it as a name, I pronounce it "al hoo et." I think that's what most English-speaking people will do because of other "ette" names (Nicolette, Cosette, Bernadette). I've never heard any of them pronounce the final E.

krista613 · September 2010

all i can think of is learning this song in french class and then translating... the one lyric that stands out in my mind is je te plumerai la tete... i will pluck your head... such a sweet sweet song.

Eros · September 2010

Spreadable cheese and the song...neither of which I would want to think about instantly when I think of my baby.

braveangel2 · September 2010

alliejo725:
braveangel2:

Yeah, the brand names thing doesn't bother me at all. Many brand names come from actual names (Nike for instance is a Greek name meaning 'victory').

Now would you say Al hoo et or Al hoo et uh? (doing my best to do a phonetic of the French and French-American)

I'm an American, but when we sang the song, we pronounced it "al hoo et uh."

When I look at it as a name, I pronounce it "al hoo et." I think that's what most English-speaking people will do because of other "ette" names (Nicolette, Cosette, Bernadette). I've never heard any of them pronounce the final E.

That's what I'm thinking too.

k*princess · September 2010

It is sooooooo nms. But I don't hate it... I imagine it on some exotic, gorgeous French girl

Ceridwen21 · September 2010

It's the name of my local football team.

https://www.montrealalouettes.com/

Does not work for a human baby, IMHO. Dog, maybe.

Jinsy80 · September 2010

I would always think of the song, so it's a definite no.

shortstuff15 · September 2010

Ceridwen21:

It's the name of my local football team.

https://www.montrealalouettes.com/

Does not work for a human baby, IMHO. Dog, maybe.

I was thinking of the football team too (except they aren't local for me, just my favorite teams arch rivals). It is definately not a human baby name.

And as far as pronouncing it - when it comes to the football team it is al - oo - et, and that would be how I would pronounce it for a baby as well. I didn't take french though, so I don't know if it would be different with a french accent.

Scout05 · September 2010

sweetheart18:

I think of the song.

But I am hungry so right now the first thing that came to mind was the yummy spreadable cheese .

Exactly what came to my mind as well.

crystal959 · September 2010

sweetheart18:
I think of the song.

But I am hungry so right now the first thing that came to mind was the yummy spreadable cheese .

this

starlight8323 · September 2010

I think the word itself is graceful and beautiful, probably because it reminds me of the ballet spin pirouette.

I personally would pronounce it al-o-WHET (with a bit of an H sound in there, and a very hard T at the end), even though I pronounce it al-o-WET-teh when I sing the song.

I think the flow of the song makes it sound better with that extra syllable at the end. But when used as a name, it would sound silly with an extra syllable, especially when spoken in the middle of an english sentence. "I gave al-o-wet-teh a popsicle after her luch." I said it out loud like that, and it sounded absolutely ridiculous. Maybe just because of my Texas accent?

Now, as to whether I would actually use the name, I don't think I could get past the association with the song myself. But if you think you can, then go for it.

I'm sure Alouette would eventually look up the song lyrics translation, which might make her a bit sad for a day or so, but I don't think it would scar her for life or anything.

I don't think the other kids in the class would think to look it up, but they may know just enough of the song to hum the tune at her in jest. If she already knows the meaning of the words herself, it might bother her.

But if she takes French classes in elementary or middle school, they may learn the song, as PP mentioned. Just make sure she never takes French classes... Oh wait, if her name is Alouette, she may feel a connection with France, and may even end up majoring in French. Wink

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