Leni pronounciation?

Ginajill · February 2013

I love the name Leni for a girl, but hope to pronounce it Leeny. Does this work?, as I don't want it to sound like Lenny or Layny. Thanks :

PrincessFiona9 · February 2013

I would pronounce it Lenny or Lay-nee. I've never heard of this name before.

FakeFinn · February 2013

My initial reaction is to pronounce this name as Lay-knee. So no, I don't think Leeny would work. Of course, you could go with Leni and pronounce it Leeny*, but I think that it would set your child up for a lifetime of "no, my name is pronounced differently." I don't know any other name that would be pronounced as Leeny, personally I don't find it very attractive because I hear 'lean'. Perhaps other posters have alternative names that have leeny as a nn?

ETA: *I mean: as a parent you can do this. You could name your child Priscilla and insist she goes by Samantha. I'm in no way advising you to do this. Actually, I would advise you not to!

alphalyrae · February 2013

I would pronounce it 'Lenny'.I know a Rene pronounced Ree-knee, and a Rene pronounced Ren-nay. I think Leni is one of those names that will have multiple pronunciations based upon where people grew up and how they pronounce certain letters.

mandymogusar · February 2013

I maybe a dunce, but I still don't understand how you want it to be pronounced....when you say 'Leeny' I think 'Lee-knee', and I can't tell if that's what you're looking for or not?? Tongue Tied

Elinetrouwt · February 2013

LMvW85:
My initial reaction is to pronounce this name as Lay-knee. So no, I don't think Leeny would work.

Leni is a German name, Germans pronounce it Lay-knee. (Like Lena would be pronounced Lay-Na).

While pp is right that you can insist on any pronunciation you like, I always think it's a bit odd to change the pronounciation from the original heritage. I think Lay-knee sounds better than Leeny anyway, but that's personal of course.

526SadieSadie · February 2013

Elinetrouwt:
LMvW85:

My initial reaction is to pronounce this name as Lay-knee. So no, I don't think Leeny would work.

Leni is a German name, Germans pronounce it Lay-knee. (Like Lena would be pronounced Lay-Na).

While pp is right that you can insist on any pronunciation you like, I always think it's a bit odd to change the pronounciation from the original heritage. I think Lay-knee sounds better than Leeny anyway, but that's personal of course.

This.

If you're considering it, Google "Leni Riefenstahl" before you put it on your list of finalists, it's not a name I'd want to associate with, personally.

MrsJ723 · February 2013

I would assume Leni was pronounced as "Lenny".

lightgetsin · February 2013

I would definitely pronounce it "Lenny". If you wanted it pronounced Leeny, I think you would need to spell it "Leeni"

Elinetrouwt · February 2013

526SadieSadie:

If you're considering it, Google "Leni Riefenstahl" before you put it on your list of finalists, it's not a name I'd want to associate with, personally.

True. If you just google "Leni" she's the first to come up.

Elinetrouwt · February 2013

How do you like Lina?

jgengo0 · February 2013

I would say lenny. It's a short e

PinkLillyLover · February 2013

Idani:
I would say Lenny.

This!

AllisonKate1311 · February 2013

I would pronounce it as Lenny or Lee-nye(rhymes with eye)

Lhyacinth888 · February 2013

I would think Lenny too. Maybe try Leenie?

surfmamaSD · February 2013

Perhaps you could name her Lena, and call her Leni as a nn? That way the long E sound has already been established.

queenbone · February 2013

I'm not familiar with this name or its origin so I read it as Lenny, as in Lenny & Squiggy.

I think she will have to correct people since it could be pronounced different ways, but I wouldn't necessarily take it off the list for that reason if it is an important name for you.

JLGY · February 2013

I would definitely pronounce it Lenny. I think you'd have to find an alternate spelling to ever get someone to read it Leeny.

jallascalla · February 2013

The first thing I thought of was Leni Riefenstahl too, but my research is in the WWII era. It is a perfectly nice German name, it wouldn't stop my from using it if I really loved it. BUT, I would pronounce it correctly, def. not Leeny!

PinkyFloyd73 · February 2013

I knew Leni was pronounce Laney in German, but in the US it would probably always be pronounced as Lenny.

What about Lini?

tetesmama · February 2013

I would say Lenny. I believe that Heidi Klum pronounces her daughters name that way as well although I coul be wrong. That's the only time I've ever hear the name me spelled that was on a girl.

Ginajill · February 2013

Thanks everyone : I appreciate all of your input : might look into other names.

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