Forum Baby Names

Pronunciation

18 replies

AnoniemGuest ·
My partner and I have loved the name Malie for our daughter since early in the pregnancy. But now I'm worried people will pronounce it as Mali (like the country or maliveld). We're seriously considering choosing a different name because of this, since I don't want her to have to correct people her whole life. Any advice? Have you experienced names that can be pronounced in multiple ways? And how would you pronounce Malie if you saw it like that? (Regardless of whether you think it's a beautiful name or not) Thanks!

Replies

  1. Gwen #2

    I did indeed pronounce it as Mali(veld). I'm curious about what your intention is regarding the pronunciation.

    Otherwise, maybe think of Marly?

  2. Debby Guest #3

    With this spelling, it could be either Mali or Malie, depending on how you pronounce Marie, I guess.
    My husband has Michel. On its own, it's a name you'd think you wouldn't have to explain in terms of pronunciation or spelling. But almost no one calls him that. They turn it into Michael, Michiel, or Mick. You always end up dealing with those people.
    Once people in your immediate circle know it, explaining it isn't too bad.

  3. Tooby #4

    My real name (this is a fake name) can be spelled and pronounced in different ways. I personally have a lot of trouble with it. I also think that if Malie herself introduces her name, a lot of people will say "Marie?"

    I wouldn't do it myself, but everyone is different.. maybe she (and you all) can handle it super easily, you never know.

    I also thought of Mali, like Maliveld.

  4. Anonymous Guest #5

    I’d pronounce Malie and Mali exactly the same way (maa-lie). Honestly, I wonder how else it should be pronounced. Mah-lie doesn’t make sense to me with the syllables. You don’t say (mah-ken) for maken either.

  5. Tooby #6

    Anonymous, you can pronounce Malie like Anne-Marie, with the stress on the 'ie' instead of the 'a'.

    Ma-lie
    Maa-lie

  6. Anonymous Guest #7

    I'd rather go with Marlie/Marly. I think it's a super cute name and also clear in terms of pronunciation and spelling.
    Maybe Marlin is another idea?

  7. Tooby #8

    With Marlie it can also be mArlie or MarlIE haha

  8. Gwen #9

    Marlie, I think you only pronounce it as Maarlie when there are two a's in the spelling. Plus, it's already a more well-known name.

  9. Tooby #10

    Gwen, at Malieveld there's only 1 A, and at Maria too, right? So you say maaaaria, not mariaaa. It's about the stress on that IE.

  10. Rose Guest #11

    When I see Malie like this, I’d pronounce it as 'maa-LIE', so with the stress on 'lie'.
    I don’t quite understand how you all want to pronounce Malie and what the problem actually is... It seems to me there’s only one possible pronunciation?

  11. Tooby #12

    Rose, they mean how you pronounce Malieveld: mAlie

  12. Tooby #13

    It can be pronounced in two ways.

    Ma-lee (mAlie), like in Maliveld
    And
    Ma-lee (malIE), like in Anne-Marie

  13. Emme Guest #14

    Maybe you should write the name as Malí. Then you'll get the same effect as with Dalí (the painter). People don't pronounce that as Dalie, but really as Da-Lie.

  14. Tooby #15

    no matter how hard I try, I only see one pronunciation, just like with Marie, with a long a (aa) and ie at the end. "

    Do you pronounce Maliveld the same way as Marie?

  15. Anoniem started this #16

    I also read it as Mali, like the country Mali.
    Maybe you can avoid that by writing it as Ma'lie?

  16. Gwen #17

    I think this could turn into a pretty long discussion.

    You should do what feels right for you, and honestly, all these replies already answer your question. The fact that there's no clear consensus on the pronunciation is entirely up to you. If you can already picture your little girl with the name Malie, I'd stick with that. Personally, I don't think it's that annoying to have to correct people about your name. I know someone who constantly has to repeat her name, but she just accepts it. She thinks, "Just call me Mali(veld) instead of Malie."

  17. Rose Guest #18

    Add an accent then, indeed, Malí or even Malíe

  18. Saartje #19

    I also said it in my head as mAli. The last suggestion, Malíe from Rose, I think is a great idea!

    But if a 3-year-old girl introduces herself as Malí(e), I'd think: ohhhhh Marie, but she can't say the rrrr yet (like so many little ones). Good luck, I'm curious what you'll end up doing

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