Leontine can be said either "LEE-un-teen" or "LAY-un-teen." There was a famous American opera star,
Leontyne Price, who used the "LAY-un-teen" pronunciation so that's what I assume most people would say.
Leonie ("LEE-uh-nee" in English, "LAY-uh-nee" in French) is a gorgeous name you might like too. And then there's always
Leontina.
Ottoline is pronounced, "OT-uh-leen." No, Ottiline is not legit. You're going to have to deal with the "otto" in there. I think it's cute.
Ottilie is, however, a legitimate variant that you might prefer. I've adored both names for years. It's so great to see someone else showing an interest in them. :-) I recently found
Odile and
Ottilia, other variants.
Other feminine names that are similar in style that don't end in an "-ine:"
Lilia /
Lilias,
Evelina,
Sylvie,
Viola ("VIE-uh-luh"),
Eugenie,
Orianne /
Oriana,
Ornella,
Eliane,
Laetitia,
Laurentia (and dare I suggest
Laurentine? "een"),
Livia,
Liadan,
Lucienne,
Lenore, Leopoldina,
Lucasta,
Violette /
Violetta,
Leocadia,
Clemence, Lauriane.
Had I been allowed to include "-ine" names, I would have also suggested:
Eglantine ("ine"),
Clementine ("ine" in US / Canada, "een" in Britain and
France),
Honorine ("een"),
Delphine ("een"),
Jessamine ("in"),
Lucine ("een"),
Wilhelmine ("een"),
Melusine ("een"),
Eponine ("een"),
Alexandrine /
Sandrine ("een"),
Valentine ("ine" in English, "een" in French).
;-)
~~~~~Don't be afraid of the "-ine"~~~~~The "-ine" is your friend~~~~~Don't be afraid of the "-ine"~~~~~The "-ine" is your friend~~~~~Don't be afraid of the "-ine"~~~~~The "-ine" is your friend~~~~~Don't be afraid of the "-ine"~~~~~The "-ine" is your friend~~~~~
This message was edited 9/17/2008, 11:49 AM