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Help[Opinions] Melisande
Opinions on using Melisande IRL, please.
Melisanthe and Millicent are variants.
Bonus - nicknames?
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"How wonderful it is that no one need wait a single moment before starting to improve upon the world." -Ann Frank
Mama to my "bright star" Clarisse Bituin and Wife to Julius. Mahal na mahal from our little family to yours!
Melisanthe and Millicent are variants.
Bonus - nicknames?
______________________________________________
"How wonderful it is that no one need wait a single moment before starting to improve upon the world." -Ann Frank
Mama to my "bright star" Clarisse Bituin and Wife to Julius. Mahal na mahal from our little family to yours!
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
Melisainte is also a variant, according to my family history.
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I think it's a lovely name and would be pleased to meet a bearer in real life. You, and she, may need to correct pronunciation for those who read the name, but it's not difficult to say or to remember once told and I've never considered that need a deal breaker for a name I love.
Possible nicknames (please excuse repeats; I've not read your other replies)...
Missy
Liddy
Liz (if you aren't picky about hardening the "s" sound)
Possible nicknames (please excuse repeats; I've not read your other replies)...
Missy
Liddy
Liz (if you aren't picky about hardening the "s" sound)
This message was edited 10/1/2014, 1:34 PM
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I remember that a character from the Kushiel's Legacy books was named Melisande.
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I'm not really agreeing that Melisanthe is a variant of Melisande, if you're pronouncing it Meli-SAN-thee like Xanthe. -anthe is Greek, I thought. Doesn't matter, really.
IMO Melisande prn May-lee-SAWND is the variant of the name for French speakers, not so much for English speakers. It doesn't come over to English very gracefully.
Saying May-lee-SAWND for me is like saying Coyt-HLEEN for Caitlin. The accent required is enough effort to do, and it's likely enough that I'll say it wrong, that the name (on a fellow American) seems to put on airs. You could give people who have no French a speed lesson in French pronunciation, but obviously that'd be obnoxious. Or you could put up with the name being pronounced wrong a lot. So alas, I would never use Melisande, even though I think it's a beautiful name in French. I wouldn't choose to name a kid Angela pronounced "ANN-juh-luh" if I were raising her in France, for approximately the same reason.
You could pronounce it Mell-ih-SAUND rhyme fond. That's better, but I still think it's stilted with the stress on the final syllable, and I think I would still tend to move more stress to the first syllable when I became comfy with it.
One of the English variations would enthuse me, though. Millicent has had many forms. It does not have to be Millicent. My preferred version of the name is Mellisant or Melisant (sounds like Millicent except with a MELL sound instead of MILL).
Mellie is a nickname I love.
IMO Melisande prn May-lee-SAWND is the variant of the name for French speakers, not so much for English speakers. It doesn't come over to English very gracefully.
Saying May-lee-SAWND for me is like saying Coyt-HLEEN for Caitlin. The accent required is enough effort to do, and it's likely enough that I'll say it wrong, that the name (on a fellow American) seems to put on airs. You could give people who have no French a speed lesson in French pronunciation, but obviously that'd be obnoxious. Or you could put up with the name being pronounced wrong a lot. So alas, I would never use Melisande, even though I think it's a beautiful name in French. I wouldn't choose to name a kid Angela pronounced "ANN-juh-luh" if I were raising her in France, for approximately the same reason.
You could pronounce it Mell-ih-SAUND rhyme fond. That's better, but I still think it's stilted with the stress on the final syllable, and I think I would still tend to move more stress to the first syllable when I became comfy with it.
One of the English variations would enthuse me, though. Millicent has had many forms. It does not have to be Millicent. My preferred version of the name is Mellisant or Melisant (sounds like Millicent except with a MELL sound instead of MILL).
Mellie is a nickname I love.
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Actually, your are right that it is not a variant per say.
Melissanthe is Greek (where we get Melissa).
The Queen of Jerusalem Melisende was refered to as Melissanthe in some Grecian documents (that I dubiously found online). . . so it is linked, but not directly.
Millicent and Melisande are direct variatiosn of each other in English/French.
I have no trouble with the pronunciation, since I speak French. But, I did run it by a few soley-English-speakers in town to see how they would say it by spelling.
The Mell-ih-SAUND pronunciation you offered is right on the money. And, since it is not really a butchering of the name, I like it.
Millicent is not too bad, but I just don't like how it looks.
I can kinda get behind Melisant, but still not as lovely. Will seriously consider your suggestion though.
Melissanthe is Greek (where we get Melissa).
The Queen of Jerusalem Melisende was refered to as Melissanthe in some Grecian documents (that I dubiously found online). . . so it is linked, but not directly.
Millicent and Melisande are direct variatiosn of each other in English/French.
I have no trouble with the pronunciation, since I speak French. But, I did run it by a few soley-English-speakers in town to see how they would say it by spelling.
The Mell-ih-SAUND pronunciation you offered is right on the money. And, since it is not really a butchering of the name, I like it.
Millicent is not too bad, but I just don't like how it looks.
I can kinda get behind Melisant, but still not as lovely. Will seriously consider your suggestion though.
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I have this idea for a story that involves medieval stuff, so I spend time trawling through wikipedia's lists of medieval people, cherry-picking names. I come across Melisande every now and then, and I really like it. It's a perfect princess name. I think it's very usable in real life, certainly just as much as Millicent.
NNs could be Mel, Meli, Melis, Sandy, Sandra?
NNs could be Mel, Meli, Melis, Sandy, Sandra?
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This is what I am thinking too... but secretly hoping its usable with the right family (ours ;) )
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Pretty, though I keep pronouncing it "mel-ih-SAHN-dee/mel-ih-SAHN-day" because it looks vaguely Greek to me (yes, I know it's really French. My brain just refuses to believe it), even though I'm pretty sure that pronunciation is all wrong. Still, I definitely like the look of it!
Nicknames could be Mel, Lisa, Lissa, Lissy, Issy, Sandy, Ann, or Andi / Andy.
Nicknames could be Mel, Lisa, Lissa, Lissy, Issy, Sandy, Ann, or Andi / Andy.
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That is how Julius (DH) pronounces it too. Automatic DEH on the end. But, simple correction and now he says it May-lee-SAHND, with his accent.
My accent sounds more like Mel-ih-SAHND.
My accent sounds more like Mel-ih-SAHND.
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I don't normally cater to compliments... but I had a crap day and this made me feel so much better. Thanks.
I adore May or Mayli as a nickname... DH saw another poster list Melsie and loves that.
I adore May or Mayli as a nickname... DH saw another poster list Melsie and loves that.
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A bit confused on the pronunciation. Not sure how you would say it exactly
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Me-li-SAHND. In French, at least.
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