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Help[Opinions] Nanook...
...girl or boy? It says masculine but I am leaning toward it for a girl. And what middle names suit?
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Oh, please use Anouk instead. Please!
Nanook has negative connotations (all the "Nanook of the North" that people have been quoting), and also it seems exceedingly silly unless you're Iñupiaq. If you absolutely have to use it, please be sure to spell it the right way: Nanuq. Also, pronounce it correctly. It's not na-NOOK (rhymes with book) as you might think. It's NAH-nuq. The /q/ at the end is a glottal stop. English doesn't really use the sound, but if you try to say the letter /k/ waaaay back in your throat, you may be able to approximate it. The whole word is said very "closed". The vowels are almost muffled.
If parents want to choose a name from another culture, I think that's okay. But it's important to respect the culture it comes from, including the original spelling (especially when it's a word!) and pronunciation. If you don't want your son (or heaven forbid, daughter) to have to go through life being teased for her name, having to spell it, and having people pronounce it incorrectly...Anouk is a lovely alternative.
Some suggestions for middle names:
Anouk Eva
Anouk Helena
Anouk Irina
Anouk Isabella
Anouk Maria
~ Cait
Nanook has negative connotations (all the "Nanook of the North" that people have been quoting), and also it seems exceedingly silly unless you're Iñupiaq. If you absolutely have to use it, please be sure to spell it the right way: Nanuq. Also, pronounce it correctly. It's not na-NOOK (rhymes with book) as you might think. It's NAH-nuq. The /q/ at the end is a glottal stop. English doesn't really use the sound, but if you try to say the letter /k/ waaaay back in your throat, you may be able to approximate it. The whole word is said very "closed". The vowels are almost muffled.
If parents want to choose a name from another culture, I think that's okay. But it's important to respect the culture it comes from, including the original spelling (especially when it's a word!) and pronunciation. If you don't want your son (or heaven forbid, daughter) to have to go through life being teased for her name, having to spell it, and having people pronounce it incorrectly...Anouk is a lovely alternative.
Some suggestions for middle names:
Anouk Eva
Anouk Helena
Anouk Irina
Anouk Isabella
Anouk Maria
~ Cait
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Nanook is a great name within the Inuit culture, I think it is quite offensive to use it outside of it, especially on a girl.
Maybe as a pet name for Hannah or something similiar would be acceptable.
Anouk is great though.
Nevertheless Nanook is on my favourites list, even if I can never use it.
alice x
Maybe as a pet name for Hannah or something similiar would be acceptable.
Anouk is great though.
Nevertheless Nanook is on my favourites list, even if I can never use it.
alice x
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I don't like it for a real person, sorry. It just sounds too "out there" for me.
But if you must use it, use it only for a boy please. It's 100% male afaik, and "but it sounds feminine!" isn't a good enough excuse for me. Anouk, on the other hand, is very similar in sound and is 100% female.
Miranda
EDIT: Forgot to sign my name
"Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign of diseased mind" -- Terry Pratchett
But if you must use it, use it only for a boy please. It's 100% male afaik, and "but it sounds feminine!" isn't a good enough excuse for me. Anouk, on the other hand, is very similar in sound and is 100% female.
Miranda
EDIT: Forgot to sign my name
"Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign of diseased mind" -- Terry Pratchett
This message was edited 2/1/2005, 8:52 PM
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It's too feminine for a boy, but too cutesy for a girl. I don't care for it. Wasn't that the name of a TY Beanie Baby?
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Finish that phrase for 1000
"of the North."
I'm sorry I don't like it at all. It means bear (polar bear to be specific), and sounds fairly silly.
It was also a friend's dog's name, so it's pretty well set in stone. There must be other names that sound similarly that would suit better.
"of the North."
I'm sorry I don't like it at all. It means bear (polar bear to be specific), and sounds fairly silly.
It was also a friend's dog's name, so it's pretty well set in stone. There must be other names that sound similarly that would suit better.
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ditto....
*Aphrodite* (Hattie)
*Aphrodite* (Hattie)
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Nanook? Not for anyone but
A) A dog
B) A cat
C) An eskimo (Nanook of the North!)
D) A cute pet name for a little girl called Nan
I can't advocate its use on anyone but the above, sorry. If you really like it (and I understand the feeling--we all have names that are just a bit too far out for use in other people's eyes), use it as a middle name. I would suggest as a middle name for a boy, with a vaguely traditional first name, like Paul.
Array
A) A dog
B) A cat
C) An eskimo (Nanook of the North!)
D) A cute pet name for a little girl called Nan
I can't advocate its use on anyone but the above, sorry. If you really like it (and I understand the feeling--we all have names that are just a bit too far out for use in other people's eyes), use it as a middle name. I would suggest as a middle name for a boy, with a vaguely traditional first name, like Paul.
Array
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