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[Opinions] Re: Athénaïs
Louise ends in an eez sound, but Athénaïs ends in an ees sound. Doesn't bother me one bit.
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I am half French and even though there is a difference, to me personally it is just too subtle. I only really noticed it after saying the combo out loud but they are still way too similar to sound nice together to my ears. But if you like them that's all that matters :) In France you will find people who pronounce Louise more like loo-EES (even though most say loo-EEZ) and also with Athénaïs you will find people who pronounce it in a sloppy way and it will end up with more of an EEZ ending (this will be the case quite often). When I say it slowly because I want to explain the pronunciation it definitely comes out with an EES ending but in the middle of a sentence it slurs more to EEZ.

This message was edited 3/5/2017, 12:25 PM

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I can detect enough of a difference, even if it is subtle. The rhythm of the combination is especially attractive to me. I speak good deal of French having spent a lot of time in Paris and Montréal. Endings, especially those in two adjacent names of unequal syllable counts, are not offensive to me, and I often find it attractive, e.g. Mary Cicely, Anna Sophia, Thomas Isaias.Louise Athénaïs is the name of mother of the sculptress Camille Claudel.

This message was edited 3/5/2017, 3:30 PM

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If you like it that's all that matters :) I like really kitschy combos myself, they are not everyone's cup of tea either. I like both names individually and I would be so delighted to meet a Louise in an English speaking country! In France it is overused right now but I really think it should have a comeback in the US :) I like Mary Cicely and Anna Sophia, the other two don't work for me personally. I didn't remember that it was Camille Claudel's mom's name. But if I remember correctly her mom wasn't supportive of her at all, cried when she was born because she wanted a boy and was against her practicing arts. But maybe I remember it incorrectly. I love Paris, it is one of my favorite cities :)
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