Here’s a name that’s compelling for breaking my rule. Let’s face it, sometimes rules can be restricting. Sometimes rules must be broken.

Ophelie breaks my intuitive pronunciation rule. The pronunciation is not so intuitive, but oh so lovely. (It’s pronounced o-fay-LEE.)

Ophelie isn’t difficult to say once you know how to say it. The trick is knowing how to say it. While Ophelie is the French form of Ophelia, it is not pronounced like Ophelia with an E on the end. To boil it down:

WRONG = “o-FEEL-ye”
RIGHT = “o-fay-LEE”

Just five years ago, many Americans wouldn’t have understood this name, at least based on disheartening comments on Yahoo from a few years ago. Responses to Yahoo questions are not a scientific gauge but give an idea of many people’s attitudes at any given time. But Americans have been known for quickly changing their minds, and with Ophelie, I firmly believe many Americans will eventually grow to love this French take on Ophelia.

In France, the name appears to be past its peak. In 2010 (the most recent year French name data is available) Ophelie ranked at #306,  much lower than its 2000 rank at #77. France’s loss could be America’s gain.

French names are not difficult for Americans and have had a place in America for a long time. Thirty years ago Michelle, Nicole, Danielle, and Renee were hot. Today Adeline and Esme are hot. Perhaps Ophelie and similar names like Aurelie will be next.

After Olivia steps aside for Ophelia (one of our 2013 Rising Stars), Ophelia will step aside for Ophelie. After Aria and Arianna step aside for Aurelia, Aurelia will step aside for Aurelie. These possibilities are not inconceivable.

The name has a couple of drawbacks, which could be eliminated if the name becomes more familiar. One of them is unfamiliar pronunciation, and the other is various spell checks flagging Ophelie as misspelled, and suggesting Ophelia as a replacement. This may lead some practical folks to ask, “Then why not just use Ophelia?”

Ophelia is a lovely name, and I endorse it. But for those who prefer Ophelie, I endorse that name too. One advantage Ophelie has over Ophelia is that it doesn’t have that “feel ya” sound in the middle, which doesn’t bother me, but bothers some people.

For those looking for another long form for Effie , Ophelie could be the answer. But just like I don’t feel Effie needs a long-form, I also don’t feel Ophelie needs a short form. Ophelie is perfect for those looking for something sweet and sophisticated. As a day-to-day name, Ophelie simply shines.

Readers: What do you think of Ophelie?

Photo credit: Ophelie 1 / Ophelie 2 

The name is undeniably intriguing—a musician’s name with a musical rhythm. Innovative jazz pianist, Thelonious Monk was named after his father and passed the name on to his son. But other than that, little information is known about the name of one of the most recorded jazz musicians ever.

There are some theories about the name’s origins.

According to nameberry, Thelonious is the Latinized version of Tillo, and means “lord”. Tillo, an obscure name itself, is German and was the name of a Saint who eventually became a Monk.

Other guesses, compiled thanks to Nancy’s Baby Names, include:

• Thelonious is a variation of Thelonius, a Latinized version of Tillman/Tillman, a German name brought to the Carolina’s (the musician was born in North Carolina) by missionaries.
• Thelonious is a made-up creation inspired by renowned North Carolina black minister Fredricum Hillonious Wilkins.

Only a handful of daring parents gave this name to their son over the past century. Thelonious has never charted on the Social Security’s top 1000 list, and barely made the Social Security data in 2011, given to only 7 newborn boys. A name has to be given to at least 5 babies within the year to make the Social Security data for any given year.

For the year Thelonious Monk was born, 1917, the name didn’t show up in the Social Security data. Since not all Americans born before 1937 obtained a Social Security card, it is possible there were more than 5 boys named Thelonious that year who were not recorded with Social Security. However, it is safe to say the musician’s name was uncommon when he was born.

Thelonious Sphere Monk was born in North Carolina and moved to New York City when he was four. He would spend the bulk of his life there. He showed promise early on. At 13 he won the Apollo Theater Amateur Night Contest so many times that management banned him.

But his early recordings would generate little enthusiasm from jazz fans. His unorthodox approach wouldn’t get much acclaim until about a decade into his recording career.

In 1956, what is considered his breakthrough album, Brilliant Corners, was released. Three years later, his name started to appear in the Social Security baby name data, but the name never became widely used. There have been about 200 babies named Thelonious since the musician became well-known. There have never been more than 17 newborn boys named Thelonious in one year (that year was 2009).

Perhaps like his music, some time will have to pass before people appreciate his unusual name. While the name seems unusual, the name has two characteristics that could make it imaginable on a modern boy:

1. The first is the -us suffix, which could soon replace the -o suffix as the mark of a hip boy’s name.
2. But there is another reason: the th consonant digraph, found in other boy names on the rise: Theodore (#231), Thaddeus (#909), and Thatcher (one of the boys names we believe could hit the top 1000 for 2012). Notice how these names might be considered somewhat long, all having eight letters. Two of three have three syllables.

Thelonious boasts 10 letters and four syllables, making it fit right in with these other th-names.

Thelonious has an undeniable cool-streak. And perhaps that could be the name’s downfall. Perhaps the name comes across as trying too hard.

Something else that could hurt Thelonious is its length and absence of obvious nicknames. This is where Thelonious doesn’t fit in with many other th-names. Most Americans feel more comfortable with long names when there is at least one short nickname to choose from. Theodore has Theo, Ted, Teddy (and possibly others) and Thaddeus has Thad, Tad, Ted (and possibly others). Thatcher doesn’t have many obvious nicknames but, with only two syllables, it may seem shorter than Theodore and Thaddeus.

Despite this, Thelonious passes my “playground call out test”. While the name might be long, I don’t feel the least bit uncomfortable calling out the name on the playground. This could be because of the name’s abundance of vowels, which create a smooth sound. Or this could be because, as a name person, I’m more comfortable with unusual names that the typical parent.

Nevertheless, I don’t feel Thelonious needs a nickname. The more I think about it, the more I feel the name’s spontaneity might get diluted with a nickname. There is a parallel between Thelonious Monk’s career and his name.

A few years before Thelonious Monk’s music became recognized for being innovative, he tried to appeal to a wider audience, only to receive critical backlash. He decided to no longer cater to people who would never appreciate his music, and began work on his masterpiece, Brilliant Corners.

Just like his music, Thelonious Monk’s name isn’t for people who wish to pander to the masses at the cost of artistic vision. If you have the guts to use this name, you have the guts to use this name, not hide it behind a more conventional, comfortable short version.

Readers: What do you think of Thelonious?

Photo credit

Source: http://www.biography.com/people/thelonious-monk-9411896