Spelling? Lorelei or Lorelai?
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Spelling? Lorelei or Lorelai?
| Mon, 05-01-2006 - 2:24pm |
Spelling? Lorelei or Lorelai?
- Lorelei Michelle Thomas (traditional spelling)
- Lorelai Michelle Thomas (alternative spelling)
- Loralei Michelle Thomas (2nd alternative spelling)
You will be able to change your vote.

100% Lorelei. The others look very strange to me (sp. Loralei) and I
I wasn't suggesting that you were naming your child "after" one of these characters. I was merely noting that these are going to be the things most commonly associated with the name here in America, unless you're planning to introduce her as "my daugher, Lorelei, whose name comes from Lorelei Rock on the Rhine River." I doubt you're going to do this. :-) It wasn't meant to be rude...just to point out to you the very different cultural associations there are...you can't get much farther removed from Marilyn Monroe than Gilmore Girls. I've never heard of Lorelei Rock (though I have heard of the Rhine River :-) ) so my first thought was Gilmore Girls, and my second was Marilyn Monroe. That's NOT a bad association...it's just an association.
To answer your question, no, it would never have occurred to be to pronounce Lorelei as Lora-Leigh. Never. It looks like Lora-Lye. I think that most people will pronounce it correctly.
My inclusion of the Loralai spelling was not meant to suggest that it was included in your list...I just remembered that one "lora" spelling was included in the list, but I couldn't remember which one. It was just meant to be illustrative of the fact that I think the "lora" spellings look made-up. When I said it, I was assuming that you were leaning toward Lorelei, since that's the spelling you've used consistently on other posts. If you were leaning towards a "lora" spelling, then I apologize for any offense...it wasn't intended.
Let us know what you decide...Lorelei, Lorelai, or ... Nora!
Oh, I wasn't offended in the least nor did I think you were being rude. That's the unfortunate thing about posting comments - I can't exactly reflect tone. :) I totally understand that most people will associate Lorelei with the Gilmore Girls or with Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. In fact, I would be quite surprised if they didn't. The average person won't be familiar with Lorelei on the River Rhine or anything related to German mythology. I'm prepared for those cultural associations, and I completely understand what you were saying.
And yes, I am leaning toward the spelling Lorelei - I just wanted other people's perception of it. Also, you're right. I do keep going back to other names on my list every now and then. Just to make sure, you know? I'm such a second-guesser, and I completely over analyze my decisions, as you can tell by the numerous posts regarding the name Lorelei :)
I think you're good to go with Lorelei...just stay with it for a while to see how you feel about it, you know? See how it feels to refer to the baby as Lorelei exclusively for a day or two...or a week...and see if you like how it feels. I, personally, like it.
And you're right about posts not being able to convey tone...it seems like I spend a lot of time explaining myself when I really never mean to offend anyone to begin with! I'm glad you didn't take offense. :-)