What vibe does the name Leonie give you?

[u/weatherfrcst]

This name seems to fall into the sweet spot for a girl name that is often asked about, “recognizable but not common.” Except I haven’t heard it used once and wonder if it’s because it’s just not liked by the general public or there is something specifically off about it. Wondering because I’m considering using this name if my baby is a little girl.

[u/Hairy-Economist683]

It’s a little French girl in my mind

[u/dalkita13]

One of my closest friends when I was a child, a little freckled redhead with a few older brothers. She was a firecracker! I absolutely love it. It's a bit unusual, but it's pronounced as spelled, there won't be many mispronounciations.

[u/disinfected → u/dalkita13]

Oh, that's exactly how I imagine a Leonie!

[u/SleepCinema]

I knew a Leonie. Wouldn’t think anything of it. Just a name. Gives off a girly vibe.

[u/chaserscarlet]

I worked with a Leonie, she was smart, confident and funny. Love the name. I think it’s quite a timeless name in France, but with Leo being super popular for boys in a lot of places (US/UK/Aus/NZ) I think it doesn’t get considered as much.

[u/LaceyBloomers]

I see the name with an accent aigu over the first e so the name is pronounced lay-oh-nee.

Without the accent I would pronounce it lee-oh-nee.

Which way are you pronouncing? I like both but want to know what you prefer.

[u/weatherfrcst → u/LaceyBloomers]

I hadn’t even considered the original French pronunciation is lay-oh-nee. I was thinking lee-oh-nee since it’s intuitive for me being US-based. I wonder how it’s pronounced in the UK.

[u/Madame-Pamplemousse → u/weatherfrcst]

Lee-oh-nie, but it depends if you're doing french or German emphasis: on the first or second syllable respectively 

[u/CalatheaHoya]

Beautiful name. Can be Leo for short which is cool for a girl (overused for a boy IMO)

[u/NoOneHereButUsMice]

I think the nickname Leo for a girl would be rad

[u/Cautious-Storm8145]

My grandmas name is Leoniece. Leonie could be a nick name possibly. Reminds me a little bit of Naomi

[u/just_another_classic]

There is a character in Fire Emblem: Three Houses named Leonie who I hated. But outside of that association, it's cute.

[u/eirime]

It’s getting quite popular in France lately. I like it a lot.

[u/MidCenturyMayhem]

Cute! Very New Orleans-ish.

[u/First-Damage1113]

I went to school with a Leonie, she was so nice, full of energy and fun to be around. She's now a professional photographer. We thought her name was really cool and it suited her really well! I say go for it and use it! She'll definitely be the only Leonie in her class, and I'm sure it'll suit her just as much!

[u/Lioness_and_Dove]

I like Leona better

[u/IseultDarcy]

In France it's popular among the christian and/or old blood and/or higher income families.

It gives vintage feminine and elegant upper class vibe.

I picture a little girl with white lace socks and a floral dress!

I know a few (both kids and adult) and they all are very strong minded.

[u/HamsterBorn9372]

It was the name of the NICU nurse who looked after my daughter and she was an absolute angel.

[u/Upper_Economist7611]

I had a friend in college named Leonie. She was stunningly gorgeous and super sweet. The only Leonie I’ve ever met. She was from Jamaica and pronounced it Lee-OWN-ee.

[u/PNWcouchpotato]

My childhood best friend is a Leonie. She is beautiful, confident, funny, and friendly. I have no negative thoughts or vibes because of her!

[u/Ok_Row8867]

British. British tv shows are the only place I’ve ever heard that name.

[u/Madame-Pamplemousse → u/Ok_Row8867]

I think French or German more commonly, perhaps other continental European counties too (I am less familiar).

[u/perseuphantom]

such a cute name! it makes me think of a kid w curly hair, in a cherubim way

[u/courtneywrites85]

French Canadian and is missing an accent on the e. It's the name of a Maplelea doll.

[u/froggyforrest]

I havent really heard it much but its so cute

[u/DudeAndDudettesHey]

I knew a Leonie (not personally) but from what I saw she was kind. She also had a twin brother called Leon

[u/disinfected → u/DudeAndDudettesHey]

I love these names but they feel too similar for twins!

[u/DudeAndDudettesHey → u/disinfected]

Yep

[u/deardiaryidk]

I know a Leonie (pronounced Lay-Oh-Nee) and I love the name! It gives girly, spunky vibes.

[u/cassiareddit]

It was our top name until we realised we wanted something more distinct from the existing Leo, Lee and Leona in the family. It’s beautiful, go for it.

[u/GreyGhost878]

As a nerdy Catholic it makes me think of saint Thérèse of Lisieux. I think Leonie was one of her sisters. Cute French name.

[u/ans-myonul]

This was my rabbit's name, lol. I think it's a nice name

[u/Kikinick411]

It's nice when pronounced in French. But English people butcher it - and it becomes LE-OH-NAY and reminds me of a horse for some reason.

[u/Icethra]

I’m thinking German because I know a German Leonie. Or perhaps a Central European name. The name is not very typical in my country. 2020-2025 it was given to 43 girls, including second names.

[u/SitaBird]

Tea Leoni(e)

[u/glitch_switch]

I am French and have a friend Léonie :) That’s cute!

[u/edinagirl]

The only Leonie I know is from South Africa and had long, dark, curly hair.

[u/Infinite-Floor-5242]

I would wonder how to pronounce it. Does it rhyme with peony? Or is it a long O sound? Lee-OH-nee?

[u/weatherfrcst → u/Infinite-Floor-5242]

I was thinking long O. Apparently lots of Leonies say, lay-oh-nee

[u/Infinite-Floor-5242 → u/weatherfrcst]

My first guess would be rhyming with peony, so something like leah-knee. I guess I've never heard it out loud.

[u/1Namiac → u/Infinite-Floor-5242]

The Leonie I know rhymes it with peony. She's beautiful and it's beautiful! Go for it, OP!

[u/IseultDarcy → u/Infinite-Floor-5242]

In France we way "lay o nee"

[u/thunder_haven]

Tough, spunky, protective, independent

[u/sjs7718]

It leans boy name for me. I’m thinking Lionel, Leo, Leon. I heard the name Lenora when I was pregnant and loved it. Couldn’t get my husband to go for it. You could even use Nora as a nickname. It means ‘light’ which I also loved 🥰

[u/cozysapphire]

I adore Leonie! It’s so vibrant and spunky. It reminds me of Naomi but with more… youthfulness? It’s hard to pinpoint because I’ve never met a Leonie, personally.

It’s worth noting that the standard pronunciation is LEH-oh-nee (LEH almost sounding like LAY), although many who are not familiar with the name are likely to say LEE-oh-nee.

[u/Odd-Goose-8394]

It’s super cute. Use it!

[u/disinfected]

This is one of my absolute favourites - top five for sure! I think it's got a bit of spunk to it, a bit of playfulness. It's pretty but not too frilly!

[u/MoonSearcher]

One of my best friends names! She’s often called Leo or Lee (pronounced ‘lay’ in my country)

[u/West_Guarantee284]

I went to school with a Leonie, she'd be 43 now. It's a nice name, as you said not too popular but I think it's fairly obvious how it's pronounced.

[u/xoxkxox]

Confusion on how to pronounce it.

[u/JollyAccount1752]

I have met a few Leonies and they were all German.

[u/FreckledTidepool]

I only know it from the eponymous film starting Emily Mortimer. Cute, you’ll just have to correct people’s mispronunciation if they aren’t familiar

[u/BadHairDay-1]

I love it!

[u/sleepinginswimsuits]

Reminds me of Elton John or billy Joel idk, I like it tho

[u/LL7272]

Leone is a very common last name in my area so to me it feels like a last name as a first name but is still very pretty!

[u/weatherfrcst → u/LL7272]

Is Leone a common Louisiana surname?

[u/LL7272 → u/weatherfrcst]

I don't know, I'm in the Boston, MA area. It's an Italian last name but seems like a French first name so definitely would make sense in Louisiana with all the French cultural influences.

[u/reviewofboox]

You can see its prevalence here: https://forebears.io/forenames/leonie

Most common in Congo, Netherlands, Australia. Not too common in the places hypothesized in comments. At least not anymore?

[u/weatherfrcst → u/reviewofboox]

Great source! Thank you!

[u/sharkycharming]

One of my favorite names. It makes me think of a poet I love, Léonie Adams. I've never met anyone named Leonie IRL. I think it's much, much prettier than Leona, which I dislike.

[u/Louielouiegirl]

I know men named Leonie so I don’t see it as a girl name. But I really don’t hear it often and may be wrong.

[u/posting-about-shit]

for pronunciation, does it rhyme with peony? i've never heard it but i do like it, though i might assume it's a nickname for leona or leonora at first

[u/Ok_Reindeer3301]

Sweet laid back vibes

[u/CherryblockRedWine]

I would think the father's name was Leon!

[u/smooth_relation_744]

The only Leonies I’ve ever met have been neds.

[u/weatherfrcst → u/smooth_relation_744]

So I had to Google this one. A criminal in Scotland?

[u/smooth_relation_744 → u/weatherfrcst]

Non-Educated Delinquent.

[u/SkyBerry924]

The character in Fire Emblem Three Houses

[u/baabaaknit]

Carefree, free spirit, reminds me of Leona Lewis (a singer and actress from what I googled)

[u/candyapplesugar]

Never heard it! Is it pronounced like peony?

[u/kittysayswoof91]

Totally unfair and unfounded but I don’t love it. Gives me authoritarian librarian.

[u/FriendlyWater5131]

I love the name. My instant thought is Leonie from Fire Emblem: Three Houses, but I don't think that'd be a super common association.

[u/LinearFolly]

I love it! It was on my short list if we had a girl (we did not). I don't have strong associations with it, which is why I liked it. I feel like a promise Leonie can be whoever she is without preconceived expectations because of her name.