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Baby names

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Original poster

Eleanor or Elinor...?

44 replies

blueberrymoon · 08/02/2011 17:58

Hi All. Just interested to know...

Which do you prefer? (And why?)
And how would you pronounce them? (And where are you in the world?)

Please and thank you :)

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pilates · 19/02/2011 20:55

Eleanor - lovely name, UK

Olessaty · 18/02/2011 19:58

I liked Elanor, but only because I am a Lord of the Rings fan girl and loved the idea of naming my DD after the "sunstar" flowers.

Deciduousblonde · 18/02/2011 19:53

My MIL is Elinor..and it is pronounced Elin-Or

All the Eleanors I know are pronounced Elen-Uh

PineappleJuice · 18/02/2011 18:30

ELinor is much prettier

FanjolinaJolie · 10/02/2011 08:41

I like the spelling Eleanor

In the UK I understand it to be pronounced el-uh-nuh however in NZ (where I'm from) they would say it El-i-nor which is not so nice sounding. English friends who moved to NZ called their DD Eleanor and are constantly horrified at the way her name is pronounced.

There is always Ellen or Elena to consider as well as possibilities.

Longtalljosie · 10/02/2011 08:40

If you want an emphasis on the NOR, I'd go for Elinor. I personally prefer Eleanor but I'd pronounce that Eh-leh-neh and that's not what you want

Liskey · 10/02/2011 08:35

DD is called Eleanor but nickname Elly. My Gran was an Elly who came from Germany though we're in England.

HelenaRose · 10/02/2011 08:30

I do tend to slightly pronounce the 'ih' in Elinor, whereas Eleanor is just 'eh-luh-nuh'. I used to think Elinor wasn't pretty, but now I have a good friend called Elinor and I think it's lovely. I would be picky and go for Elanor, though, since I'm a LOTR geek.

SnapFrakkleAndPop · 09/02/2011 10:08

The French Aliénor?

NadiaWadia · 08/02/2011 23:28

Elena is El-AY-nuh. Different name.

Original poster
blueberrymoon · 08/02/2011 21:35

Thanks QBEE, somehow doesn't look right to me...

OP posts:
QBEE · 08/02/2011 21:32

Eleanore?

MrsDeidreIppy · 08/02/2011 21:32

Prefer Eleanor, but actually love Elena just to be difficult Smile. Would pronounce

El-uh-nuh- Eleanor
El-ih-nuh- Elinor
El-uh-na- Elena

dearprudence · 08/02/2011 21:30

Of the two, I prefer Eleanor, but not with the 'or' pronounced.

I know two Elanors.

Original poster
blueberrymoon · 08/02/2011 21:24

Wow, thanks for the great response!

I prefer it pronounced with the 'or' sound, but all the Eleanor's I know are prounounced 'er'. So I thought the Elinor spelling might avoid confusion? What do you all think?

I think I prefer the spelling Eleanor... however, I'm now warming to Elinor! Confused

OP posts:
hels71 · 08/02/2011 21:09

My DD is Eleanor and we say E lin er I suppose....

MaryMungo · 08/02/2011 21:09

Elinor is the spelling we have on our shortlist, Lin for short. Pronounce them the same, though, on thinking about it, I say Eleanor more slowly than Elinor Confused

LetBoysBeBoys · 08/02/2011 21:05

Ellena is my preference and DDs name Grin.

lowra · 08/02/2011 20:45

Eleanor, it just seems softer.

hippytrippynamedropper · 08/02/2011 20:42

I've been thinking about this. I registered dd as Eleanor but have since become quite attracted to the Elinor spelling. I can't explain why. Don't suppose it matters - I thought they were pronounced the same way anyway

flowery · 08/02/2011 20:18

Wincy that link is freaky! My pooter is saying my name at me! Grin

pointylug · 08/02/2011 20:11

Eleanor. Just looks more proper to me. Good name.

TheRedQueen · 08/02/2011 20:03

Prefer Elinor, because I like the Jane Austin character Elinor Dashwood!

Would pronounce them both the same.

Am in Germany, but am British.

WincyEtNightie · 08/02/2011 20:02

Apparantly so flowery (at least in the US!) Smile

flowery · 08/02/2011 19:48

Eleanor has emphasis on first syllable. I would have thought Elinor would be the same.

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