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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Evelyn

40 replies

user1471550707 · 20/10/2016 17:48

My DD is 7 weeks old and and we have called Evelyn (pronounced Eev-lyn) with Evie as a nn. However, it seems that everywhere we go people have pronounce her name Ever-lyn and it's left me wondering which is the correct pronunciation. How would you pronouce Evelyn? Should I use the Ever-lyn pronunciation to avoid confusion as she grows up?

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birdgal4848 · 24/10/2016 20:36

When I see the name I always assume its Eve-Lin as this is my nan's name and the pronunciation that she uses. She mostly goes by Eve though.

GrouchyKiwi · 24/10/2016 19:26

Ours is kind of halfway between Evlyn and Everlyn. The second syllable is only just pronounced.

It's a family name on DH's side and all the women who were called that were Eve-lyn. But our DD is named after the character in The Mummy. Grin We had to be quite firm with a few of DH's family members till they acquiesced to our pronunciation.

She is Evie for short, though.

daisydalrymple · 24/10/2016 19:17

Beautiful name either way Smile graceful and elegant

RayofFuckingSunshine · 24/10/2016 19:16

I have an Evelyn, pronounced Ever-Lin as she is a girl. Eve-Lin is the masculine.

MuffyTheUmpireSlayer · 24/10/2016 19:07

I've always heard it pronounced Ever-Lin and really like it like that. If it's pronounced Eve-Lin once you correct people they can get used to it. It's a nice name either way, I sway only slightly more towards Ever-Lin though.

FannyWincham · 24/10/2016 19:03

It's one of those names you've always got a 50:50 chance of getting wrong.

Agreed - see also Louis - but I think a lot of people are vaguely aware of the ev-lyn pronunciation being female and will take a chance on that. Just by my very quick count on this thread alone there have been 23 ev-lyn or ever-lyns, to 8 eev-lyns. OP, if you're still reading and you really want to use the Eev-lyn pronunciation then you need to accept that people will get your pronunciation 'wrong', and this will follow your DD through her life. You could emphasise the point with the nn Evie, of course.

CourtJester · 24/10/2016 12:23

I have heard it pronounced Ev-lyn, Eve-lyn and Ev-er-lyn, personally I would pronounce it Ev-er-lyn (I'm in the east midlands)

Pemba · 23/10/2016 00:33

The ever-lin pronounciation is fine, but I think Eev-lin sounds much prettier and softer and it is then more logical to use the nickname 'Eve ' if you want. My beloved late auntie was Evelyn said like this.

I know about Evelyn Waugh etc., but I don't seriously think anyone would name a boy Evelyn these days. There can't be many around.

Just tell people nicely if they pronounce it wrong. They will soon get it.

BackforGood · 23/10/2016 00:19

It's one of those names you've always got a 50:50 chance of getting wrong.

Personally I'd say 'Eev - lin', but I'm well aware there are 'Ever-lin's around - it's one of those things you have to get used to if you decide to use the name.

GinevraPotter · 23/10/2016 00:15

I prounce it Ever-lyn. I think traditionally Eve-lyn is the male pronunciation. I do know a few girls called Eve-lyn with the nickname Evie, though.

Pinklily1 · 22/10/2016 15:56

We pronounce our daughters name Ever-lyn. A few people keep calling her Eve-lyn and it irritates me!

Oysterbabe · 21/10/2016 20:42

I would say Ever-lyn.

FannyWincham · 21/10/2016 20:20

Traditionally, it's ev-lin for a girl and eev-lin for a boy.

MoonHare · 21/10/2016 20:01

Eev-lin is the accepted pn for male version as in Evelyn Waugh the writer.
Ev-lin is the accepted pn for female.
I suppose you could add a syllable and say Ever-lin.
But that's why people keep pn your daughter's name differently to you. Most will be expecting her to be an ev-lin. No reason why you can't use the pn you prefer though.

Coey2016 · 21/10/2016 06:37

I think i would pronounce Ever-Lyn but i wouldn't be sure of the pronounciation. I think the name sounds pretty both ways.

Boolovessulley · 21/10/2016 06:32

I loved this name when I was pregnant but didn't use it for this precise reason.
I also thought of Eveliene but again wasn't sure of the correct pronunciation.
I wanted it to be pronounce ever-line but my dd is a teenager now and we went with something less ambivalent!

Salmotrutta · 20/10/2016 23:19

Evelyn Glennie the percussionist is very clear that her version is pronounced Ev- Lin
(I remember her saying that years ago on an interview because she obviously lip reads and knew the interviewer was pronouncing it differently!)

But she's Scottish and that's how we mostly pronounce it up here!

CotswoldStrife · 20/10/2016 22:03

I know a few primary-aged Eve-lins, nn Evie.

RiverTam · 20/10/2016 21:57

I prefer Ever-Lin.

I read recently that Ever-Lin was the female pronunciation and Eve-Lin the male, no idea how true that is.

However, I would never pronounce it Ev-Lin.

BernardsBum · 20/10/2016 21:51

We prounounce our DD's name as Eve-lyn. She's named after my MIL, who was always Eve-lyn. Her nn is Eve or Evie (not too common for us UnicornPee) so it works.

UnicornPee · 20/10/2016 21:45

Funnily enough I want to call my kid Evelyn (ev-er-Lyn) but can't incase people pronounce it eve-lynn which I don't like as eve/Evie is so commom

MaryField · 20/10/2016 21:13

I had three aunties called Evelyn (Eev-lin), one was called Ev-lin by a friend which I thought was odd as you pronounce the contracted form as Eve not Ev but I have never ever heard of Ever-lin. So if they called themselves Eve for short it would be pronounced Ever? Bizarre.

Pluto30 · 20/10/2016 21:12

Ever-lyn for me.

Eve-lyn sounds clunky and wrong.

Plonkysaurus · 20/10/2016 20:33

I have an Evelyn. We say Ever-Lyn but mostly she's just Effie.

Sophronia · 20/10/2016 20:31

Evv for girls and eev for boys, in my experience