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Baby names

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

Original poster

Elinor or Eleanor?

55 replies

basketoffreshveg · 11/11/2016 19:29

We've pretty much decided on this for DC but unsure which spelling to opt for? Any preferences?

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Raines100 · 12/11/2016 07:23

Eleanor is surely the default spelling? You'll never have any trouble with this, whereas my autocorrect doesn't like Elinor.

Elena has multiple pronunciations. I have an Elena pronounced E-lay-na. Had there been a correct spelling that would have guaranteed this pronunciation, I would have gone for it.

Chinlo · 12/11/2016 00:25

I can't imagine anyone would EVER pronounce it El- lean- or. That is a really strange thing to worry about.

DramaAlpaca · 11/11/2016 23:58

I have a slight preference for Elinor (because of Sense & Sensibility) but I'd probably go for Eleanor to avoid any spelling or pronunciation issues.

Lovely name.

BeastofCraggyIsland · 11/11/2016 23:19

Eleanor, beautiful name.

CoffeeCoffeeAndLotsOfIt · 11/11/2016 21:50

Much prefer Eleanor (and I'm Welsh)

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 11/11/2016 21:26

Eleanor.

Pluto30 · 11/11/2016 20:45

Eleanor.

Elinor works if you're in Scandinavia, but otherwise you're just setting the child up for spelling/pronunciation issues.

Elena is a different name entirely. It's pronounced eh-LAY-nah or eh-LEE-nah.

SellyMevs · 11/11/2016 20:35

I could have written this same post! DD1 is arriving imminently we've settled on Elinor/Eleanor.

I'm tempted with Eleanor because I know that's how other people will spell it and it's how I expect it to look written down. But I'm leaning more towards Elinor as I have very strong Welsh connections and I particularly like the NN Elin rather than the obvious Ellie or Ella.

Induction is 2 weeks away so I'm resorting to writing down names to see which looks better with our surname!

Wishfulmakeupping · 11/11/2016 20:25

I love Elinor I think s and s immediately :) my ds of he had been dd2 was going to be Harriet Elinor.

Sophronia · 11/11/2016 20:22

Eleanor

SpeckledyBanana · 11/11/2016 20:13

Elinor if you're Welsh. Otherwise, Eleanor.

EweAreHere · 11/11/2016 20:12

Eleanor.

daisydalrymple · 11/11/2016 20:11

I'm Welsh and Elinor is more commonly used here, but I much prefer Eleanor. It was going to be dc3's middle name (but boy), I think it's beautiful, elegant and timeless.

I find Elinor a bit harsh somehow. Also love elena however, think it looks beautiful, but I too am wary about the pronounciation. I looked at loads of threads on here about it (search elena in the title and it'll bring up lots of discussions about how people pronounce it and the Greek / Italian / Spanish variations).

Ellypoo · 11/11/2016 20:07

Eleanor definitely- have never had any problems with people pronouncing my name correctly, and it's the classical spelling

Longdistance · 11/11/2016 20:07

I have an Eleanor Grin

AmberEars · 11/11/2016 20:06

I like Elinor personally. Maybe because I was a fan of the Chalet School books!

TataEs · 11/11/2016 20:04

eleanor or elena
tho eleanor is ellen-or/ellen-er
elena is ellen-ah

Original poster
basketoffreshveg · 11/11/2016 20:03

I just think Elinor Dashwood, from Sense & Sensibility :)

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Paddingtonthebear · 11/11/2016 20:03

I like Elena best.

And Elin.

Bellaposy · 11/11/2016 20:02

There is a baby Elinor in my baby massage group and her mum said it's the Welsh version? I think they are both beautiful. I personally prefer Elinor but Eleanor will certainly give you/her fewer headaches.

talksensetome · 11/11/2016 20:02

I like Eleanor best.

Love Elena but woukd say that differently send probably be wrong

Original poster
basketoffreshveg · 11/11/2016 19:59

I like that as well, it's pretty :)

OP posts:
GrainOfSalt · 11/11/2016 19:58

Just to be very awkward I love the Italian (?) spelling Elena Grin

KlingybunFistelvase · 11/11/2016 19:55

I prefer Eleanor personally but just because it's the spelling I'm most used to seeing. I was re-reading sense and sensibility recently though and I think Elinor is spelt Elinor in that.

It's a gorgeous name either way Smile.

Bountybarsyuk · 11/11/2016 19:48

Eleanor looks more elegant.

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