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Original poster

Elan

30 replies

Blythwind · 20/03/2018 15:04

Pronounced Eee-lan

Would you think boy or girl?

Would you pronounce it Ellen if you saw it written down?

Thanks!

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RavenWings · 20/03/2018 23:05

I would have guessed a boy, pronounced Eh-lan.

It's ok. I'm not mad keen on it, but it isn't terrible either.

chezmk1988 · 20/03/2018 22:27

I thought it was a girls name and pronounced it Ellen. Not a fan sorry.

PintOfCalpol · 20/03/2018 22:21

My first kiss was with an Elan. Best looking boy in our town back in the early 90s. Then he emigrated to California and became a surfer. I still stalk him occasionally on social media. Great name. He pronounced it Ee-lan

FrancisCrawford · 20/03/2018 22:19

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PellyBay · 20/03/2018 20:11

I would know how to pronounce it, would probably be surprised to see it as a first name, wouldn't know if it was a boy or a girl (probably depend a bit on nationality) and I would assume the parents were super-keen on ski-ing.. www.elanskis.com/en/

mejon · 20/03/2018 20:03

El-an - like the Elan Valley but pronounced the Welsh way (not Eee-lun). We live nearby and it's DD2's middle name.

oursofas · 20/03/2018 20:00

I'd pronounce it Ell Ann and think it is a girl's name.

DuckBilledAardvark · 20/03/2018 19:56

Lotus Elan, although in fairness the Lotus Elise was named after a little girl!

Yvest · 20/03/2018 19:47

It’s an Israeli boys name. Ih-Lan or Il-an

Tartyflette · 20/03/2018 16:44
OK, so it's possibly very slightly more like eh than ay. It's quite difficult to write how it should be pronounced. And I wouldn't say the 'n' is completely silent, there's definitely something there in the back of the throat -- it's not just -lo.
SlowlyShrinking · 20/03/2018 16:35

There’s a corner shop near us called Elan Mini Market. It’s pronounced locally as Ee-lan, with the emphasis on the first syllable. I’m aware that this is probably not the correct pronunciation

pipilangstrumpf · 20/03/2018 16:27

the French word élan pronounced ay-lon.

No, é is not pronounced ay. And the n is silent.

Luckyme2 · 20/03/2018 16:26

I've only ever come across it as a Welsh girls name. Pronounced El-an

pipilangstrumpf · 20/03/2018 16:25

I'd pronounce it Eh-lan like the actual German word Elan (vigour).

Zaya71 · 20/03/2018 16:23

I'd pronounce it ell-ann. But assume a boy, as it looks like Alan written down.

Eolian · 20/03/2018 16:06

I'd assume it was E-lan with the emphasis on the the 'lan' bit and would immediately think they were named after the Lotus Elan. Not sure whether I'd think it was for a boy or girl.

Tartyflette · 20/03/2018 16:01

the French word élan (meaning a thing or doing something with a certain spirit/style/confidence) is pronounced ay-lon.
If you want a boy's name I would go with Elon (like the entrepreneur Elon Musk of Tesla fame). I think that's pronounced Ee-lon.
Elan doesn't sound like a girl's name to me. in fact it doesn't sound like a name for a person at all.

claptomania · 20/03/2018 15:59

I also immediately think Lotus Elan. And would think “someone’s named their child after a car”

theeyeofthestormchaser · 20/03/2018 15:57

I'd say eLAN, like the French (meaning panache). I'd also think it was an odd choice.

Lotus Elan - a car.

ChocolateCrunch · 20/03/2018 15:52

I'd say it like Ellen. Not sure if I'd think girl or boy.

bridgetreilly · 20/03/2018 15:19

I would pronounce it Eh-LAN, like the French word. And I would think it quite an odd name.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 20/03/2018 15:19

I have know two Elan’s short for Elizabeth Ann. They’d be about 45 now. I was told this was a fairly common name in the north west but have no idea if this is true or not.

Luckingfovely · 20/03/2018 15:18

I'd say El-Ann. Have known it only said that way for a girl. It's not a very attractive name for either though imo.

Although I do quite like the original meaning of the word as in style, flair.

StrikingMatches · 20/03/2018 15:18

It is the name of a house builder, depending on where you live this may matter to you.

PaddyF0dder · 20/03/2018 15:18

Not Elon? Potentially quite a trendy boys name...

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