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Baby names

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

Original poster

Wondering if I should change my name.

30 replies

ehf10 · 16/03/2020 00:16

Hi everyone, I'm considering changing my name and thought this would be a good place to get feedback. My name is Elise and I would say that 1 in 3 pronounce it incorrectly. I wouldn't mind but even after correcting people they often insist on calling me the name that they think I should be called (Eleece). I appreciate that in different parts of the world the pronounciation is different, so although I think there's a wrong way there probably isn't.
My mother's side of the family is French and I live in the UK. If I change my name to Elize I think the pronounciation is more obvious but might it look a bit off? Or should I change my name completely? Unfortunately I don't like the S sound. Open to any suggestions though 😊

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s3tut0y3r · 21/03/2020 19:54

Don't change your name! If people can't be bothered to say your name correctly after you have corrected them, this is a comment on them. And it tells you they have a lack of respect. Your name is lovely as it is.

Original poster
ehf10 · 17/03/2020 12:58

Thank you 😊 @GaraMedouar

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Original poster
ehf10 · 17/03/2020 12:36

@BlameCanada ah yes I see - must take some getting used to!

Thank you, think I'm going to stick with the original spelling so as not to offend my family and so used to writing it now - would be tricky to change!

I'm sure your name is just as lovely 😊

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GaraMedouar · 17/03/2020 12:27

If I read your name I’d say Eleese with an s, but then if you corrected me I’d say the correct way with a z. I suppose it’s like a Sara having to say it’s Sar-ra not Sarah , all the time.
I think you have a beautiful name. Don’t change it.

BlameCanada · 17/03/2020 12:20

@ehf10. :-) I never thought something could sound bad with a French person saying it. Usually, everything sounds way better. But in my kids case, both have 'th' in their names and it sounds jarring.
But again, I'm now used to it.

I think you should go with whatever you feel most comfortable with. It's less radical than (say) changing your name to your husband's name. It's a lovely name anyway, so lucky you! I have one of those 80's names (think Karen or Tracy) so I'm jealous.

Original poster
ehf10 · 17/03/2020 12:16

@BlameCanada I usually love the French pronounciation of names but I know what you mean - can be frustrating when the entire sound of the name gets changed. I have it the other way around...the French say my name beautifully. Maybe I just need to move! 😄

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MikeUniformMike · 17/03/2020 11:46

El-eeze

BlameCanada · 17/03/2020 11:43

Oh man, you should hear how the French mangle my kids British names. I feel for you. My son's name sounds really really awful said with a French accent. But it's weird how after the first 20 times I gave up thinking about it.
Heck, why not change your name. It looks nice spelt with a z.

BIankets · 17/03/2020 11:40

How should Elise be pronounced? Blush

Original poster
ehf10 · 17/03/2020 11:31

Sosomego I think the same. My family were also quite surprised to hear what other people have been calling me. Sorry you've had the same name struggles! My brother and mother now go by the first letter of their name which I think is a shame.

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Sosomego · 17/03/2020 11:12

My daughter's name is Elise and it gets mispronounced all the time too. I am half French but we live the UK and I wanted a name that both my French and British family could pronounce. At the time I assumed that the French pronunciation would be the norm but I'm discovering it's not! I sometimes think that some people can't distinguish the difference between the two and they're not intentionally doing it. But I also have a French name that more often than not gets mispronounced even when I correct people several times so I've come to the conclusion that people are just lazy and pronounce names how they read it the first time!

Original poster
ehf10 · 17/03/2020 10:54

CatSmize and MikeUniformMike I think you're both right, also I don't want to upset my parents. Elise it is 😊

Changing to Elize for a day didn't change anything either!

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Original poster
ehf10 · 17/03/2020 10:49

TheTittefers good idea provided they pronounce Beethoven's piece correctly! I've come across people saying Fur Eleece x

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MikeUniformMike · 17/03/2020 10:48

I'd just live with it OP. The Eleece pronunciation, although incorrect is still quite pretty. It probably isn't to you though.

CatSmize · 17/03/2020 10:40

I imagine your family, friends and close colleagues pronounce it correctly so it seems a little drastic to change it for the odd new person you meet who says it wrong.

Elise (English pronunciation) is such a beautiful name - it could be much worse! You should hear what my friends and I get called (we live abroad)! I think most of us have stopped caring and we don't even pay attention to the butchered attempts anymore.

TheTittefers · 17/03/2020 10:32

^ like not Luke Blush

TheTittefers · 17/03/2020 10:32

Can you introduce yourself ‘Elise - like Für Elise!’ and people would remember?

I’d a friend who always introduced herself (call centre so lots of staff) ‘Gail - Luke the wind’ so customers would remember her.

Original poster
ehf10 · 17/03/2020 10:31

DemelzaRobins thank you so much, has made me feel better 😊

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Original poster
ehf10 · 17/03/2020 10:27

Whydoesit yes definitely, can see why people might pronounce Elize that way.

If I found out that I was pronouncing someone's name wrong, I'd make every effort to say their name correctly from then on.

The only silver lining might be that the difference between El-eyes and Eleeze is less subtle than that of Eleece and Eleeze, so perhaps I'd only have to correct pronounciation once..

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DemelzaRobins · 17/03/2020 10:26

If it helps OP I would have pronounced Elise correctly and I think it's a beautiful name.

Whydoesit · 17/03/2020 09:51

I’m afraid I would have pronounced with s too but certainly not after know how you pronounce it, that’s just rude.

Elize I would probably pronounce El-eyes just because it’s Eliza without the “a”.

Original poster
ehf10 · 17/03/2020 09:28

MikeUniformMike I agree that it doesn't look right. Having said that there are people with the name Elize, like Elize du Toit. I wonder if she changed the spelling for the same reason or if she was born with that name.
Yes, I've found that to be the case unfortunately.

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MikeUniformMike · 16/03/2020 16:45

Elize looks wrong. It doesn't look like a name

You can't teach someone to say your name properly.

I once worked with an Annalise, she got called all sorts of names like Anna-Louise, Anna Lisa and things..

Yellowpop12 · 16/03/2020 12:59

How old are you?

Original poster
ehf10 · 16/03/2020 00:45

DramaAlpaca thank you :)
I think I'll give it a go and if it doesn't catch on or people start rhyming it with surprise I'll change it back. Yes, can be annoying sometimes.... sorry you've had the same thing!

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