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Original poster

Elena Eleanor pronunciation

160 replies

firstpregnancy1 · 02/06/2020 11:14

I personally would pronounce Eleanor and Elena exactly the same - eh le na (with the stress on the first syllable)

If I want that pronunciation, should I use Eleanor or elena ?

I worry that with Eleanor there will be SOME people who pronounce it eh le NOR. I know this would really irritate me.

Equally , would Elena be pronounced by some people as eh LAY na or eh-LEN-a ?

Anyone know/ got an Eleanor / Elena who can share their findings ?

Thank you!

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Ontopofthesunset · 02/06/2020 11:29

In my non rhotic accent Eleanor is EL-en-uh and all the Elenas I have known have been El-AY-nuh (apart from the Russians!).

EveryoneLoves09876 · 02/06/2020 11:27

I'd pronounce Elena 'eh-lay-nuh' but have seen both ways.

Stinkyjellycat · 02/06/2020 11:26

You want Eleanor - Elena has multiple pronunciations.

grandmasterstitch · 02/06/2020 11:25

I would pronounce Elena El-yen-a but only because I've only ever known Russians with that name. Eleanor I would say El-en-a but I've heard it pronounced El-en-nor. I don't think it would bother me but if it bothers you then fair play. I think it's a beautiful name

MsChatterbox · 02/06/2020 11:24

I would 100% do elena as eh-lay-na and Eleanor as eh-leh-nor. I know an Eleanor and this is how she pronounces it.

SporadicNamechange · 02/06/2020 11:23

There’s absolutely no way anyone with my accent is ever going to pronounce Eleanor as Elena. Na and nor make completely different sounds.

Loads of (possibly most) people will pronounce Elena as El-ay-nah. I would.

Weepingwillows12 · 02/06/2020 11:22

I would say El a nor. For Elena, I would be split between Eh lay na and the way you want it as I know people who pronounce it oth ways.

notalwaysalondoner · 02/06/2020 11:20

The only people I’ve ever met in real life called Elena pronounce it El-Lay-na. So completely different to Eleanor, which most people pronounce El-en-na. You might get a few people overemphasising the last syllable “NOR” but I don’t think it’s common at all and you can always correct them. I’d definitely go for the spelling Eleanor for the pronunciation you prefer.

userabcname · 02/06/2020 11:20

I would have pronounced both names the same and in the way you prefer, but having taught many many Eleanors over the years, they are usually Eh - le - NOR ime.

Miriel · 02/06/2020 11:18

I'd pronounce Elena as eh-LAY-na and Eleanor the same way as you do. People with rhotic accents are definitely going to pronounce the -nor with the r sound at the end instead of a schwa, though.

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