Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Evelyn pronunciation

78 replies

yogurt2090 · 28/11/2020 22:33

Would you say Eve-lyn or Ever-lyn?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Duskyy · 29/11/2020 00:39

We mostly say Ev-el-yn, and sometimes a short Ev-lyn with our DD. Some family members do say Ev-er-lyn.

Thehogfatherstolemycurry · 29/11/2020 00:07

Mother In Laws name.
She pronounced it Ev-lynn
I pronounced it Evil lynn 😂

CoconutGrove · 29/11/2020 00:04

Eve-lyn

emilybrontescorsett · 29/11/2020 00:03

I’ve heard all different pronounciations, I loved this name years ago but didn’t know how to pronounce it and there wasn’t mumnset to ask!

Lightsontbut · 28/11/2020 23:50

Ever-lin

Pemba · 28/11/2020 23:45

Evelyn Waugh was indeed pronounced 'eev-lyn' and the male version is always pronounced this way. But the female version can be 'eev-lin' 'ev-lin' or 'ever-Lin'. The latter versions, with the short 'e' seem to be the norm both in America and Ireland. Which is why they are kind of taking over here I suppose.

It's odd to me, as 'eev-lin' seems more obviously feminine as it seems like an extension of Eve. My late grandmother was Evelyn pronounced this way, Eve for short.

I don't think anyone would really name their son Evelyn nowadays.

SylvieSangFroid · 28/11/2020 23:19

Ev-eh-lin

Zippetydoodahzippetyay · 28/11/2020 23:19

My Grandma is Evelyn and she has always pronounced it Ev-lyn.

Sgtmajormummy · 28/11/2020 23:18

“Eveline” is also a story from Dubliners by James Joyce and her name is shortened to “Evvie”.

purpleme12 · 28/11/2020 23:06

It's so dependant on where you're from, pronunciation of this name. I've heard it pronounced both ways and I can't remember where I heard it each way
I'd probably be more inclined to say Ever-lyn though as I think that's what I've heard most
It's a lovely name though either way

Smallsteps88 · 28/11/2020 23:03

Ehv-Lyn

YakkityYakYakYak · 28/11/2020 23:03

I immediately read it as Ev-Lyn

I think of Ev-Lyn as a girl name and Eve-Lyn as a boy name

MostDisputesDieAndNoOneShoots · 28/11/2020 23:00

I’d say Ev-er-lyn. So does my husband. Although if discussing Evelyn Waugh I would say “Ev-lyn” as that’s how an English teacher I had pronounced it that way.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 28/11/2020 22:56

I'd probably guess Eve - lyn, followed by Ev -lyn (with a short "eh" sound) - that's mainly what I've heard used from those in the UK who have the name. Ever -lyn seems to be more the American pronunciation (a la The Mummy and Pearl Harbour films), which means it's bound to increase in the UK too though over time.

Duckwit · 28/11/2020 22:51

Aw, now I wish I was having another girl so u could call her Evelyn!

ScottishStottie · 28/11/2020 22:47

I would say ev-eh-lin

Danglingmod · 28/11/2020 22:44

You're right.

Traditionally - Eve-lyn for a boy.
Ev-uh-lin/Ev-lin for a girl.

I don't think anyone chooses the name for a boy anymore, though.

HarryLimeFoxtrot · 28/11/2020 22:42

Ev-Lyn or Ev-a-Lyn for a girl
Eve-Lyn for a boy

DelurkingAJ · 28/11/2020 22:40

Isn’t one a boy and the other a girl?

Eve-Lyn for a boy (Evelyn Waugh comes to mind)
Ev-Lyn for a girl

I may be making that up.

MsTSwift · 28/11/2020 22:40

Do you mind that it’s extremely popular? At one stage a third of the girls in dds class were named a variant of an Eve name.

Duckwit · 28/11/2020 22:39

Yeah I think it's supposed to be like Ev-e-lyn with the 'e' a very subtle sound IYSWIM?

carolinesbaby · 28/11/2020 22:38

Eve-Lyn.

My DD has this name and gets v fed up when people call her Ev-er-Lyn

Strongswans · 28/11/2020 22:37

Ev e Lyn

Duckwit · 28/11/2020 22:37

I would say Ev-lyn, but that's because the first person I knew with that name, in the 80s, had that pronunciation, but since I have been a teacher in the noughties I have taught a couple of Eve-lyns.

I prefer Ev-lyn - she was Ev or Evvie as a nickname.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 28/11/2020 22:36

EV-lin

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.