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Original poster

Pronunciation of Eleanor

164 replies

SherbertLemons · 07/11/2021 00:39

Just that really.

How does everyone pronounce this name and what do you think of it?

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sharkan · 07/11/2021 10:48

@AfterSchoolWorry

L n or
This
callingon · 07/11/2021 10:44

Also - as I said I changed my name so obviously I don't rate the name that much - but one of my best friends is also an Eleanor and never ever uses it but goes exclusively by Elle, another friend only ever by Ellie (both to the extent that you would assume those were their given names). Most I meet casually use Ellie or a shortening. It seems popular on MN but I don't hear it get much full usage out in the wild.

DownToTheSeaAgain · 07/11/2021 10:44

@DownToTheSeaAgain

El E Neh.
With the Neh rhyming with French Deux
DownToTheSeaAgain · 07/11/2021 10:43

El E Neh.

Synchrony · 07/11/2021 10:40

I'm in East England. I've never heard anyone in real life say NOR. I always say Ellen-a.

RuthW · 07/11/2021 10:38

@Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow

The beatles song eleanor rigby....sing that to yourself. That is how to pronounce it
Brilliant!

Exactly right.

Never ever heard it said with a Nore

RuthW · 07/11/2021 10:36

El - en - ner

callingon · 07/11/2021 10:36

Cautionary tale: I changed my name from Eleanor because this annoyed me so much!
The default pronunciation really changes depending on where you are and I now live somewhere where I find the standard pronunciation really grating - there's only so many times you can correct people! I've also seen it come up on MN several times and, like this thread, people have weirdly entrenched opinions about it and in the end I didn't like the name enough to fight for it so I changed it.

My favorite variations have been the French and Spanish versions I've had when I've been abroad: Eleonore, Eleanora but you kind of need the accent for it to have the great effect!

mrsm43s · 07/11/2021 10:32

In the UK I hear it pronounced as Ellen -ah.

I've only ever heard it pronounced Ella-NOR on American TV shows.

Nowisthemonthofmaying · 07/11/2021 10:32

It's my sister's name - we say it as Ellen-uh (SE), stress on the first syllable.

I've never met anyone with that name who pronounces the 'nore'

Tuliptulip · 07/11/2021 10:32

@Bells3032

I am an Eleanor. I pronounce el-ah-na and the vast majority of people I meet pronounce it that way automatically.

Only really Americans or a few people etc pronounce it as el-ah-nore.

This (my sister is an Eleanor). I’ve never heard anyone try to call her El-e-nore.
Bells3032 · 07/11/2021 10:25

I am an Eleanor. I pronounce el-ah-na and the vast majority of people I meet pronounce it that way automatically.

Only really Americans or a few people etc pronounce it as el-ah-nore.

Catlover77 · 07/11/2021 10:10

@scarpa

My best friend's sister is an Eleanor, we (me, her sister, her family, herself) all pronounce it Ellaner/El-ah-neh.

Like 'melon' + 'uh'?

(I wish I could do proper IPA on my phone, haha)

As opposed to El-ah-nore.

All Northern, if that helps.

This
Luredbyapomegranate · 07/11/2021 10:06

It’s traditionally El-len-ah in England, the phonetic El-lan-Orr is US.

TaTuirseOrm · 07/11/2021 09:52

@IsMaithLiomLeaba

Odd one out but I'd say Ellen-er... I'm Irish if that makes a difference
Mise freisin Grin Ellen-er - emphasis on the Ellen
ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 07/11/2021 09:52

anyone who says "like the Beatles song" forgets that because her surname starts with an "R" the end of the first name melds in to that.
it's impossible not to hear Eh-le-nor in the song.

if her surname wasn't Rigby but I dunno Kenzie there would be no "R" sound at all and it would be 'Eh-le-nah"

hope this helps

Having said that I'd still pronounce it with an R at the end because of how Nicky Cage says it in "Gone in 60 seconds".

Pronunciation of Eleanor
Verfremdungseffekt · 07/11/2021 09:52

@IsMaithLiomLeaba

Odd one out but I'd say Ellen-er... I'm Irish if that makes a difference
Yes, it’s pretty much always that here.
NoSquirrels · 07/11/2021 09:49

Ellen-or

I love it.

Newpuppymummy · 07/11/2021 09:49

L n or

Bimblybomeyelash · 07/11/2021 09:49

ELL-en-uh for all the grown up ones I know. But the one I know under ten is an Ell-in-OR. I find the first version more natural to say.

Allaboutthecake · 07/11/2021 09:47

@Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow

L-n-a
Me too.

It’s a beautiful name OP, however it’s pronounced.

WholeClassKeptIn · 07/11/2021 09:44

Southish here and never heard the "nore" pronounced. Always el la nah

Add in allana/elana for multiple pronouncistions that are similar

Noodleted · 07/11/2021 09:43

El-ah-na

Not nore

SheWoreYellow · 07/11/2021 09:41

@Bumpsadaisie

ELLenuh.

Stressing first syllable.

Same
Nellesbelles · 07/11/2021 09:40

I think it's very much dependent on area. I'm Midlands and I pronounce it El-an-ner