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Baby names

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Original poster

Love the name Eleanor but we can’t say it right??

83 replies

IamJob · 15/02/2022 14:12

So DH and I both love the name Eleanor but realised we both say el-e-ner rather than how it should be pronounced el-a-nor

We’ve tried but we can’t say it correctly! It’s so weird! We both come from different regions too. Does anyone else say el-e-ner or do we have to veto the name?

Other names we like:
Madeleine (mad-e-lynn)
Juliet
Olivia

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ABitBesotted · 21/02/2022 17:07

In many countries where it's a mans name it's pronounced Den-EESE, e.g. Russia

RupertOscar1999 · 21/02/2022 17:04

I pronounce it Ellie-ner rather than Ellie-nor. Ellie-ner has a nicer flow to it and I think it depends on what accent you have to how you pronounce it Smile
I would go for it!! Eleanor is such a pretty name nn Ellie
My 2mth niece is called Ellie (Full name Ellie not an Eleanor)

Blubells · 21/02/2022 17:00

There are many names with differing pronunciations- Anthony, Denis, Eugenie, Isaac, Madeleine. Who cares.

What difference pronunciations are there with Denis?

ABitBesotted · 21/02/2022 16:54

I say EleaNOR.

But your pronunciation is perfectly normal.

There are many names with differing pronunciations- Anthony, Denis, Eugenie, Isaac, Madeleine. Who cares.

Phormiumjester · 21/02/2022 16:48

@Blubells

I love Juliet. But JU lie-uht not Juli-ETTE.

But Juliet IS pronounced Juliet whereas Juliette is pronounced JuliETTE.

It should be. But my friends sister spent most of her childhood correcting the Etters! The ones who will Juliette you even if you're a Juliet. Surprisingly, they're everywhere!
Blubells · 21/02/2022 15:05

I love Juliet. But JU lie-uht not Juli-ETTE.

But Juliet IS pronounced Juliet whereas Juliette is pronounced JuliETTE.

Phormiumjester · 21/02/2022 14:26

All the Eleanor's I've met have been Elenuh. From 40s to 5!

I love Juliet. But JU lie-uht not Juli-ETTE.

Blubells · 21/02/2022 14:15

My sister is Eleanor and pronounced el a nor, never heard* el e ner*

Eleanor - El a nor

Eleaner - El a ner

BrinksmansEntry · 21/02/2022 13:59

The only Lena I knew pronounced her name like "lean-a"

But it was short for Torquilina. True fact.

OnaBegonia · 20/02/2022 23:41

My sister is Eleanor and pronounced el a nor, never heard
el e ner or any other pronunciation except on MN 🤷🏼‍♀️

Februarymama · 20/02/2022 23:36

My name is Eleanor and no one ever pronounces it el-a-nor despite that being how I introduce myself.

TooManyQuavers · 16/02/2022 16:42

I'm an Eleanor my name is pronounced like Helena without the H and it seems to be the most common English pronunciation of it. EllaNOR pronunciation seems most common is America, either is perfectly acceptable imo. Just use it.

Casheeeew · 16/02/2022 14:51

Only know Lena as pronounced Lay-nah. But there's probably some Lee-nahs but I would always say Lay-nah until corrected.

Casheeeew · 16/02/2022 14:46

Prefer Elena - pronounce El-LAY-na

Blubells · 16/02/2022 14:18

I’d pronounce Elena as Eh-lay-na the same way I’d say the name Lena if the E wasn’t there.

But there's no 'ay' sound in Lena. It's LEH-na like the Les in Les Miserable. It's very popular in Germany, Poland and Austria.

Elena is Elen-ah

Lightningrain · 16/02/2022 13:52

I agree the ‘nor’ emphasis is American. I have a friend called Eleanor known as Elle and she pronounces it the way you do.

I’d pronounce Elena as Eh-lay-na the same way I’d say the name Lena if the E wasn’t there.

KirstenBlest · 16/02/2022 13:41

I only know Eleanors who say it as Ellen-uh.
One gets called Ellen-ORE by some.

Juliet is nice but the Julie-ETTE pronunciation that some use puts me off

Cbeebiesrehab · 16/02/2022 12:15

For those who keep saying ‘it’s American’ I think they are forgetting the Welsh Elinor 😏
Personally I much prefer the Nor ending (diminutive Nora or Nel) but that’s personal opinion.

Mammatobearandaxel · 15/02/2022 20:41

I'm British but live in Sweden and my kids are half Swedish, I chose Björn for my second child. I can't pronounce it 'properly' in Swedish but the word translates to Bear. So I just call my boy Bear!

alienbotanist · 15/02/2022 19:19

Reminds me of the Elan I met. "Ah, Élan!" (and inside my head "A stylish, debonnaire French name...")
"No Miss, it's Ell-un"
Blush
Oops

CoffeeRunner · 15/02/2022 19:14

Eleanor = el en uh.

Elena = ell enna.

Very different names.

Original poster
IamJob · 15/02/2022 18:59

I’d pronounce Lena as Lee-na and I think Helen as just Helen! Definitely pronounce the r in Eleanor

OP posts:
SusannaQueen · 15/02/2022 18:52

Only English speakers say Lay-na.

The two Lenas I know are Russian and Poish and both say Layna.

Blubells · 15/02/2022 18:39

Actually you do pronounce Lena as LEH-na. Only English speakers say Lay-na.

And you pronounce Helen as Hell-en.

SusannaQueen · 15/02/2022 18:35

Elena is pronounced Ell en ah.

I'd say that is El-ayn-a, after all you don't pronounce Lena as Len-ah.

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