Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Elias and shortenings..

36 replies

justthinkingagain · 21/08/2022 08:55

I love the name Elias and we are set on this. I pronounce it El-lie-us. I quite like the shortening Eli, rather than El, but wondered if that would mean I’d need to pronounce Elias Ee-lie-us? I’m not against this pronounciation it just doesn’t feel right in my head yet as I’m used to the other?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
KirstenBlest · 22/08/2022 16:14

Me neither. Eliza but not Eli.

pinklavenders · 22/08/2022 16:08

I've never heard Elizabeth shortened to Eli (Ee-lie)..?!

AmandaMirandaPanda · 22/08/2022 16:00

Sometime names get shortened by using part of the name instead of the whole, but pronouncing that part as if it were stand-alone - hence Eli (EE-lie) for Eliot, Elias, Elijah, Elian, Elizabeth. Traditional name/diminutive pairs sometimes vary sounds similarly (Katharine/Kate, Michael/Mick, Margaret/Margie, etc.) I don't see a problem with your choice as long as you're consistent and don't mind correcting pronunciation/spelling if need be.

Original poster
justthinkingagain · 22/08/2022 15:43

pinklavenders · 22/08/2022 15:27

I don't see how you get from Elliot or Elias to anything other than Ell or Elly..?

There's no EE sound Confused

You could say the same for Elijah, you don’t pronounce the E as harshly in the full name as you do in the common shortening of Eli?

OP posts:
pinklavenders · 22/08/2022 15:27

I don't see how you get from Elliot or Elias to anything other than Ell or Elly..?

There's no EE sound Confused

Sandysandwich · 22/08/2022 15:24

Its totally fine and a nice name,
I know an Elliot who goes by Eli and thats not the same sound at all but works fine

Original poster
justthinkingagain · 22/08/2022 15:17

It would be Elias on the birth certificate but would call him Eli from the get go too, Eli just seems to suit more for a baby but I love the name Elias and think as an adult they’d prefer to have that option than not. As long as it’s not totally weird to use both we’ll go for it!

OP posts:
Oatmealbiscuits · 22/08/2022 15:09

Elias..... Lias..... Lie......

Eli is too unnatural unless you intentional call him that from the start but a naturally occurring shortening will happen as above

Frazzled2207 · 22/08/2022 15:03

Love this name

I know an Elias and afaik he is known as Elias by all, no shortenings

KirstenBlest · 22/08/2022 15:02

@ButterRose , that's your name, and it might not be true for all names.
If OP is in a non-multicultural part of England, then the pronunciation won't be an issue.

ButterRose · 22/08/2022 14:50

KirstenBlest · 22/08/2022 14:38

Elias is multinational, so you will get people pronouncing it in the way that is familiar to them. It is only El-eye-us in English AFAIK.
Not an issue, but it's probably popular with lots of nationalities, so little Elias might be at school with others with the same name who pronounce it differently.

I think Eli sounds like Eel-eye. Yuk

My own name is pronounced differently by other nationalities but once I've introduced myself or corrected them once people always get the pronunciation right Elias would be similar

KirstenBlest · 22/08/2022 14:38

Elias is multinational, so you will get people pronouncing it in the way that is familiar to them. It is only El-eye-us in English AFAIK.
Not an issue, but it's probably popular with lots of nationalities, so little Elias might be at school with others with the same name who pronounce it differently.

I think Eli sounds like Eel-eye. Yuk

ButterRose · 22/08/2022 14:33

KirstenBlest - I understand now what your saying with the NN Eli being a name in its own right with a different meaning but it is still a known common shortening for both Elijah and Elias so if the OP prefers Elias on the BC I still don't see an issue

Original poster
justthinkingagain · 22/08/2022 14:04

Eli is commonly a nickname for Elijah which is pronounced “Uh-lie-jah” actually isn’t it, I think I’m overthinking it now.

OP posts:
Original poster
justthinkingagain · 22/08/2022 13:23

The problem with your suggestions is the ‘lee’ I have no intention of pronuncing either name with a ‘lee’ sound

Elias (Eh-lie-us)
Eli (Ee-lie)

OP posts:
pinklavenders · 22/08/2022 12:46

How do you get fro Eh to Ee?

Wouldn't the natural shortening be Eh-lee or Lias?

Original poster
justthinkingagain · 22/08/2022 12:42

pinklavenders · 22/08/2022 12:16

Wouldn't Eh-Lee-as shorten to Eh-Lee rather than Ee-lie?! I'd find that very confusing.

It would be Eh-lie-us
shortened to Ee-lie
So still a different sound to the E but the lie pronounced the same in both

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 22/08/2022 12:30

The Elias (El-Lee-as) I know shorten it to 'Lias in speech.
I don't think Elias (El-eye-as) and Elijah shorten intuitively to Eli

pinklavenders · 22/08/2022 12:16

Wouldn't Eh-Lee-as shorten to Eh-Lee rather than Ee-lie?! I'd find that very confusing.

TenThousandSpoons · 22/08/2022 08:40

The Elias I know is pronounced Eh - lee - as.
I still think it’s fine to have Eli (Ee- lie) nickname though.

KirstenBlest · 22/08/2022 08:36

meant not means.

KirstenBlest · 22/08/2022 08:30

I means 1 Samuel. Don't know where the 9 came from.

KirstenBlest · 22/08/2022 08:28

@ButterRose , Eli is a name in itself and does not mean the same as Elias and Elijah. Look it up if you don't believe me. 1 Samuel 9 etc.

ButterRose · 22/08/2022 03:06

Eli is the common shortening of both Elijah and Elias and both Elijah and Elias mean the same thing so the OP isn't changing the name or making up a nn.....I personally don't see any issue

KirstenBlest · 21/08/2022 20:17

Nothing, but you are thinking of shortening the name by changing it to a different name with a different meaning.