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 - how do you pronounce it?

69 replies

Sorbustree123 · 15/12/2022 07:59

I always thought it was EVE-LYN, but understand it's also pronounced EV-A-LYN? Trying to work out if one is more common than the other in the UK? Are there regional variations?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Organzo · 15/12/2022 13:24

My first response is 3 syllables - eh-vuh-lin.

But I do know of it being eev-lin as well.

Theoldwoman · 15/12/2022 13:21

Ev-a-lyn

Fivebeanchilli · 15/12/2022 13:03

I go for EVE-lin as default as that's how most of the adults I know pronounce it.
With children it seems to be 50/50 so I try and remember for next time if I'm corrected.

fairtrauchled · 15/12/2022 12:37

Have a friend called Evelyn and she and everyone who knows her pronounces it Ev-lyn.

DorothyCannoli · 15/12/2022 12:29

MadisonAvenue · 15/12/2022 09:18

My great aunty was called Evelyn and it was always pronounced Ev-lyn.

Same here, but great great aunt, would have been born in the 1920s. Very much 2 syllables, just EV lyn

2tired2bewitty · 15/12/2022 12:24

Dd is Ev-uh-Lyn, though Eve for short not Ev. I know people who prefer Eve-Lin though (and get annoyed when I forget 🙄).

MassiveSalad22 · 15/12/2022 12:19

Whichever way Evelyn/Evelyn’s parents say it. It’s one of those ones for me where both sound equally right/wrong so can’t decide and my brain gets in a scramble and then it doesn’t even sound like a word anymore 😄 I like it though, if I don’t overthink it!

RuthW · 15/12/2022 12:16

Eve-lyn for me. But others say Ever-lyn or Ev-lyn

Twospaniels · 15/12/2022 11:05

My paternal great aunt was EV LIN

My maternal great aunt was EVE LIN

My neighbour's granddaughter is EV A LIN

KirstenBlest · 15/12/2022 10:27

Eev-lin. I though Evlin was the irish pronunciation. Only heard Ev-uh-lin fairly recently. I don't like the name.

Evasmissingletter · 15/12/2022 10:17

My female neighbour was Ev lyn ( not Eve lyn)

MamaFirst · 15/12/2022 10:14

Ev-uh-lyn. Southern English accent

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 15/12/2022 10:10

Eve-lin is the male pronunciation.

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 15/12/2022 09:51

It’s a middle name for a load of my female ancestors too and they’ve all pronounced it Eve-lyn so that’s what we went with for my daughter too.

I’ve heard the Ev for girls Eve for boys thing and don’t like it. Eve is a pretty girls name so why do this differently‽

CottonPyjamas · 15/12/2022 09:51

I have an aunty who pronounces her name Ev-lyn. Ev for short

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 15/12/2022 09:49

eve-lin

GiltEdges · 15/12/2022 09:47

I only know of one Evelyn in my DS’s pre-school class and for him it’s pronounced Eve-lyn.

Merrow · 15/12/2022 09:45

Ev-a-len. From Glasgow, admittedly don't know anyone with this name so no idea why that's the pronunciation I'd go to! But Eve-linn would make me think of Evelyn Waugh so I'd assume male

2chocolateoranges · 15/12/2022 09:44

always pronounced it Ev Lyn.

it’s only recently I’ve heard people using the Eve Lyn pronunciation .

Reindear · 15/12/2022 09:41

I know an 80 year old and a 7 year old evelyn. Both pronounced like eve Lyn.

watcherintherye · 15/12/2022 09:41

My friend pronounces her name
Ev-lyn. I’ve also come across
Ever-lyn and Eev-lyn. I think you just pick the one you like best!

WandaWonder · 15/12/2022 09:39

Ev-eh-len

Pictograph · 15/12/2022 09:39

I know an EVE-lyn and an Ev-lyn so I would have to ask.

Laughingmole · 15/12/2022 09:37

It’s my middle name and for me it’s always been pronounced Ev-Lyn

ApolloandDaphne · 15/12/2022 09:35

I would pronounce it Ev-Lyn.