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Who actually pronounced the last syllable in Eleanor like -nor?

166 replies

misslucy92 · 09/01/2023 14:15

This is mainly for people in the Uk and Ireland (or outside of the Us) as I know that in the Us -nor is used.

But I often read that in the Uk people say -na. I don’t know if I can explain it well but I mean -nor vs -na (sort of like Elena is said sometimes). But I only like -nor, personally.

So could I get away with naming her Eleanor and saying -nor in the Uk? Do some of you pronounce it -nor?

Does Elinor change anything?

sort of wondering if I could use -nor or whether I should look for a new name. I like both spellings Eleanor and Elinor.

Also name your region or where you are approximately (only if you feel comfortable).

Thanks.

OP posts:
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fancyfrogs · 10/01/2023 08:54

I'm NE and would say Ellen-ah.
Elinor would make me say Elli-nor but as pps have said, you're likely to have to spell that out more frequently

goldfootball · 10/01/2023 08:54

Just don’t do it. I’ve stopped using it because after 30 years I can’t keep correcting people either way so I use my middle name which you can’t mispronounce.

Whatwhatwhatnow · 10/01/2023 08:49

In the east and I say Ellener. I find it very awkward to say El-in-OR. I would be much more likely to say it with the Elinor spelling.

Tbh if I met someone who introduced themselves with the Nor pronunciation I'd just assume it was a difference in accent rather than a thing they wanted everyone to do.

PuppyMonkey · 10/01/2023 08:43

Eleanora is lovely. Smile

Flamingle18 · 10/01/2023 01:00

A family member gets called Elean-ah but I think that's due to being northern! My friends DD is Eleanora because DF wanted to keep the nor in there and there was less chance of it being omitted.

saraclara · 10/01/2023 00:31

I'd say nuh.

If you want the nor sound, I'd go for Elinor. If I saw that name I'd definitely pronounce the nor.

CM283648 · 10/01/2023 00:24

I would say Eleanor like Eleanuh. I am from Glasgow.

Topbird29 · 10/01/2023 00:12

I'm from the SW, and would say nur, but my friend is Welsh, and her daughter is a nor. Am do used to it now, I would probably now say nor if I met another Eleanor

MessiTheGoat · 10/01/2023 00:09

I pronounce the nor

Scotland

BitOutOfPractice · 09/01/2023 23:13

I have an Eleanor and I pronounce it Ellie! 😄

if I have to say the full name I say -nuh not -nor.

I’m from the Midlands.

Consufed · 09/01/2023 23:10

ELL-en-uh.

The 'nor' sounds odd to me. Most people say TRACT-uh (or TRACT-errr if they have a rhotic accent). I don't know anyone who'd say TRACK-tor where tor would rhyme with more.

CrazyBiscuits · 09/01/2023 23:02

If the parents start off pronouncing it as nor and the child then does then usually others tend to do the same.

SenecaFallsRedux · 09/01/2023 22:57

I am a rhotic speaker (American), and I pronounce the final "r". I do put the emphasis on the first syllable. I think some of us rhotic speakers may be leaving the impression that we are saying El-e-NOR, when we (at least I) are saying EL-e-nor. Although for some reason, I put more emphasis on the final syllable when I say Eleanor of Acquitaine, but less when I say Eleanor Roosevelt.

I don't know anyone in RL with the name.

NewYearNewUsername23 · 09/01/2023 22:54

I pronounce Eleanor and Elena differently because of the second syllable mostly. Elena is ehlayna

SenecaFallsRedux · 09/01/2023 22:50

JaneJeffer · 09/01/2023 22:29

You pronounce it with a "here" sound? I can't figure out how you get to that.
Here as in where the poster lives Grin

Thanks. 😄

SleeplessWB · 09/01/2023 22:29

My DD is Eleanor and everyone pronounces it Ellen-uh except mil who insists on Ellen-or.

JaneJeffer · 09/01/2023 22:29

You pronounce it with a "here" sound? I can't figure out how you get to that.
Here as in where the poster lives Grin

SenecaFallsRedux · 09/01/2023 22:27

ByTheGrace · 09/01/2023 22:18

It's always Elen-a here (Northern), fortunately as I hate Elean-nor, there's always a teacher who makes a point about it. Bizarrely (from bitter experience), Eleanor frequently gets spelt incorrectly, no idea why. So if you fancy Elinor, don't let spelling worries get in your way.

You pronounce it with a "here" sound? I can't figure out how you get to that.

ByTheGrace · 09/01/2023 22:18

It's always Elen-a here (Northern), fortunately as I hate Elean-nor, there's always a teacher who makes a point about it. Bizarrely (from bitter experience), Eleanor frequently gets spelt incorrectly, no idea why. So if you fancy Elinor, don't let spelling worries get in your way.

Purplemagnolias · 09/01/2023 21:59

I've only ever heard Eleanor as El-eh-nor.

Elena is El-eh-na

PuppyMonkey · 09/01/2023 21:50

I’m from the East Midlands and would pronounce it like in the song Eleanor Rigby. So a nurr at the end.

As opposed to the way Lindisfarne pronounce it in Lady Eleanor, with a norr at the end.

Champsandbubbles · 09/01/2023 21:39

Yorkshire, Ellanuh

123woop · 09/01/2023 21:30

From north west and always "nor"

underneaththeash · 09/01/2023 21:28

I’d say El-an-nor - from birth, but live in SE.

Changechangychange · 09/01/2023 21:27

Eleanora? Or Elenora/Elinora I think everyone will pronounce the “R” then.

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