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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.

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CaffeineQueen · 09/01/2023 21:23

I'm Scottish and with my accent, I pronounce it Elinur. Elea-nor is much nicer but I don't know anyone personally that says it like that.

Melisande90 · 09/01/2023 21:20

Northern Ireland and always would pronounce the -nor.

louderthan · 09/01/2023 21:18

I'm in the south btw.

louderthan · 09/01/2023 21:17

I'm an Eleanor. Have always pronounced it Ellenuh with the stress on the first syllable. I hate being called 'Elle-nor'. I don't answer to Ellie because that's not my name.

PortiasBiscuit · 09/01/2023 21:17

We call our Elinor, Nellie!

SylvanianFrenemies · 09/01/2023 21:14

MerryMarigold · 09/01/2023 16:11

It's my name. I love it. The Beatles pronounced it 'nuh' at the end and they were from Liverpool. I'd be a bit 🙄 at someone with a 'nor' pronunciation who wasn't American. Like walking around insisting that Evian is 'waaahder'. It's much prettier without the 'nor' anyway.

Seems odd to roll your eyes at people for not having the same accent as you, and for pronouncing letters perfectly normally.

caringcarer · 09/01/2023 21:11

I'd pronounce it not or however child/family introduced her.

SylvanianFrenemies · 09/01/2023 21:10

I'm Scottish and pronounce the -nor.

Some South East England accents dont pronounce "r" at the end of words but I don't think this would be a big problem.

Twoinapod · 09/01/2023 21:02

I’d say it nor. Also I’d say Elinor as E-li-nor and Eleanor as E-le-nor. Although some may say E-lay-nor

silverpinecones · 09/01/2023 20:59

I'm also Eleanor and don't like NOR, more like as others have said it's more like Ellenuh.

However it started to annoy me so much that people kept saying NOR that I just switched to Ellie. I don't dislike the nor on other people but it just isn't how I see myself!

South east here

Greentomatoes21 · 09/01/2023 20:55

Northern Irish. I would say the r but more like -ner. But I taught for years in SW England and all the Elenors were pronounced 'El-en-a'.

LetsDoThis2023 · 09/01/2023 20:54

JulieMarooley · 09/01/2023 14:30

I think it’s more of an “er” when I say it, like they way I’d say “doctor”

This

JaneJeffer · 09/01/2023 20:52

MerryMarigold · 09/01/2023 16:11

It's my name. I love it. The Beatles pronounced it 'nuh' at the end and they were from Liverpool. I'd be a bit 🙄 at someone with a 'nor' pronunciation who wasn't American. Like walking around insisting that Evian is 'waaahder'. It's much prettier without the 'nor' anyway.

So we should all pronounce It like the Beatles, apart from Americans?

LetsDoThis2023 · 09/01/2023 20:51

JulieMarooley · 09/01/2023 14:30

I think it’s more of an “er” when I say it, like they way I’d say “doctor”

This

PollyPrissypants · 09/01/2023 20:50

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silverpinecones · 09/01/2023 20:48

I'm also Eleanor and don't like NOR, more like as others have said it's more like Ellenuh.

However it started to annoy me so much that people kept saying NOR that I just switched to Ellie. I don't dislike the nor on other people but it just isn't how I see myself!

South east here

scrivette · 09/01/2023 20:35

'Nor' at the end - Southern

romdowa · 09/01/2023 20:34

I'm irish and I'd prounouce it ella-a-nor

NatMoz · 09/01/2023 20:32

Nor here, Elena is a separate name (to me).

I was considering calling my baby Elena but my husband was worried about the fine line between Elena and Eleanor as demonstrated in this thread.

We went for Yelena and it still causes confusion but whatever🤣.

redbigbananafeet · 09/01/2023 20:32

Scottish - wear coast - and would say the or

Mydogatemypurse · 09/01/2023 20:31

I pronounce it. Northern

DuchessOfSausage · 09/01/2023 20:31

I know some who say it as ellen-OR

fairtrauchled · 09/01/2023 20:22

I'm in Scotland and would pronounce the 'nor'.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 09/01/2023 20:12

The Eleanors I knew/know (NW England, Yorkshire and Scotland) all pronounce the -or as you would pronounce the -or at the end of doctor or tenor.

The English ones pronounced it exactly as the Beatles did; the Scottish one has a slight rolling of the r, in the way that Americans do at the end of butter.

None of them pronounces it -ore like the end of score.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 09/01/2023 20:11

If you really want to force non-rhotic speakers to pronounce the ‘r’ you will need to spell it with an ‘e’ at the end to rhyme with snore / lore / bore etc.