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Baby names

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

Original poster

Eleanor

38 replies

micegg · 11/03/2008 16:17

Do you pronounce it El-a-nor or El-a-na?

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minster · 18/04/2008 12:04

El-e-nor, I love the Elinor spelling too.

Poledra · 16/04/2008 13:38

First way. I do know an Elena, but that's how it is spelled and pronounced. Wouldn't worry too much about giving the baby a name with more than one pronunciation - there's always something for people to get wrong. Took us ages to stop FIL adding an extra 'd' onto the end of dd1's name (he kept calling her Caitlind, for some reason).

Swedes · 16/04/2008 13:32

I always think it should be spelled Elinor, as Dashowood (in Austen's Sense and Sensibility).

And definitely not pronounced elena.

But maybe I'm old fashioned.

duchesse · 16/04/2008 13:25

ps: only one of my bestie friends is allowed to call me Ellie (aaargh!), but I have always butchered her name so I deserve it...

duchesse · 16/04/2008 13:24

I have always been pronounced the first way but I did grow up in France where it was always pronounced more a la francaise, so became my way of saying it and introducing myself. Lots of people call me the second though, and some people ask me which I prefer.

forevared · 16/04/2008 13:12

My name's Eleanor too, and it's always been pronounced E-la-na, never E-la-nor. However, most people called me Ellie as a kid so that's how I'm still known. I used to love having a name that was different but every little girl seems to be called Ellie nowadays!

Scotia · 14/04/2008 20:57

It's my name and I pronounce it the first way - well more like 'Elener' really. I'm in Scotland and I've never heard it pronounced the second way.

Winetimeisfinetime · 12/04/2008 15:56

You could use Eleanora which would stop the mispronounciation and with it ending in an 'a' it would also help reinforce that the short version should be Ella rather than Ellie

Hootie · 12/04/2008 15:48

It was Lindisfarne!! Eleanor is my name - we pronounce it El-lenor. I had a friend at Uni called Elena who pronounced it Ellen-a. We both get called Ellie and we're 25!! Its a great name!

kaz33 · 12/03/2008 14:19

If I had a girl she would be Eleanor, pronounced the first way. Great 60's hippy song - the band escapes me.. Always good to have your own song!

Original poster
micegg · 12/03/2008 14:15

Thanks all - Morgan; I love LAUREN but DH doesnt for some unknown reason. So annoying as its mmy first choice. He is also yet to be fully persuaded on Isobel.

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TheFallenMadonna · 12/03/2008 13:48

I know two. One of each pronunciation.

PrePG · 12/03/2008 13:46

I've always pronounced it Ellen-OR, but when I moved to the UK I knew an Eleanor whom everyone called Ellen-A. I think it's very weird - to me they're two different names! But that's what she called herself too, so who am I to argue?

VictorianSqualor · 11/03/2008 21:38

El-an-or, there is an eleanor on my antenatal thread actually, Must ask her how it is said, though she is Ellie for short.

I prefer Ella to Ellie but then I'm bias

bluenosesaint · 11/03/2008 21:31

El-en-er

alfiesbabe · 11/03/2008 20:17

I know a few and it usually gets pronounced El-a-na (as if there's no r). In fact it's only a Welsh Elinor I know who's name is pronounced with the r sound. I think Ella is lovely, but it seems to be a separate name. All the Eleanors I know become Ellie, which sounds Ok for a baby but isnt a very grown up game.

Buda · 11/03/2008 18:08

I always though Eleanor was El-en-or. Otherwise why have the 'r'??

There is an Elena in DS's class.

And some friends called their DD Eleanor Mabel Rose - pronounced with the 'r'.

Morgan · 11/03/2008 18:04

Was going to have Eleanor but chose Lauren instead if that helps.............(not sure why it would!)

andlittlelambmakesfour · 11/03/2008 17:47

Mine gets El-a-na except for PIL who are Greek and call her E- len - a, which I like too! She is an Eleanor Grace!! and ds1 would have probably been Isobella!

UnderRated · 11/03/2008 17:36

El-a-nor but probably sounds more like El-a-nah

It was my grandmother's name.

LilRedWG · 11/03/2008 17:03

micegg - I also prefer Ella for short, but tbh it doesn't usually get shortened. DD is Eleanor Louisa.

LilRedWG · 11/03/2008 17:01

DD is EL-e-Na, but spelt Eleanor obviously. She occassionally gets caller El-a-nor, but as we and most of our family and friends hale from the midlands it's not that often.

Original poster
micegg · 11/03/2008 17:01

OrnIrian - that may be another reason to go for Isobel then. I dont dislike Ellie I just prefer Ella.Why is this name lark so difficult. Doesnt help that I have such a ridiculous surname

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Original poster
micegg · 11/03/2008 16:57

Actually now I am wondering whether it will just annoy me if I have picked a name with 2 prononciations. I have a name like that and have spent my whole like spelling and pronouncing it. Damn. I love that name as well. Also love Isobel but DH needs convincing.

Off I go to baby name book again. No where near deciding on boys name yet. Now wish I had found out which flavour we are having....

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OrmIrian · 11/03/2008 16:57

So did I micegg. Thought that Ella was much nicer. But sadly everyone called her Ellie so it stuck.