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Baby names

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

Original poster

Eleanor ?

69 replies

charltonred · 08/12/2024 21:42

Thinking of using Eleanor for baby girl due soon but wondering how people perceive it,
is it still popular? Or would it be considered dated now? Is it a classic?

Should add we aren’t keen on Ellie but I don’t mind Elle or Ella for shortened version/nn

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eleanoreleanoreleanor · 10/12/2024 11:15

It is a great name! Im slightly biased.
My shortened name is El and only one person has ever pronounced my full name as eleaNOR, it's always eleNA which I prefer.

butteriesplease · 10/12/2024 10:56

I love Eleanor as a name! my niece is an Eleanor, and it doesn't get shortened by anyone. And she's lovely!

Spidey66 · 10/12/2024 10:44

My favourite girls name. I don't have kids but my imaginary daughter is called Eleanor. Apart from Ellie/Elle, she could also be Nellie or Nora.

I'm jealous of your daughter and she's not even born yet!

Moveoverdarlin · 10/12/2024 10:43

I think it’s ever so old fashioned and frumpy. Eleanor is dated but not a classic. I know 2, one in her 80s, and she insists it’s pronounced Ella-nah. But I know a five year old and she pronounces it Ella-nor, which is even worse.

bugaboo218 · 10/12/2024 10:38

Love Eleanor as a name. My DD has a similar name to Eleanor and shortened to Lenny and her Grandmother calls her Nori ( to rhyme with story).

Moreteaandchocolate · 10/12/2024 10:30

charltonred · 09/12/2024 18:58

We’d definitely be pronouncing it EleNA I’ve never heard anyone pronounce it like EleaNOR, I didn’t realise that was a thing.

I like the other suggestions of Nora (although less likely to use with EleNA) and Nell. I also came across Leni today too which I also think is a cute shortening.

Leni is a cute shortening. Or Laynie. Such a versatile name ☺️

Giggorata · 10/12/2024 09:57

We have a baby in our extended family named Eleanor and I love it.
It is pronounced “or” at the end, not too emphasised, otherwise they might just as well have named her Elena.
No diminutives have emerged as yet.
My preferences would be Nell or maybe Lenore, to pre-empt Ellie or Ella, but it's not up to me.

KirstenBlest · 10/12/2024 09:37

invisiblebark · 09/12/2024 20:40

Eleanor for me is always E-Len-ORE (I love this) but could also be E-Len-AH (not keen on this).

Elena is Eh-LAY-nuh. (Love this)

Elena can be El-ENN-a or EL-ena or El-AIN-a. All are nice.
Lena was Leena when I was young, but I think it's Layna now.

Shitlord · 09/12/2024 23:13

Not to my taste but pretty classic. I think Ellie is quite likely to happen though

user1492757084 · 09/12/2024 23:09

I love Eleanor and Elena - both said in a similar way by me.

A timeless classic with lovely associations and meaning.

Sunnyflow · 09/12/2024 22:51

I know two Elenas and both pronounce it as it's written: Elen-ah with the emphasis on the first syllable

invisiblebark · 09/12/2024 20:40

invisiblebark · 09/12/2024 20:40

Eleanor for me is always E-Len-ORE (I love this) but could also be E-Len-AH (not keen on this).

Elena is Eh-LAY-nuh. (Love this)

Also love the nicknames Nora and Nell.

invisiblebark · 09/12/2024 20:40

Eleanor for me is always E-Len-ORE (I love this) but could also be E-Len-AH (not keen on this).

Elena is Eh-LAY-nuh. (Love this)

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 09/12/2024 20:26

Nora is a great nn for Eleanor!

Thewalrusandthecarpenter · 09/12/2024 20:17

Eleanor is timeless and elegant; Nell is a lovely abbreviation.

nildesparandum · 09/12/2024 19:54

I had a great aunt Nellie whose real name was Eleanor.She had been named after her great grandmother who apparently was known as Nellie as well.

KirstenBlest · 09/12/2024 19:25

@charltonred , the Elen-ORE pronunciation is definitely a thing.
Most people say EL-en-uh, but somebody will insist on saying it as Elen-ORE.

Original poster
charltonred · 09/12/2024 18:58

We’d definitely be pronouncing it EleNA I’ve never heard anyone pronounce it like EleaNOR, I didn’t realise that was a thing.

I like the other suggestions of Nora (although less likely to use with EleNA) and Nell. I also came across Leni today too which I also think is a cute shortening.

OP posts:
Sunnyflow · 09/12/2024 16:11

EleaNOR sounds so masculine

I prefer EleNA

CookieMonster28 · 09/12/2024 14:11

RogueFemale · 09/12/2024 00:43

I think of it as a tired frumpy name, and would hate to be called Eleanor.

Agree

songbird3086 · 09/12/2024 13:16

I have three Eleanor's in my life all different generations ( not related ) and they go by Ellie, Nellie and Nora.
Beautiful name in my opinion and it suits through the ages

KirstenBlest · 09/12/2024 13:13

It's OK but I don't love it. I dislike it being said as Ellen-OR.
I'd be put of by the overuse of Ellie and Ella. Nell is nice.

It's much nicer than the El names like Eliana, Eliane, etc They seem so nothingy.

Sunnyflow · 09/12/2024 13:10

Personally I find Ellie VERY overused.

SnowFrogJelly · 09/12/2024 01:12

Lovely

Againstreason · 09/12/2024 00:44

Lovely classic name. No need to be a Ellie. Elle/Nell can be a diminutive if she wishes later.