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Baby names

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

Original poster

Eleanor

29 replies

thomasina1 · 29/05/2008 13:12

DH and I have just about agreed on the name Eleanor if we have a girl, but I'm not sure about the pronounciation.

When you see it written, do you read it/say it as "Elener/Elena" or "Elenor".

Sorry I know this is pedantic but I think that is what this thread is for!!

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LilRedWG · 29/05/2008 16:16

DD is Ell-en-ah!

GreenElizabeth · 29/05/2008 16:14

ELLener. Not ElinORE.

ElinORE reminds me of eyeore. But there are two ways of pronouncing it I just prefer the first one.

janeite · 29/05/2008 15:49

I LOVE Elinor (a' la Jane Austen) and pronounced Ellen-or. Fab name.

Original poster
thomasina1 · 29/05/2008 15:37

By the way, just did a rough count and I think it's 9 votes Elen-a to 6 Elen-or. So seems either is OK!

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Original poster
thomasina1 · 29/05/2008 15:35

Wow, thanks everyone, how brilliant to get so many comments so quickly! Also I'm v pleased that everyone seems to like the name. I think the conclusion is that either pronounciation is acceptable, so I suppose DH and I just need to decide which one we prefer.

Now I just need to come up with a boy's name... or just hope I have a girl!

OP posts:
VictorianSqualor · 29/05/2008 15:20

Elfsmummy, I just made sure I told everyone when DD was born that she was Ella, not Danni (name is Danni-Ella) for short, there was a Danny in the family already though, so it stopped confusion, maybe that's why people listened to me who knows?
At school she is just Ella, she decided to drop the Danni, but now ad then I hear 'Danni' and grit my teeth

VictorianSqualor · 29/05/2008 15:17

I like the name a lot.
I pronounce it Eleanor

hunkermunker · 29/05/2008 15:07

Elfsmummy, you can't get other people to use a shortening you like.

And they are going to have their own relationship with your child, so leave them to it.

I do with DS2 - he is called one shortening of his name by many of our relatives. I call him either by his full name or another shortning - I am not keen on the one they use. But he is his own person and is building a relationship with his relatives - and quite often insists on being called Pooh Bear anyway

Sidge · 29/05/2008 15:06

Oh I love Eleanor.

I pronounce it Ella-na. If it were spelled Elinor I would emphasise the 'nor'.

Elena I would think is pronounced El-ay-na with the emphasis on the -ay-.

Such a pretty name.

bluenosesaint · 29/05/2008 15:02

Elener

Anna8888 · 29/05/2008 15:01

Typo - Leonora

Anna8888 · 29/05/2008 15:00

Elena.

How about Eleanora? Or Leonara? Or Eléonore?

Janni · 29/05/2008 15:00

AT LAST!
A girl's name I love!

wheresthehamster · 29/05/2008 14:59

Dd2 is usually pronounced Ellen-a or Ellen-or. I call her Ell or Nor-Nor. Her friends call her Elzy or Elzybub. Never Ellie.

nkf · 29/05/2008 14:47

Elenor.
I have a fondness for the Elinor spelling. Very Jane Austen.

flowerybeanbag · 29/05/2008 14:45

I am Eleanor. I don't emphasise the 'nor', I pronounce it Ellen-a like most on here.

Also get called El or Ellie as well.

I think use Elinor if you want to pronounce the 'nor'.

minster · 29/05/2008 14:40

I love Elinor (it's a completely legit variation).

Eleanor I'd pronounce Elin-or, Elena I'd pronounce El-ay-na.

babywhiting · 29/05/2008 13:39

my dd is eleanor and this year goes to middle school , even though her name is eleanor (we pronounce it ella-na) she has always been called ellie especially by her friends and teachers.
good choice for a name though

Slubber · 29/05/2008 13:36

dd1 is Eleanor, and we pronounce it El an or.

Her best friend calls her Nena which I love a lot and wish secretly that she would let me call her that too.

TigerFeet · 29/05/2008 13:35

My sister's name is Eleanor - pronounced Ellen-a. She is only ever known as Ellie, El or Ells though

I also knew an Eleanor who pronounced it Ellen-orr - and she shortened it to Nora.

Nell is a fab shorteining too

elfsmummy · 29/05/2008 13:35

Even her 2 year old sister can manage to pronounce it but the inlaws are persisting with the ellie! Definately think its something for DH to address with them!

Pollyanna · 29/05/2008 13:34

I would pronounce it Elin-or, and shorten it to Nell. It's a lovely name I think

Original poster
thomasina1 · 29/05/2008 13:32

Brilliant, thanks for the feedback so far! Elfsmum, I agree about Ellie... need to nip this one in the bud! Not sure how though! I suppose I am trying to address in in advance by saying that Eleanor is our chosen name for a girl but that it WON'T be Ellie... then hopefully they'll all remember that when she is born! I was thinking of Ella as the short version, but i really like Nell now that you have mentioned it!

OP posts:
sitdownpleasegeorge · 29/05/2008 13:31

If you want to sound out the NOR bit you could opt for Elinor (I think this is a valid alternative way of spelling the name, not a creative spelling option)

EachPeachPearMum · 29/05/2008 13:30

Does anyone else pronounce it Elaya-nor?

I love this name btw