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Original poster

Elias Pronunciation

68 replies

duckblossom · 26/03/2026 10:53

I like the name Elias, but am concerned people would pronounce as ELias, not eLIas. Really don't want to saddle a child with a name they always have to correct the pronunciation of. Thoughts?

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Westfacing · 26/03/2026 15:02

I know it in both pronunciations - and both are fine with me as I think it's a great name either way!

HudALledrith · 26/03/2026 14:54

@TheGriffle , it's El-EE-as in Welsh and some other languages.
I think it's EL-yas in some languages.

LittleSpeckleFrog · 26/03/2026 14:52

LadyDanburysHat · 26/03/2026 11:00

I'm a bit confused about your pronunciations. I would pronounce it El-eye-as. I have not heard any other way.

I am the same, can't think of another pronunciation?

I would say el-eye-us.

TheGriffle · 26/03/2026 14:16

I’ve only ever heard it pronounced Eh-lie-as. I think it’s a lovely name.

HudALledrith · 26/03/2026 14:13

Assuming you are in the UK and want the standard pronunciation, ɪˈlaɪəs.

swifttara · 26/03/2026 11:41

aBuffetofunreasonableness · 26/03/2026 11:35

EelyAss?

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😂😂😂

aBuffetofunreasonableness · 26/03/2026 11:35

swifttara · 26/03/2026 11:28

Yes I just had a google and seems my pronunciation is wrong but I think that’s all I’ve ever heard in Scotland. It’s not a name I’ve come across much. I said above, emphasis on the eee at the start but to be clear, I’d say eee-lee-ass.

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EelyAss?

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swifttara · 26/03/2026 11:28

JohnBullshit · 26/03/2026 11:18

Eh-LYE-as would be the usual pronunciation in the part of the country where I live, and come to think of it I've never come across it anywhere else, so I hadn't even considered there might be an alternative. Interesting to learn that there are variations.

Yes I just had a google and seems my pronunciation is wrong but I think that’s all I’ve ever heard in Scotland. It’s not a name I’ve come across much. I said above, emphasis on the eee at the start but to be clear, I’d say eee-lee-ass.

JohnBullshit · 26/03/2026 11:18

Eh-LYE-as would be the usual pronunciation in the part of the country where I live, and come to think of it I've never come across it anywhere else, so I hadn't even considered there might be an alternative. Interesting to learn that there are variations.

apuwa · 26/03/2026 11:13

This was my favorite name for ds but because of the pronunciation problem we chose different name.

carkerpartridge · 26/03/2026 11:08

This was a name that we considered for a boy since it would fit with our mix of heritages but we gave up as we couldn't agree on the pronunciation! There are quite a few variations.

LasVegass · 26/03/2026 11:08

I’d say EH-lee-us (as that’s how I’ve always thought of Elias Canetti in my head) but I’ve heard it more as eh-LIE-us. Like Elijah eh-LIE-juh.

xOlive · 26/03/2026 11:03

I’d pronounce it eh-lie-us.
Is it ee-lie-us?
Or el-ee-us?

LadyDanburysHat · 26/03/2026 11:00

I'm a bit confused about your pronunciations. I would pronounce it El-eye-as. I have not heard any other way.

aBuffetofunreasonableness · 26/03/2026 11:00

I've only ever heard it pronounced elias with emphasis on the i.
Never as ee lias.

swifttara · 26/03/2026 10:55

I’d say Eeelias, is that what you mean by the pronunciation you want? If you are someone who would be really bugged by wrong pronunciation, I’d chose a really well known name.

Coconutsss · 26/03/2026 10:55

All the ones I know are known as Eli which then means I follow on for the full name of eLIas

AlexRidersButt · 26/03/2026 10:54

I've heard both, so it's definitely a risk. I've heard more ELias thal eLias, I think.