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Does it sound too American?

21 replies

superdupermama · 18/07/2013 15:07

I like the name Eliza, but apparently it is pronounced as E-lye-zah, which sounds American to me for some reason. Is that right?

Also, would it be odd to pronounce it as E-lee-za, as the first part of the name Elizabeth?

Thanks!

OP posts:
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shoobidoo · 18/07/2013 15:09

What would be wrong with 'American' Confused?

MikeLitoris · 18/07/2013 15:11

Not sure how it sounds american?

I have an Eliza.

superdupermama · 18/07/2013 15:15

Nothing wrong with American, it's just the ee sound is more English to me, and the ye sound is more American. That's why I am asking, is that right, or nonsense?

OP posts:
elQuintoConyo · 18/07/2013 15:19

I've always presumed it is pronounced el-eyes-a.

Not sure about the 'too American' comment, would that be such a bad thing?

Having said that, I have taught English to a charming Spanish fellow called Kevin Costner de Jesus Grin

cantdoalgebra · 18/07/2013 15:20

If you call a child Eliza and then pronounce it E-lee-zah, that child will spend its entire life correcting people.

LongTailedTit · 18/07/2013 15:21

Eliza Doolittle = My Fair Lady = thoroughly British!

If you try to pronounce it El-ee-za you'll spend her whole life hearing it El-eye-za.

LongTailedTit · 18/07/2013 15:22

X-post cant !

FunnysInLaJardin · 18/07/2013 15:23

I always think of it as a very British names and also really like it. It was on our girls list

superdupermama · 18/07/2013 15:32

Thanks for your comments ladies. I didn't mean "american" in any negative way btw.

OP posts:
Choccyhobnob · 18/07/2013 15:52

Was going to say you don't get any more British than Eliza Doolittle! Don't think it's American at all!

shoobidoo · 18/07/2013 18:48

In German you'd pronounce Elise and Elisa/Eliza as EL-EEZ or EL-EEZA just like Elisabeth = El-EEZA-BETH, but I think most English speakers wouldn't.

twinklestar2 · 18/07/2013 19:52

I know an Aliza pn Eleeza, if you want an alternative spelling? she's Turkish.

squoosh · 18/07/2013 20:12

I've only ever heard this name pronounced El-eye-za and it always sounds very Victorian England to me.

El-ee-za would be a day to day headache, 'oh actually it's not pronounced the usual way it's pronounced . . . . . . '

forevergreek · 18/07/2013 20:14

Eliza- e-lye-za

ELISA- e-lee-sa

ShabbyButNotChic · 18/07/2013 21:04

I know a greek eliza (eh-lee-za)... She gets called e-ly-za

KnittedC · 18/07/2013 21:14

I know an Elysa pronounced the way you want it (El-ee-sah), how about that?

Zyngaling · 19/07/2013 18:47

Eliza doesn't sound American, but if you were expecting people to pronounce it eleeza, I think that'd be like pushing water uphill.

MissingMyMarbles · 19/07/2013 19:01

I know an Elisa, pronounced e-lee-sah. Would that work for you?

Alisvolatpropiis · 19/07/2013 23:40

It just is Ee-lie-sah isn't it?

I've never heard any British person pronounce it any other way.

TheMagicKeyCanFuckOff · 20/07/2013 17:27

I have always said El-ee-zuh.

mathanxiety · 20/07/2013 20:03

yy to Eliza Doolittle. I have actually never heard of any other pronunciation or the name Eliza. (Eh-lye-za) I would not consider that pronunciation anything but standard English and it is pronounced that way in America too but that is irrelevant. Americans pronounce Peter and Michael and Elizabeth, etc., just the same as Brits do after all.

I know an Irish-Italian Elisa (el-ee-sa)

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