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Original poster

Ophelia, Matilda or Eleonora?

32 replies

Momadream · 13/05/2018 00:37

Which one do you like and if you like all, what is your order of preference?

My name is Elena is Eleonora too similar?

We have Spanish-Greek heritage and live in the U.K.

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balljuggla · 13/05/2018 00:47

All beautiful names! We had Ophelia on our list for DD, however I just kept thinking about how tragic the character is in Hamlet which put me off a bit..!

SleepingStandingUp · 13/05/2018 00:51

Ophelia, its just a lovely name.
Matilda is pretty, I know a couple of baby Matilda's so it's quite "in"
Eleonora is lovely but too similar to yours unless she's Nora from a young age in which case it trumps Matilda but Ophelia gets my first vote regardless

Original poster
Momadream · 13/05/2018 00:53

Thank you balljuggla, don’t mind the Hamlet connotations... it also means help or Benefits in Greek which is a nice meaning.
If we chose it, we will pronounce it O-PHE-lee-a as in Greek and Spanish though don’t mind the O-FEE-lee-a pronunciation in English either

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Original poster
Momadream · 13/05/2018 00:57

Thank you SleepingStandingUp. Such a shame on Eleonora. Love it but did not want to shorten it to Nora...
Wish my name didn’t matter in this choice... is the similarity too much you think?

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Petitepamplemousse · 13/05/2018 01:12

I think Eleanora is the best and it’s very sweet that it’s similar to yours IMO.
Ophelia is such a sappy character it would put me off.

SleepingStandingUp · 13/05/2018 01:22

If we chose it, we will pronounce it O-PHE-lee-a as in Greek and Spanish though don’t mind the O-FEE-lee-a pronunciation in English either I literally cannot tell the difference in the sounds of the two...

Do you pronounce yours e-la-na or E-lay-na? Will you shown shorten Eleonora?
I personally think its too close but then my DH and FIL have same name and same shortening - think Thomas and Tom

Evangelinee · 13/05/2018 01:27

Ophelia ☺️

Original poster
Momadream · 13/05/2018 01:33

SleepStandingUp I pronounce it e-LE-na. The e is LE is like the e in pet
I do not plan to shorten Eleonora, at least not in the family and don’t mind defending that choice 😉 Know you only do that in the beginning and people know what you expect...

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SleepingStandingUp · 13/05/2018 01:41

People will adjust. If you like it best, do it. At least its EleOnora not EleAnora.

We're hopeless, DS was shortened within hours but he was very small and very veey poorly and he needed something cuter and affectionate to metaphorically wrap around him

Sophronia · 13/05/2018 04:41

Eleonora

AnyaMoondial · 13/05/2018 04:48

Matilda is my favourite, I really love it.

MeltingSnowflake · 13/05/2018 04:49

Ophelia & Matilda are both on my list - they're lovely!

olderthanyouthink · 13/05/2018 05:50

I like Leonora...

RedDwarves · 13/05/2018 05:55

Matilda.

I like Ophelia, but it is heavily linked with Hamlet, and I have heard it a fair bit (likely due in part to the Lumineers song), so I wouldn't be surprised to see it rise steadily in popularity.

Matilda is already popular, if that matters to you.

I like Eleonora too. Probably prefer Leonora.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 13/05/2018 06:18

Matilda.

felicitythemangyfox · 13/05/2018 07:53

I had always thought Eleonora was pronounced Elenora, in which case yes, too similar to Elena, but maybe I'm wrong?

marmitecrumpets · 13/05/2018 08:12

Matilda

BB2018 · 13/05/2018 08:33

Ophelia, but love them all! So pretty!

pilates · 13/05/2018 08:40

Matilda

ElizaDontlittle · 13/05/2018 08:47

I'm struggling with what you mean in the differences in pronunciation of Ophélia?
I'm afraid the thought of teenage teasing along the 'I feel ya' lines would put me off.

I like Matilda and I love Eleonora but I think it probably is a bit too similar unfortunately...

rainingcatsanddog · 13/05/2018 09:03

Does O-phe-Lee-ah sounds like O-failure ? That would put me off if living in the UK.

Original poster
Momadream · 13/05/2018 10:05

Ophelia in Greek and Spanish is like o-PHE (e as in pet)-lee-a

Eleonora is Not like Elenora is pronounced as you see it so the o is also pronounced.

Matilda I like but feel it is popular ...

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mumsiedarlingrevolta · 13/05/2018 10:07

My vote is Eleonora.

Absolutely love it-if DS1 had been a girl (nearly 22 years ago) this was his name!!

Its so pretty and classic-nice nod to you as well in it but not too close

Cosmoa · 13/05/2018 10:46

Ophelia for sure Smile

chezmk1988 · 13/05/2018 12:51

Eleonora is best