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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Pronunciation of Evelyn

95 replies

munchymoo · 12/04/2021 16:42

I have always pronounced this Ev-er-lyn but am aware that some people pronounce Eve-lyn. For those that have an Evelyn, how often do you find it is mispronounced?(however you choose to say it)

Trying to name baby DD, absolutely love this name, we would pronounce Ev-er-lyn, our surname is Head....if pronounced Eve-Lyn I’m worried it could sounds bad - am I overthinking it??

Getting stressed that DD has no name!!

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Santatizer · 12/04/2021 21:22

This is currently top of my list with the pronunciation Eev-Lin.

Starryskiesinthesky · 12/04/2021 21:22

Scottish and I’d say Ev-Lyn unless someone corrected me.

DinosaurDiana · 12/04/2021 21:25

We use different pronunciations of the same name to differentiate between two women in our family. One is pronounced Ev-lin, the other Eve-lin. Both spelt the same.

MsTSwift · 13/04/2021 07:24

Don’t do it op and others if there were a limit on use of names this one is full. My Eve mum friends (of which there are many 😁) admit they would have chosen differently if they had realised how common it is.

Yaty · 13/04/2021 07:28

I have an Evelyn. We pronounce it Eve-lyn as we preferred to and think its nicer. Other people sometimes say Ev-er-lyn or Ev-lin. It's not a big deal, we just correct them. Most people just call her Eve or Evie anyway .

bunnytheegghunter · 13/04/2021 08:13

I know 3 Evelyn's and they are all ever-lynn

GiveTheGirlAGun · 13/04/2021 08:37

I always think of Evelyn Waugh and his wife, Hevelyn and Shevelyn everytime I come across an Evelyn. I tend to wait until I've heard someone else pronounce it.

Mseddy · 13/04/2021 08:51

Evelyn is currently top of our list too and I would pronounce it ev-er-lin. People are right that it's not a unique name, but also the job I have means I get a fairly broad overview of the baby name trends in my region. It's not as popular as people are making out. It likely peaked 3 or 4 years ago causing school years with numerous eves in, however due to people having a good old "ooooh don't call her that, every man and his dog is called that" it's likely gone down in popularity a little. Its a beautiful name and I think it sounds fine with your surname, go for it

PollyThePony · 13/04/2021 08:54

Ev-el-in here.

I thought Eev-lin was the pronunciation of the male version, like Evelyn Waugh.

MsTSwift · 13/04/2021 09:07

There are so many lovely names why does everyone pick the same one?! Yes it’s nice enough but so are lots of other names!

ILoveShula · 13/04/2021 10:28

I don't like Evelyn however you say it.

Eve and Evie are nice. I only know 2 Eves in my age group.
I don't like Eva or Ava, or Ivy.

toffeebutterpopcorn · 13/04/2021 10:33

@Justmuddlingalong

I'm Scottish and pronounce it Ev-lin. Just to confuse things more.

Me too! A new woman started at work and this was her name. I asked her how she pronounced it and she said ‘whatever I don’t mind’. She would say Ev-a-lin . She was Filipino.

RuthW · 13/04/2021 12:22

I say Eve-lyn or ay a push Ev-lyn. I would never think of saying Ever-lyn

Violetlavenders · 13/04/2021 13:56

Ev eh lin 3 syllables

Seriouslymole · 13/04/2021 16:04

@Justmuddlingalong

I'm Scottish and pronounce it Ev-lin. Just to confuse things more.

I'm from the SW of England and would also pronounce it Ev-lin.

Sorry OP, not sure that helps. However, in most of life, people will pronounce it however they're introduced to you. So if you or your DD said "My name is Ever-lin" I would then pronounce it thus. It's rare someone will only see it written and then say it.

Changedname81 · 13/04/2021 16:38

I’d say Ev-Lin and I’m very very South UK (if it’s a regional thing)

My friend from Connecticut says Evuhlin and calls her daughter Ever for short, which should be naff but is actually really sweet.

Cindie943811A · 14/04/2021 17:10

Sorry OP butI also heard the evil in head thing.
I think life will be simpler if you went back to the drawing board and decided on a different name.

pigglepot · 14/04/2021 18:54

I don't think anyone would pronounce it Ev-er-Lyn it would either be Ev-lyn or Eev-Lyn

Violetlavenders · 14/04/2021 19:01

I agree. It can't be Ever-lin, there's no R!

Ev eh lyn or Eev eh lyn

howmanyhats · 14/04/2021 19:05

I really regret not giving DD a particular name as a middle name as I thought it sounded funny with our surname. It didn't and I really regret it now.

VanillaAndOrange · 14/04/2021 19:28

I've known more people who pronounce it Eve-lyn but I did know one Ev-lyn as a kid - she'd be in her 50s now.

I don't think it's as clear-cut as Eve-lyn is for males and Ev-lyn is for females. Eve-lyn has been used for both, although it's very dated for males now in the same way that Hilary is. Ev-lyn has possibly only been used for females.

I don't think either version sounds silly with Head.

People who are saying there's no R obviously have rhotic accents - it makes perfect sense to those of us who don't.

Umbivalent · 14/04/2021 19:30

Evil in head.

Happycat1212 · 14/04/2021 21:05

Eve Lyn

DrCoconut · 14/04/2021 21:19

To me eh is pronounced like a little kid telling you what elephant starts with but a slightly longer sound rather than a sharp "e". So to pronounce Evelyn as Ev-eh-Lin would be strange? I think regional variations in accent definitely affect how you describe pronunciation and how you say names too. To me it's Evlin, no eh, uh, er etc.

Stevearnottsbeard · 14/04/2021 21:35

It was my nan's name. Hers was pronounced eve-lyn. There was one in my sons class who pronounced it ever-lyn, used to wind me up, sounds very American to me

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