Baby 10 days old and doubting our name choice

[OutOfSortsToday]

Before she was born we had a shortlist of 3 for a girl, when she arrived DH admitted one of them (my favourite) he just couldn't get on board with as a first name. That has become the middle name (Cecilia)

Of the other two options we were totally undecided but eventually went for Elise, a name we've always really liked.

We've now discovered that lots of people pronounce it Eh - leess (with second part as 'lease' like in leasehold). We had always thought it was Eh- leez, and we much prefer that.

We've found that almost everyone so far has pronounced it Eh - lease with a soft s.

1. are we wrong to pronounce it eh-leez?

2. should we change it if we're finding the different pronunciation a bit annoying? Maybe I'm overthinking it?

Please be gentle, I'm feeling pretty rotten physically after the birth and have found picking her name really stressful from the off.

I've only ever heard it pronounced Eh-lease.
You could change it to Eloise,as previously mentioned. I think it's a lovely name.

I would pronounce it eh- leeze I think that is the European way. My friend is french and her daughter is Elise pronounced as you and I do. My middle name is Anneliese after my German grandma and it's pronounced with the eeze sound. I feel like the lease sound is the Americanised version. A bit like Americans spell cosy with a z not an s.
I would keep it it's a lovely name.

I agree with Cotswoldmama. Keep the name.

Both pronunciations are nice and it's not going to make a big difference to your DD's life if some people call her 'Eh-lease' rather than 'Eh-leez' when they first meet her. Hopefully, all the important people in her life will take the trouble to learn how she likes her name to be pronounced.

Elize you’ll just get people wanting to say Eliza

Change it to Elize?

The Elize's I know pronounce it leez.

I’ve always pronounced it Eh-leeze. It’s a beautiful name, I’d stick with it in the original spelling.

But then I have a 3-week old Elowen and the internet is similarly divided on how to pronounce it so have resigned myself (and her) to correcting people…

Another Eh-lease here.

I’m not sure about Elize. I think most people would pronounce that as to rhyme with eyes.

I also know two Elises, both say it eh- lease.

But your pronunciation makes sense of the rhyme which has always puzzled me: Anna Elise, she jumped with surprise!

@DuneFan, that’s a different pronunciation again! OP likes Eh- leez, to rhyme with Louise not surprise.

The two women called Elise that I know pronounce it Eh lease as well. Maybe Eloise would be better?

@MatildaJayne oh I see! Oops!

It’s a lovely name but be prepared to permanently be correcting people on your preferred pronunciation.

Elise - Eh lees

Elize - Eh leez

So I'd change it if you want the latter pronunciation.

Personally I much prefer Cecilia.

Elize to me would look like eh-lies

I automatically pronounce it Eleeze

You can pronounce it how you like but the vast majority will pronounce it Eh lease.

I know someone just called Celia, if you wanted an alternative to Cecilia. I also love Cecily.

I would pronounce it Eh-Leeze too like Beethoven’s Für Elise.

It’s a beautiful name

Beethoven’s Für Elise is pronounced Für Eh-Lee-se. 3 syllables.

I know an adult Elise and everyone pronounces it 'eeze', never heard anyone say it with a soft S.

I would pronounce it Eh-leez :) I like it just keep correcting until people get it.

I once asked a neighbour the name of her baby and she said Amelia. I said "Amelia is lovely" and she just said matter of factly "Emelia". They sounded so similar the way she said them but I made sure to lodge it in my head if was with an "eh" at the start. It's no problem to correct people

I would pronounce it your preferred way, following the English pronunciation of Louise or Eloise.

You could spell it Elize? I think s lot of people would mis-read it as Eliza though.

I'd pronounce it Eh-lease, as in A Perfect Day Elise by PJ Harvey. It was on my list 😃

I would have said Eh-lees too but thats because I know an Elise that pronounces it that way. I
really wouldn't change a name you love just because of the pronunciation. Lots of names are pronounced two different ways, people will get used to your way. My son's name is mispronounced on the first attempt every time, but one correction and everyone knows the next time, it's no big deal.
If it bothers you too much, spell it Elize.

I’d change it. She’s going to spend her whole life correcting people.

Have you managed to decide yet @OutOfSortsToday?