Pronunciation of Eleanor

[SherbertLemons]

Just that really.

How does everyone pronounce this name and what do you think of it?

Ellen-ore

@RaraRachael the Midlands like me? I say Ellen-a and Shar-luht. Unless specifically told that it's Ellen-OR or Shar-LOT.

Mind you, my niece is called Evelyn. Her (Yorkshire-born) mum says Eve-lyn, her dad says Ev-lyn.

Thank god I didn’t go with Eleanor (which I’ve never heard pronounced anything other than Eleanor Rigby). Eleanor (to rhyme with snore) is awful. I had no idea so many people would say it like that!!

I don't mind, it differs with accents. I tend to say Elen-ore but my DM says Elen-uh. Just don't spell it Elena, perfectly lovely name but different from Eleanor!

To be honest I would avoid choosing any name where you and your child will constantly be having battles with the rest of the world over pronunciation (or spelling)! That will very soon get exhausting and annoying
I agree, especially if you're someone who will get annoyed at people with different accents pronouncing it differently.

Most people seem to accept Naomi can be pronounced nigh-OH-me or nay-OH-me, but someone I knew pronounced it NAY-uh-me with the NAY very strong. They spent ages complaining that people didn't read 'Naomi' and instantly think NAYuhme.

It's a great name.

Spelled Eleanor, I would pronounce it El-ə-nə where the vowel in the second two syllables is the neutral schwa ə and all three syllables are about the same weight rather than any of them being stressed.

It can be spelled Elinore if you want the vowels to be pronounced more emphatically.

I just googled and it seems Ellen-uh is the English version, Ellen-ore is American. Generally.

Eleanor (to rhyme with snore) is awful

I agree. It ruins a nice name.

@Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow

The beatles song eleanor rigby....sing that to yourself. That is how to pronounce it

I am an Eleanor and this is the usual pronunciation I get (and is how I would introduce myself)

VienneseWhirligig I think a lot of it down to regional accents. My mother had a friend called Charlotte which was pronounced Char-lit.

My friend is called Evelyn and where we live it's always pronounced with an Evv sound not Eve. It would be boring if everybody spoke the same

Love your username btw!

EL-en-uh. I think it’s a nice name but I don’t like it being shortened to Ellie. I’d probably keep it to a middle name for that reason personally.

Elle En Ore

I just googled and it seems Ellen-uh is the English version, Ellen-ore is American. Because the r is just thrown in for looks?

Ell-en-uh

I think Ell-en-OR is a more American or old fashioned way of saying it.

Both are valid and I am sure that people called Eleanor hear both regularly.

The one I know is pronounced Ella-nore to rhyme with door. She goes by Ellie anyway though. If I was reading it in any other context I would assume Ella-nuh. To rhyme with Helena.

If you want the version to rhyme with door I would see about a different spelling. Maybe with an e on the end?

I think it’s a nice name but chances are she’ll end up Elle or Ellie or even Ella. It’s one of those names that people want to shorten for some reason.

Ell-en-uh

Not what you asked for but what about Elaina as another option? Very pretty and a little bit more unusual than Eleanor and with less pronunciation issues!

Reminds me of my late DM who never managed to remember the spelling and insisted on addressing my cousin's birthday cards 'to Helen-or'.

When I read it I think Ella-nore but around here no one would pronounce it that way. Its definitely Ell-en-uh here.

@eveningbubble

I just googled and it seems Ellen-uh is the English version, Ellen-ore is American. Because the r is just thrown in for looks?

Since when did English pronunciation ever get hung up on what letters were in the word?

@OhGingleBells I would assume Ella-nuh. To rhyme with Helena

But Helena can be Helen-uh or Hel-ay-nuh to rhyme with Elena 🤣

Like in the song Lady Eleanor

Elle a nor

I know two
One is
El an ah
Other is
El a nor

I have heard

Elle A n

My experience is that Eleanor is pronounced Ellie … even if you’re adamant your dd will never be called that.