Pronunciation of Eleanor

[SherbertLemons]

Just that really.

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

My daughter is one (UK born). Spelled Eleanor

We pronounce it Ellen-uh.

The only people to pronounce it Ellen-or have been a New Zealand friend and an Australian teacher.

So it seems there are very definitely geographical differences.

If I wanted it to be pronounced Ellen-or, I would have spelled it with an E at the end eg. Eleanore.

@RaraRachael

Where do people come from who pronounce Charlotte as Shar-luht?

I'm from the SE and I've only ever heard Charlotte pronouced as Shar-luht, including when they talk about Princess Charlotte on the tv. I've never heard anyone pronounce it Shar - LOTT with the emphasis on the end syllable.

Charlotte rhymes with scarlet, surely? Never heard it with an -ott sound at the end.

@RaraRachael

Where do people come from who pronounce Charlotte as Shar-luht?

Are there people who pronounce it any other way?

Its a common name where I live and in my family. Everyone I know pronounces it

Ella-ner

And Charlotte is Shar-Lot

@SecretKeeper1

Charlotte rhymes with scarlet, surely? Never heard it with an -ott sound at the end.

@SecretKeeper1

huh? of course it's - lott.
Where do you think Lottie comes from?

huh? of course it's - lott. Where do you think Lottie comes from?

Never heard it pronounced like that and I know a few Charlottes. The royals don’t pronounce it with -ott like shallot either so it’s not a regional thing.

huh? of course it's - lott.
Where do you think Lottie comes from?

The same place as Betty. And all those people who say Elizabett

@SecretKeeper1

Charlotte rhymes with scarlet, surely? Never heard it with an -ott sound at the end.

This!

I say Charlotte as Sharlot and Scarlet as Scarlit

Never ever heard Char-lott either! They even say Char-luhtt on TV in all circumstances I've ever heard.

[quote TuftyMarmoset]**@OhGingleBells* I would assume Ella-nuh. To rhyme with Helena*

But Helena can be Helen-uh or Hel-ay-nuh to rhyme with Elena 🤣[/quote]
Or Hel-ee-na, like the island St Helena. There have also been threads on here with several debated different pronunciations of Elena, so that's not clear cut either!

I am from the Midlands originally and would instinctively pronounce Eleanor to rhyme with melon-uh and Charlotte as Shar-lut (probably not communicated that well but I wouldn't emphasise the -lotte).

I know one young Charlotte whose mother emphasise the "lotte", but every other Charlotte I have known is more like "sharlet", rhyming with scarlet.

My ex NDN (French) always pronounced her daughter's name as Ell- ay- ah- nor.

Char-LOTT sounds a bit affected, unless French. I've only ever known Sharlets.

Eleanor I'd pronounce ella-nurr. I hate the ella-nore sound.

[quote TuftyMarmoset]**@OhGingleBells* I would assume Ella-nuh. To rhyme with Helena*

But Helena can be Helen-uh or Hel-ay-nuh to rhyme with Elena 🤣[/quote]
it can also be hel-ee-na

I'd assume Charlotte rhymes with harlot unless she's v posh. I doubt the princess rhymes with harlot

I can imagine Charlotte sounding like Shar-litt but not Shar-lutt

Ellen-a

El-en-uh here. Always lived in the south. El-a-nor always sounds such an effort to me!

All the Eleanors I know pronounce it like 'Ellen-uh'. Never heard anyone pronounce it to rhyme with snore.

Similarly all the british Charlotte's I know are Shar-lut (to rhyme with hut or tut). Never heard anyone say Shar-lot with the lot pronounced like the lot in parking lot.

Eleanor is a lovely name OP, but is pronounced quite a bit differently depending on location.

In American accents (the ones I'm familiar with, at least) the last syllable is pronounced nore, to rhyme with snore.
In Irish accents, it's usually Ellen-er as a pp said, with the r being pronounced.
Many English accents don't pronounce the r.

If the default pronunciation where you live matches your preferred pronunciation you'll be fine, but you'll always come across those who say it differently.

And if your daughter moves, then most people in her new location may pronounce Eleanor differently to her, as has happened to a pp. This will happen even in English speaking locations, the US, Ireland etc. It depends on how much this bothers you, I suppose.

@MajorCarolDanvers

And Charlotte is Shar-Lot

Agree re Charlotte. Shar lot . Who says lut at the end rather than lot ? I don’t think I have ever heard that. I say something most like Elen -or . I am welsh .

Some examples of Eleanor being pronounced -

forvo.com/word/eleanor