Elias and shortenings..

[justthinkingagain]

I love the name Elias and we are set on this. I pronounce it El-lie-us. I quite like the shortening Eli, rather than El, but wondered if that would mean I’d need to pronounce Elias Ee-lie-us? I’m not against this pronounciation it just doesn’t feel right in my head yet as I’m used to the other?

My own name is pronounced differently by other nationalities but once I've introduced myself or corrected them once people always get the pronunciation right Elias would be similar

@ButterRose , that's your name, and it might not be true for all names.
If OP is in a non-multicultural part of England, then the pronunciation won't be an issue.

Love this name

I know an Elias and afaik he is known as Elias by all, no shortenings

Elias..... Lias..... Lie......

Eli is too unnatural unless you intentional call him that from the start but a naturally occurring shortening will happen as above

It would be Elias on the birth certificate but would call him Eli from the get go too, Eli just seems to suit more for a baby but I love the name Elias and think as an adult they’d prefer to have that option than not. As long as it’s not totally weird to use both we’ll go for it!

Its totally fine and a nice name,
I know an Elliot who goes by Eli and thats not the same sound at all but works fine

I don't see how you get from Elliot or Elias to anything other than Ell or Elly..?

There's no EE sound

You could say the same for Elijah, you don’t pronounce the E as harshly in the full name as you do in the common shortening of Eli?

Sometime names get shortened by using part of the name instead of the whole, but pronouncing that part as if it were stand-alone - hence Eli (EE-lie) for Eliot, Elias, Elijah, Elian, Elizabeth. Traditional name/diminutive pairs sometimes vary sounds similarly (Katharine/Kate, Michael/Mick, Margaret/Margie, etc.) I don't see a problem with your choice as long as you're consistent and don't mind correcting pronunciation/spelling if need be.

I've never heard Elizabeth shortened to Eli (Ee-lie)..?!

Me neither. Eliza but not Eli.