Eleanor and Elena - do you pronounce these differently?

[Sarasaywhat]

If so, how would you pronounce Elena?

I'd pronounce them more or less the same (Ellen-uh). Maybe Ellen-or for Eleanor.

El-EEN-A.

There's one I know who pronounces her name 'Eh-LANE-ah though.

Except it isn't always E-lay-nah as loads of people have pointed out. People who know an Elena who do not pronounce it like that. This thread is funny. People confidently stating they are 'completely different' when its clear that some people pronounce Elena the same as Eleanor. Anyway, at least it gives the OP an insight into a lifetime of mispronunciation & mis-spelling if she calls the kid Elena. Oh and people telling her she's not pronouncing her own name properly!

Agree with Scrump and others, but It’s also important to say where you’d put the emphasis.

Stress the first syllable in Eleanor, and the second in Elena.

Eleanor = Ellin - orr
Elena = Ellen-uh
Being Greek I know lots of Elena’s (and Eleni’s) we always pronounce it Ellen-uh. I didn’t realise it was could be pronounced as E-lay-na
stick with Eleanor most pp seem to agree on how to say this

Exactly as they are written:

Elena is “ell-ehn-ah”

Eleanor is "ell-en- noor”

It's simple imo

I stress the first syllable in both Elena and Eleanor.

Eleanor : Ell - a - nor

Elena : E - lean - a

Of course.
Eleanor- ElenOOR. Strong emphasis on the 'r'!
Elena- either Eleena or Elaina, I'd probably check with the person if I could, as both are fine. I'd go with Ellen/a if that is how the person pronounces it too.

Yes as they are 2 different names

Elena - would be Elaine-a

Eleanor - Ell-a-nor

I'm surprised that some people don't see how the NOR at the end of Eleanor is pronounced differently to the A in Elena?

@purpledahlias , many don't have rhotic accents, and will say or as uh, and will say -a as uh.

Loads of people don't say elea- NOR. Its just so, so, weird that people are insisting they do when people have told them they dont. Same with Elena. How many people have to tell you that they pronounce it the same as eleanor for you to believe them?

i I'm surprised that some people don't see how the NOR at the end of Eleanor is pronounced differently to the A in Elena?

For me it's because nearly everybody I've ever met called Eleanor preferred it pronounced with the unstressed A-like ending, and there are lots of other words with "or" at the end, like doctor, actor or vendor, where it is not emphasised at all.

You have a non-rhotic accent so@moonshinepoursthroughmywindow (lovely useename btw).
Many people have rhotic accents where an r at the end of words is always pronounced ( eg most Scottish or Irish accents).

there are lots of other words with "or" at the end, like doctor, actor or vendor, where it is not emphasised at all.

But surely you don't say docta, acta or venda instead of doctor, actor or vendor?

Non-rhotic accents (most accents in England) don't pronounce the r at the ends of words @purpledahlias You can hear the difference between non-rhotic (the British English speakers) and rhotic (the American speakers) in the attached link.

https://forvo.com/word/doctor/

I say all of those and so does anyone else with a London/South East accent.

@purpledahlias , But surely you don't say docta, acta or venda instead of doctor, actor or vendor?
No, but I say doctuh, actuh, or venduh.

Do you say doct-ort, act-orr, vend-orr? Were you trained at RADA?

I know an Elena which is pronounced like 'Helena' Bonham Carter, without the H. But my instinct seeing it written down would still be to say 'El AY ner'

Eleanor would be 'El en uh' in my accent.

In my accent:

Eleanor = EL-en-err (rhotic r)
Elena= either EL-en-ah or eh-LAY-nah

I say them exactly the same

Eleanor- Ellen- uh
Elena- E- lay- nuh
Elinor (welsh)- Elin- Nor