Eleanor to Eleanora, Elora or Eliora?

[LemonRobin]

We called our DD Eleanor but didn't realise what a popular name it is and she also just doesn't feel quite like an Eleanor. I have an incredibly common name paired with an incredibly common surname as does DH and would like something slightly more unique for my DD.

She hasn't been called anything except Ellie or endearments so changing the birth certificate wouldn't affect her.

How awful for your daughter! All those forms, when she's older, asking for previous names!
Stick with Eleanor. If she wants to change it when she's older then she can.
My DS had a common name, which was commonly shortened. He's changed it and now everything is in his new name with an unusual spelling. I'm one of the few people who call him by his birth name! He complains when he has forms to fill in but knows the extra is down to him!

Exactly this^^

If you're always going to call her Ellie, of which there are many thousands, either leave it or put Ellie on the bc.

Eliana or Eleni are nice alternatives but I wouldn’t change it unless you really love the new name more than Eleanor. Also if you continue to call her Ellie there are more of them than Eleanor’s so there wouldn’t be much point.

You can't change a birth certificate

Whilst I do love Elora, I would stick with your original choice. You picked Eleanor for a reason, you call her Ellie anyway and will no doubt continue to do so, so I don't see the point in causing her future hassles by changing her birth certificate.

Eleanor isn't that popular. It's not like you chose a top 10 name. Ellie no doubt feels really popular, as although the popularity of Ellie as a given name has decreased dramatically in recent years, many of the top 100 names can shorten to Ellie. I assume that many are still using this but opting to use a longer version on the birth certificate, like yourselves, which is why it appears to be sliding down the charts but is, in reality, still widely used.

My suggestion, if you want something slightly less popular, is to actually start calling her Eleanor rather than Ellie! If it really matters that is? If Ellie feels right for her, stick with it as who honestly cares how many other Ellies might be out there? She's the only one who matters to you.

If you're still going to call her Ellie, what does it matter which longer version is actually on her birth certificate? You really may as well stick with your original choice. Although I do like the suggestion of tweaking her nickname to Nell/Nellie instead. Nicknames can evolve over time, regardless of what is on the birth certificate.

You can. It's fairly simple up to age 12 months.

Eleanor is a classic name. It is elegant, classy and timeless with many different potential nicknames eg Ellie, Nell. It’s not that popular really. My only concern is that I don’t like the American pronunciation (ending in Nor), but I love the English version Ell- en- uh. I wouldn’t change it.

Just to curveball, one of my closest friends is Elouise, but goes by Ellie. Really beautiful name in my highly biased opinion!

Just to add I think the more common spelling of her name is Eloise, if that's preferable!

I'd be upset if my parents changed my name from Eleanor to Elora or Eliora. (Eleanor > Eleanora OK; wouldn't make much difference). However, I'd prefer Elinor to any of these. If you just want a name that shortens to Ellie, then how about Elise, Eloise, Elodie, Elisabeth, Elizabeth, Eliana, Elin, Eleni, Eleri, Elliott, Ellis, Isabel, Arabel, Mirabel, Gabrielle, Mirielle?

Elise ❤️

I think Eleanor is lovely and will stand the test of time much more than the others. I think Nell is great as a shortening of Eleanor and is much less common than Ellie. I'd pick Eleanora of those you have suggested. Also gives the option of Nora as a short name.

I wanted to go with Elinor -Yes, it's a traditional spelling not a made up version, but I thought it would constantly need spelling out to people. Turns out half the country can't spell Eleanor either!
I also love the French Alienor (but can be unfortunately shortened 🙄).
Elodie is lovely too.

I wanted to go with Elinor -Yes, it's a traditional spelling not a made up version, but I thought it would constantly need spelling out to people.

Isn't Elinor a well known spelling? I'd have thought both versions were equally well known. Elinor Dashwood, Sense and Sensibility. Elinor M. Brent-Dyer, author.

Eliana is just a long version of Ellie.
Eleni is nice for someone Greek, but will probably get Elainey instead of El-enny.

Having grown up with the Chalet Girls and Jane Austen, I thought so too! But having floated the spelling with family and friends, it seems not.

Eleanor is a beautiful name.
Eliana and Elana were on our original line list for DD but didn't make the short list.

Other more unusual names that could be shortened to Ellie: Elvira, Estelle or Joelle

Elena.

I don't think Eleanor is that popular. My daughter is Eleanor - there is only one other in her large primary school.

Eleanor is classic and ageless I think. You could call her Elle - officially or as a nickname. I have met an Eleanor professionally known as Nina.

Yep. Others all a bit Disney (out of their cultural contexts)

Eleanor is classic and elegant. Stick with it. Ellie is fine,

Eleanor is my favourite by a mile.

But don't call her Ellie if you don't want common. It's so bland and overused.

The full name Eleanor is lovely, or shorten it to Nell / Nellie, which is very cute.

Is that not just an accent thing?

Nit sure where you're from, but Eleanor does end in -nor. Bit just in America.

@newleafontheplantjohn , I know several people who say it as Ellen-OR. Most are EL-en-uh though. Both pronunciations are used in the UK.