Elyes or Elias

[Lavendertearoom]

Hi, my son has an Arabic background and my husband wants him to have the name Elyes or Illyas in Arabic pronounced EL-E-us (like Elliot but S on the end).

I’m not sure that works in the U.K , I think people will struggle to say it - would Elias pronounced E-Lie - us be better?

Many thanks

If you wish your DS's name to be pronounced E-Lie-us , ( emphasis on the "E", then Elias is most likely the spelling that English-speaking people would be more familiar with in pronouncing the name.

However, he may get El- lie-us instead of E- lie- us, at least that's how the name is pronounced that I'm familiar with.

The other spellings would likely cause confusion and many various pronunciations of your son's name in the U.K.

It's a nice name, btw, has a nice sound to it :)

Elias said E-lie-us would be less hassle in terms of spelling / pronunciation, and is often shortened to Eli, which I like. So it depends how important that is to you in comparison to using the more authentic Arabic version 😊

Why not spell it Iliyas as it's pronounced in Arabic . Beautiful name that was on my short list

I love Elias and have one myself. Definitely go with that name and pronunciation. Weirdly DH also wanted to name him Illyas which I said no to then came up with Elias!

We have had a few pronunciations of ill-e-ass which was annoying and quickly corrected as some people in the UK can’t be bothered to even try to pronounce a slightly different name! I think your DH’s preferences might be beyond some people.

I wouldn't know how to say Elyes. Ilyas is usually Il-y-as.

I think in the UK most would pronounce Ilyas as Ill-eee-as. But if you don't mind clarifying it for people then it's a lovely name. I actually think the El-ee-as is a nicer name, but just not how people are used to hearing it in the UK. Elias would be much easier in the sense that everyone would say it correctly.

Thank you for the replies, I actually prefer the sounding of Elyes - El e es but when I’ve told other people they think I’ve said Elliot 🥴🥴. I think we’ve just got to think what would be easier for him in the long run 😁

I know an Ilias. Beautiful name.

Note that the word Ileus (Ill-ee-us) means a bowel obstruction! Irrelevant, unless your child ever meets anyone working in a medical field. Similar to calling a child Melaena/Melena 😬

On 1st reading Elyes, I thought it was Elle-eese, a female name (like Elisse/Elise). If people are corrected though, they will eventually get it.

I think you should go with Elyse if you love it. People will get it once you correct them.

Alternatively there is Ellis which might be a bit more familiar and a similar sound

Elias