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Baby names

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Original poster

Eliane NOT Elaine

25 replies

LifeofByron · 15/04/2009 15:44

we named our DD "Eliane" but I'm now having second thoughts. I still think it's a beautiful name but I hadn't counted on how literally everyone would automatically read her name as "Elaine" because that's what they are expecting to see. I'm now worried that we have consigned poor DD to a lifetime of saying "no, it's not Elaine, it's ELIANE". I've read all the threads about changing names in the first 12 months (we're at about 6 months now) but I know DH will not want to do this. Does anyone have any ideas for a shortened form of Eliane that we could maybe start using instead. Then at least she'll have options if the Eliane/Elaine thing drives her crazy. I'm not keen on Eli (I know, I know, it's the obvious shortening so why did I pick this name in the first place??). Everyone is calling her Eli but I'd love to have an alternative, even if it's only me that uses it. By way of background, I really wanted to call her Eliza, but DH vetoed. Somehow we then settled on Eliane...

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wastingmyeducation · 15/04/2009 15:53

I would presume a typo if I saw it written down, sorry.

Perhaps Anne?

angelene · 15/04/2009 15:54

My sister's friend is called Elianne with the double n if that's any use.

It's a beautiful name though, really lovely.

lynniep · 15/04/2009 16:05

I agree with angelene. I think spelling it with two 'n's doesn't lose the prettiness of the name but should clear up any confusion (of course it won't always, but it wont be quite so easy to make the mistake)
Go oh, give her an extra letter

everGreensleeves · 15/04/2009 16:05

Leanne?

everGreensleeves · 15/04/2009 16:07

Lilian
Liliana
Ilana
Ilona
Ellie-Anne (I'm not big on hyphens, but some people love them...)

midnightexpress · 15/04/2009 16:08

Was going to say add an n but angelene's beaten me to it!

FWIW, I love Eliza.

SoupDragon · 15/04/2009 16:09

Adding an extra N improves it no end. It does look like a typing mistake.

stillstanding · 15/04/2009 16:09

I would also presume a typo alas but only because I have never heard of the name before.

How do you pronounce it? Elly-anne?

Mung · 15/04/2009 16:12

Its a beautiful name, keep it. Surely once people have been told then they get it right. Adding an extra n, as suggested may help a bit.

noddyholder · 15/04/2009 16:13

Is it ellie anne?

everGreensleeves · 15/04/2009 16:14

Oriane is a nice unusual french name too....

juneybean · 15/04/2009 16:15

Could call her Anne or Eli for short?

Original poster
LifeofByron · 15/04/2009 16:43

oops sorry the DD in question has just been feeding and i'm not very good at combining that with typing. re the questions on pronunciation, at the risk of sounding very poncey, it's a french name so you say it "eli-ahn" rather than "eli-anne". that's why i'm not sure whether adding the extra "N" will help ifyswim. everGreensleeves - I love your name suggestions (except for ellie-anne as I'm not big on hyphens either). the other alternative I've considered is adding an "A" at the end (Eliana) which is the Spanish/Italian variation. the only problem with that is that we have a 3 syllable surname that ends in an "a" sound as well, so I had decided that it's a bit too much of a mouthful.

perhaps if I'm genuinely feeling uncertain about the name I should test the waters with DH about making a change. i still love eliza (am with midnightexpress on that) but DH has a set against it. I call her "Rose" in my head as she has the most beautiful pink and white colouring with bright blue eyes. ironically, DH at one stage wanted to call her "Rosamunde" but I vetoed as too prissy (no offence intended to anyone). I now kind of wish I'd gone for that. the problem is, I can imagine that my DH is going to say that I'm being ridiculous and it's a nice name and we should stick with it- but he's not the one taking DD to all the things like GP appointments, HVs, paeds, playgroups, classes etc which is what has made me realise that the vast majority of people do read DD's name as a typing mistake and we then have a repetitive conversation about how it's not Elaine it's..... aaargh.

OP posts:
everGreensleeves · 15/04/2009 16:44

Hoe about Elodie, or Eilidh?

I love baby name threads

Original poster
LifeofByron · 15/04/2009 16:57

Elodie is lovely. how do you pronounce Eilidh? (I'm Gaelically challenged)

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everGreensleeves · 15/04/2009 16:57

Ay-lee

a MNer has one, I really like it

pastapestofor6 · 15/04/2009 17:01

you pronounce iT EI-LISH [Eilidh]

Original poster
LifeofByron · 15/04/2009 17:01

that's very pretty. I do wish I'd gone through this process before DD was born...

OP posts:
everGreensleeves · 15/04/2009 17:02

really? I think expat said her dd's name was pronouned ay-lee... not certain though

pastapestofor6 · 15/04/2009 17:03

oh gosh greensleeves your right!,Ihave been mispronouncing it

midnightexpress · 15/04/2009 17:07

It's definitely Ay-lee - my cousin has one.

Leannabanana · 15/04/2009 20:00

just add another 'n'. Elianne - that stops it looking like Elaine. its a pretty name tho. Or Eliana - thats pretty....x

FairySparkles · 15/04/2009 20:35

Nel is a nice shorter version - often short for Eleanor?? But then my dd is called Ellie so perhaps we have a difference of opinion in names! lol!

apostrophe · 15/04/2009 22:03

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Original poster
LifeofByron · 15/04/2009 23:32

I like Nel FairySparkles, it's a good thought so thank you. Lol at the Jhon and Micheal - my FIL still uses one of those spellings for my DH, 5 years after we married. It's not that hard surely- but that's another story

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