SproutMamaK Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 We're currently expecting baby #4, our first girl. We've always intended to call her Eliana. The name thread has me thinking... how would you pronounce that name if you saw it? Ell - ee - anne - uh?Ell - ee - awn - uh? Something else?We're planning to go with the second pronounciation, but will likely end up calling her Ella most of the time anyway. Is there another way to spell this that would make it clear it should be pronounced the second way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I would say El-ee-AH-nuh unless told to pronounce it otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Ell - ee - anne - uh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt. Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Ell-ee-A-nuh is my natural 'first try' pronunciation, with a strong long a. (Though I could easily be corrected to your preference, which seems fine with the spelling too.) For your preference to my first try, perhaps the spelling Elianna might work slightly better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnIslandGirl Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Ee-lie (to not tell the truth)-Anne-uh To me, it sounds like a feminine version of the boys name Eli (short for Elias). Therefore in my mind your spelling has me saying the boys nickname Eli with the girls Anna tacked on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loowit Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Ell - ee- anne -uh unless told otherwise. I think that what people think of initially would vary a lot by region you live in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripley Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Eh-lee-ah-na is how I'd say it. But it's a common name in my ex-husband's culture, and that's how they pronounce it. I think if it weren't for people I know through him, my first stab might be: Elle-ee-ah-nah. A subtle difference, but still present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ailaena Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I said A-lee-awn-uh (long a up front). A good way to get people to say it like you want would be to spell it Elliahna, but that just looks silly :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dory Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Ell-ee-aw-nuh would be the choice if I thought the parents were not from an anglophone background, and Ell-ee- anne-uh if it was anyone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I would probably not say it until I heard the parents say it. In my head, it would be Ell-ee-ann-uh. And that's why I named my daughters Karen and Sarah. :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I think it's one of those that go either way. She'll have to correct some people no matter what. I have a name with the "an" sound and get asked how to pronounce it, especially now that our area has a larger Hispanic population. It's never bothered me. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThatHomeschoolDad Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I read that as "Elly-annah" shorter on the first syllable, with a second stress on the a. Nicely euro-ish. But short version to me would be Eli, one l, not 2, which is cool, but might look like a boys name. I still kile Eli. Had a student named Chantal years ago and she was called Cha with a soft ch "sha." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrookValley. Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Ell-ee-ah-nuh. My brain can't wrap around any other way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I have a friend named Eliane and we call her Eli (pronounced Elly). That said, I would pronounce your baby's name as Eh-lee-AH-nah, and opposed to Eh-lee-AH-nee like my friend. :-) ETA: Btw, she gets called Elaine a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meriwether Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I would use the Spanish pronunciation for the "liana", but I'd cheat on the "E" and not use quite a long a sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meriwether Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I love the name, btw. We are expecting, too, and it would be on my short list for a girl. Dh isn't as fond of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I would assume the second pronunciation unless told otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Eh-lee-AH-nah would be my first guess. If you wanted a short "a" in the 3rd syllable, I would spell it Elianna with 2 n's. I have met a few EE-lee-ah-nah's who were named after a dad or other male relative Eli. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 elly-ah-nuh. Elly like belly. Ah like aunt. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I would say Ell-ee-ahn-uh. I love that name, btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Another vote for Ell-ee-ahn-uh. But I know several young girls with this name and this pronunciation.... Anne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Ell - ee - anne - uh This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Ah like aunt. FYI, most Americans pronounce "aunt" to rhyme with "pant" rather than "haunt" or "gaunt". I personally don't (grew up near Boston) but I'm very much in the minority on that pronunciation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 FYI, most Americans pronounce "aunt" to rhyme with "pant" rather than "haunt" or "gaunt". I personally don't (grew up near Boston) but I'm very much in the minority on that pronunciation. For me, aunt doesn't rhyme with gaunt, it rhymes with can't. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I would go with pronunciation #2 until you told me otherwise. However, it has taken me years to say my friend's daughter's name Bree-awe-nuh instead of Bree-aaaa-nuh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penny_P Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Ell-ee-ah-nuh. My brain can't wrap around any other way. Ditto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I would probably not say it until I heard the parents say it. In my head, it would be Ell-ee-ann-uh. And that's why I named my daughters Karen and Sarah. :laugh: There's a lot to be said for names that are easily recognized, pronounced, and spelled. :) When I was thinking of names for my ds, it was very important to me that he not have to spell his name or repeat it multiple times every time he met someone new. It's a nuisance to have to do that all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I immediately think Ellie-awn-uh....which is the one you said you were going for, right? I'm so excited for you!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter's Moon Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Ell - ee - awn - uhh is my first thought upon seeing the name. I love Eliana, btw! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klmama Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I've only heard it pronounced with a long a in the first syllable - A-lee-ah-nuh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannah Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 E-leeah-nuh (E like the name of the letter) Here it is more common as an Afrikaans name, so that is the way it would be pronounced. Karen also has two pronunciations here, Car-in (as in the vehicle and the word in) or Care-un Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 There's a lot to be said for names that are easily recognized, pronounced, and spelled. :) When I was thinking of names for my ds, it was very important to me that he not have to spell his name or repeat it multiple times every time he met someone new. It's a nuisance to have to do that all the time. Exactly what I think when I name my kids. My sister named her son Aloysius. She says that only about 5% of people say his name correctly when reading it and only about 5% of people can write it correctly when they hear it!! Usually when they write it, it ends up something like Alawishus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter's Moon Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Exactly what I think when I name my kids. My sister named her son Aloysius. She says that only about 5% of people say his name correctly when reading it and only about 5% of people can write it correctly when they hear it!! Usually when they write it, it ends up something like Alawishus. Yay, I got the correct pronunciation before I saw it spelled phonetically. Gold star? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Ell - ee - awn - uh? I know several people with daughters named this and they all pronounce it El-ee-ah-nuh, so similar to this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Elle ee ON ah. So I guess you could shorten it to Elle, Ellie, Ann, Anna, Awnna.... Lots of options! (Mind sharing the middle name options? :-) ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Karen also has two pronunciations here, Car-in (as in the vehicle and the word in) or Care-un In addition to the above, I also get Keh-rin (a bit different than Care-un), something approximating Cairn, and, from all my father's family, Kay-run (with a drawn out long "a" and heavy emphasis on the first syllable). I don't think there's a name around that someone won't find a way to mispronounce, but some lend themselves more that way than others. Eh-lee-AH-na Around here (moderate southern US drawl), "aw" sounds a lot like "ah-o" with a very broad short a combined with a long o. When I see it with the ''aw" in my head it sounds like Elly-(ah-o)-nuh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SproutMamaK Posted January 23, 2014 Author Share Posted January 23, 2014 Elle ee ON ah. So I guess you could shorten it to Elle, Ellie, Ann, Anna, Awnna.... Lots of options! (Mind sharing the middle name options? :-) ) I think we're going to be going with Ella as a nickname; we have a family member who sometimes goes by Ellie, so I think Ella it is. Plus I think it's cute, lol. All our middle name options are names in honour of various people... the problem is, there are so few girls in both our families that almost everyone is still waiting to have a baby girl named after them in some way, lol, which makes it a hard choice. After MIL - Mary (her name) or Marie (because Mary sounds a bit plain next to Eliana) After my Mom and sister, who have similar names - Jenna After my deceased sister - Brenda After my best friend's baby who passed away last year - Sophia. Right now we're leaning towards Marie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Eh-lee-ah-na is how I'd say it. But it's a common name in my ex-husband's culture, and that's how they pronounce it. I think if it weren't for people I know through him, my first stab might be: Elle-ee-ah-nah. A subtle difference, but still present. I would say and spell it the way you plan to, because it's common where I am from. I have seen it with double letters here or there, but that looks wrong to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I think we're going to be going with Ella as a nickname; we have a family member who sometimes goes by Ellie, so I think Ella it is. Plus I think it's cute, lol. All our middle name options are names in honour of various people... the problem is, there are so few girls in both our families that almost everyone is still waiting to have a baby girl named after them in some way, lol, which makes it a hard choice. After MIL - Mary (her name) or Marie (because Mary sounds a bit plain next to Eliana) After my Mom and sister, who have similar names - Jenna After my deceased sister - Brenda After my best friend's baby who passed away last year - Sophia. Right now we're leaning towards Marie. I like Marie best with Eliana. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I like Marie best out of all the choices. It flows best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 After MIL - Mary (her name) or Marie (because Mary sounds a bit plain next to Eliana)After my Mom and sister, who have similar names - Jenna After my deceased sister - Brenda After my best friend's baby who passed away last year - Sophia. Would your friend like for you to do this? I ask because I am very over-protective of the name of my daughter that died. I realize this isn't how everyone feels in this situation, but if you don't know your friend would be thrilled, I advise against it. If anyone close to me gave their daughter my daughter's name (intentionally, not unwittingly), I would inwardly be in agony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 We're currently expecting baby #4, our first girl. We've always intended to call her Eliana. The name thread has me thinking... how would you pronounce that name if you saw it? Ell - ee - anne - uh? Ell - ee - awn - uh? Something else? We're planning to go with the second pronounciation, but will likely end up calling her Ella most of the time anyway. Is there another way to spell this that would make it clear it should be pronounced the second way? I would pronounce it just as your intention. Very pretty name, don't change anything about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I think we're going to be going with Ella as a nickname; we have a family member who sometimes goes by Ellie, so I think Ella it is. Plus I think it's cute, lol. All our middle name options are names in honour of various people... the problem is, there are so few girls in both our families that almost everyone is still waiting to have a baby girl named after them in some way, lol, which makes it a hard choice. After MIL - Mary (her name) or Marie (because Mary sounds a bit plain next to Eliana) After my Mom and sister, who have similar names - Jenna After my deceased sister - Brenda After my best friend's baby who passed away last year - Sophia. Right now we're leaning towards Marie. I'd go with Brenda, not because it sounds better (Marie sounds the best to my ear), but because if everyone is gunning for the baby to have their name, no one will complain about you choosing Brenda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyerin Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I actually know five little girls with this name, with slight spelling variations (3 Eliana, 1 Elianna, 1 Ellianna). All five pronounce it the same, though-- El-ee-AH-na. Most of them go by Ellie. I like it! Lovely name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splash Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 My younger dd was going to be Eliana, we actually started with that name. We wanted her to be called el-LEE-ah-na I will say that her name got mangled continually, we got every way you can imagine and some that were truly awful. People also shortened it to Ellie without asking or thinking. We ended up changing our minds because it bothered me to have her name continually mangled. Sometimes I wish I'd stuck it out as I think it is beautiful and I like the meaning. We ended up with a short variation of the name which ironically people still can't pronounce. She loves her name and doesn't mind correcting people and often goes by a nickname that isn't related anyway. As for middle name I think Eliana Mary is pretty but I'd choose the person you'd like to honor and go with that one. All work fine with the first name choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomandlorih Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 We're currently expecting baby #4, our first girl. We've always intended to call her Eliana. The name thread has me thinking... how would you pronounce that name if you saw it? Ell - ee - anne - uh? Ell - ee - awn - uh? Something else? We're planning to go with the second pronounciation, but will likely end up calling her Ella most of the time anyway. Is there another way to spell this that would make it clear it should be pronounced the second way? Ell-ee-ah-nuh My friends have an adorable little pixie of an Eliana and they call her Ellie. Congrats on a little girl.. They are the so fun! =D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 For me, aunt doesn't rhyme with gaunt, it rhymes with can't. L And can't is pronounced carnt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SproutMamaK Posted January 25, 2014 Author Share Posted January 25, 2014 Would your friend like for you to do this? I ask because I am very over-protective of the name of my daughter that died. I realize this isn't how everyone feels in this situation, but if you don't know your friend would be thrilled, I advise against it. If anyone close to me gave their daughter my daughter's name (intentionally, not unwittingly), I would inwardly be in agony. I had talked to my friend about and she seemed... okay with it. Not thrilled, but alright. I had thought at the time that it was bcause we were having a conversation about her daugher and she was already struggling to keep it together (not that she had to, but we were out at a coffee shop and she didn't want to break down in public; lessons learned on that one, chatting at home next time). Now that you mention it, though, it may well have been a painful thought for her and she just didn't know how to tell me. Thanks for the heads-up, I think I'll avoid the name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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