Any alternative spellings besides I have purposefully left off for my poll. (I’m sorry to say Alienor doesn’t do it for me—wish she did!)
Which is my favorite?
Is it a regular, easy-to-spell, total classic?
Is it the sensibly Scottish, no-frill Dashwood nod?
Is it the adventurous daughter of a kindhearted fantasy hero?
Is it… pronounce-it-like-it-looks, ends-in-a-silent-E (honor!) absurdity?
Is it an added E for Eleanore, Elinore, or Elanore?
All this to say… let’s talk ELL-uh-nor.
Spellings, thoughts, feelings, and stories! I really enjoy all of the associations I’ve ever heard with this name, and she’s lodging her way into my heart—in all of her many spellings, even the ones that are not my very favorite.
How would you use this name in a combo?
Which spelling would you pick?
And, if you’d like, which spelling would you pick to keep on my list?
[name_f]Elanor[/name_f] is my favourite at the moment - à la [name_m]Tolkien[/name_m] - but I am partial to [name_f]Elinor[/name_f] as well. Ellanore is gorgeous. Such a beautiful name any way you spell it.
Oh I love [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] in all it’s spellings for you! She would be such a sweet sister for [name_u]Florence[/name_u] and [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]. Eleanor/Elinor and [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] was my go-to sibset for a while in my teens, but a lot of my family pronounces it with an -er ending instead of -or, and I don’t particularly enjoy that!
Any of the spellings are great but I personally would go with either of those first two just for ease!
[name_f]My[/name_f] fave is still the classic [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], although I’m also partial to Tolkien’s [name_f]Elanor[/name_f] & Austen’s Elinor…
I don’t think you can go wrong with any version of this gorgeous name!
Well, we used [name_f]Elanor[/name_f], for Sam’s daughter but we did put it in the middle. We decided an unusual spelling of such a popular name might be difficult as a first.
If you’re thinking first name, [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] for ease, imo, runner-up [name_f]Elinor[/name_f]. I also like @seawillow’s suggestion of [name_f]Elinore[/name_f]. So elegant!
I like [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] or [name_f]Elinor[/name_f] best - probably [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], because I like the rounder, softer look, the understated strength of it, the elegance and solidness.
If I was to use it (if it wasn’t my middle), I’d use [name_u]Scout[/name_u] [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f].
For you, I like [name_f]Elanor[/name_f] - it simultaneously feels like [name_u]Vision[/name_u], [name_u]Merit[/name_u] or [name_f]Wednesday[/name_f] and like [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] or [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] at the same time.
I’ve never liked the look of [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. The two vowels next to each other just seems frilly and unnecessary, and makes the pronunciation less intuitive. I also have positive associations with [name_f]Elinor[/name_f] (Sense & Sensibility) and [name_f]Elanor[/name_f] (LOTR).
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] feels overused, a little watery and bland to me. I just know SO many! It’s kind of got ‘background character’ vibes for me yknow?
[name_f]Elinor[/name_f] has always been a favourite, after literary Miss Dashwood - she was once my number one girl! I think the more trim, streamlined spelling gives her a brisker and sparklier vibe somehow
[name_f]Elanor[/name_f] is beautifully botanically [name_m]Tolkien[/name_m], I just see the little flower and hear the [name_f]Shire[/name_f] theme in my mind and I don’t know if you’re a Rings of [name_u]Power[/name_u] person but [name_f]Elanor[/name_f] ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot has given it an even happier glow to me!
Ellanore…feels more like a smoosh of Ella/Elanor/Elsinore/Leonore etc. rather than a name in its own right. Also, being [name_f]British[/name_f] I generally say ELL-uh-nuh (think [name_f]Kate[/name_f] [name_f]Winslet[/name_f] saying it in S&S 1995) but this spelling makes me want to over-emphasise ella-NOOR
For you…I’m leaning towards [name_f]Elanor[/name_f] in its literary-cottagecore-floral simplicity
[name_m]Just[/name_m] remembered this thread and I’m coming back to elaborate
[name_f]Elinor[/name_f] used to be my favorite spelling, but I met an awesome preschooler named [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] last year that gave me a whole new perspective on her name. She’s spunky, stubborn, artistic and all kinds of goofy fun, and somehow fits her name perfectly!
but gosh Ellanore is ridiculous cool! I might have to add her to my list; I think she’d be right at home next to clunky [name_f]Louella[/name_f] & WillaJean
For you, i could really see Ellanore on your list, or maybe [name_f]Eleanore[/name_f], or perhaps simple and sweet [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]
Personally I love [name_f]Elinor[/name_f]! I like that it feel a bit more international, I love the vibes, both romantic and strong, a mediaeval strength of sorts, [name_u]Joan[/name_u] of [name_m]Arc[/name_m] -like.
I also like [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], she’s strong in a modern feminist way, romantic but more in a “chosen aesthetic” way.
Where [name_f]Elinor[/name_f] is chaotic, [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] feels organised; [name_f]Elinor[/name_f] is an overgrown walled-garden, [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] is a well-kept [name_f]English[/name_f] garden.
They’re both lovely but I’m more drawn to the way I view [name_f]Elinor[/name_f]
[name_f]My[/name_f] personal favorite always has been, and always will be, [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]! In my eyes, she’s the most classic, versatile, and sweet spelling! Besides [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], I think the spelling I like the second best would have to be [name_f]Elinor[/name_f], and even though I do like [name_f]Elinor[/name_f], I don’t think she compares to my love for the “original spelling.”
For you, I think I would also pick [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], but only in the context of your love for [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], [name_f]Louisa[/name_f], and [name_u]Florence[/name_u], which are all classic names that are easy-to-spell. However, when I take into account your love for names like [name_u]Vision[/name_u], [name_f]Beulah[/name_f], and [name_f]Elsbeth[/name_f], which are all more unexpected and unique, I can see [name_f]Elinor[/name_f] fitting right in! I think [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] matches a little more overall with your names, but I can see all of the spellings matching well!
I would personally use the combo [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_u]Nesta[/name_u] [name_u]Solstice[/name_u] at the moment, but I also love the combo [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Bloom[/name_f] as well! Maybe even [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_u]Nesta[/name_u] [name_f]Bloom[/name_f]? I essentially think [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] fits in any combo though, so I don’t think I can be of much help
I prefer [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] best for naming an actual child but I happen to be particular to the spelling of The Turtles’ song [name_f]Elenore[/name_f].
I love the [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] spelling!
It’s the most traditional spelling and probably the least likely to get misspelled. Also, it feels the most “right” to me. [name_f]Elinor[/name_f] is not bad, but I prefer Elinora, actually prefer it to [name_f]Eleanora[/name_f]. [name_f]Elanor[/name_f] feels quite “flat” and 2-dimensional to me? I don’t know if that makes sense, but I don’t like [name_f]Elanor[/name_f] as a spelling.
I’d go with something classic: like [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], or [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_f]Faith[/name_f].
I’d use the nickname [name_f]Nell[/name_f] / [name_f]Nellie[/name_f]!
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] feels the most organised and just right to me. Always loved that name! Very romantic and aristocratic to me. I think of all the queens who had that gorgeous name. [name_f]My[/name_f] mother had a strange and lovely dream/ experience some years ago where she met my unborn daughter who told her that her name in heaven is [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], but it’s not going to be her name when she is born.
[name_f]My[/name_f] personal favourite spelling rn is Eléonoré (pronounced in French).
[name_f]Elinor[/name_f] by a very long shot - if it’s good enough for Miss Dashwood it’s good enough for anyone else! The ‘ea’ spelling looks a bit cluttered to me, and the ‘a’ spelling is too [name_m]Tolkien[/name_m] (although for some people I guess that’s the bonus!) [name_f]Elinor[/name_f] is sleek, streamlined and elegant.
[name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] if you want strong woman vibe a la [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] of Aquitane and [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] [name_m]Roosevelt[/name_m]. [name_f]Elanor[/name_f] is you’re drawn to the whimsical.
I love all the spellings! But overall I agree with @auroradawn that [name_f]Elanor[/name_f] is probably best left for the middle slot since it’s less familiar. [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and [name_f]Elinor[/name_f] are both lovely.
I adore [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] in all it’s spellings, but as a [name_m]Tolkien[/name_m] geek, [name_f]Elanor[/name_f] will always have my heart! [name_f]Beautiful[/name_f] name!
It’s so beautiful.
but we did put it in the middle. We decided an unusual spelling of such a popular name might be difficult as a first.
and I don’t know if you’re a Rings of [name_u]Power[/name_u] person but [name_f]Elanor[/name_f] ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot has given it an even happier glow to me!
Always loved that name! Very romantic and aristocratic to me. I think of all the queens who had that gorgeous name. [name_f]My[/name_f] mother had a strange and lovely dream/ experience some years ago where she met my unborn daughter who told her that her name in heaven is [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], but it’s not going to be her name when she is born. 
Have I found my juuuust right!? I’m excited!!!