I like some of the El name – Eleanor, Elinor, Eloise, Eluned – but not most of others.
But I am crazy about the He- name – Helen, Helene, Helena, Heloise – yet notice those don’t seem very popular unlike the el names.
Curious if you have noticed that too, to what do you attribute it, which you prefer and why?
I got burned out teaching so many Ellas and Elsas and later meeting Elenas and Elenis and Elioras, etc. Not to mention the similar sounding Emmas and Emilys.
I’ve yet to teach a Helen, Helene, or Heloise, though I taught one amazing girl named Helena who said it with a silent H as she was Latina.
I love [name_f]Helena[/name_f] and [name_f]Helene[/name_f]! I think part of the popularity of the [name_f]El[/name_f]- names is that [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] is a more obvious nickname for [name_f]El[/name_f]- names than it is for Hel- names, and the nickname [name_f]Ellie[/name_f] has been popular for a while. Most (but not all) of the girls I know with [name_f]El[/name_f]- names have gone primarily by [name_f]Ellie[/name_f], which I assume was part of their parents’ plans from the beginning when they chose [name_f]El[/name_f]- names.
I don’t think I have a preference overall between [name_f]El[/name_f]- and Hel- names. I prefer [name_f]Helena[/name_f] to [name_f]Elena[/name_f], but prefer [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] to [name_f]Heloise[/name_f]. I love [name_f]El[/name_f]- names like [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f], [name_f]Elise[/name_f], and [name_f]Elaine[/name_f], too.
I’ve met a couple of Helens and Helenas over the years, but definetly more of the [name_f]Els[/name_f]. I find the [name_f]El[/name_f] names a little easier to say personally, but otherwise I like the H ones
I wonder if perhaps sometimes “Hel” names are overlooked because they begin with the syllable “Hell” ? That doesn’t bother me tons personally, and it may not bother many people, but perhaps it’s a contributing factor.
Part of it could also be that the “H” sound and / or isn’t available in many languages. Hispanic languages drop the sound of an “H” for example, and many Slavic languages do not contain the sound at all. And in [name_u]French[/name_u], many (though not all, of course) names that begin with “H” are also pronounced with a silent “H.” All of the aforementioned languages, however, do contain prominent “E” sounds and letters in names and out of them. Interesting food for thought for anyone who is excited by linguistics as I am!!
All that said, I don’t have a major preference for E names over H names, but I think I may have a slight one.
I like [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] very very much, though they don’t really have an H alternative.
I like [name_f]Helena[/name_f] more than [name_f]Elena[/name_f], but the Slavic [name_f]Yelena[/name_f] also falls somewhere between.
I like [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] more than [name_f]Heloise[/name_f].
I like [name_f]Helen[/name_f] more than [name_f]Ellen[/name_f].
Maybe [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] reminds people of Hints from [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] as opposed to the spicy little [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] girl in the books.
But surely [name_f]Helen[/name_f] [name_u]Mirren[/name_u] is an amazing [name_f]Helen[/name_f] to be inspired by.