I used to think that the name [name_f]Eilidh[/name_f] was pronounced Ill-y-dah (its actually pronounced Aylee). But I actually like a name that would be pronounced Ill-y-dah. Is there a name that exists? If not, how would you spell it?
Any more ways? My personal favourites are Eilidh, Eilidah, Alyda, [name_f]Elida[/name_f], Elidah, Elydah & Ilydah.
I love the original spelling Eilidh but that just looks like I dont know how to pronounce it.
Also I think the name Elida is pronounced e-lee-der so that would be confusing.
If you specifically want the Ill- first syllable, rather than Uh-lie-duh, I would stick to any of the options you listed that start with an I. I like Ilida best.
A traditional name where I’m from is Aleida, which could probably also be spelled Aleyda (‘ey’ is how ‘ei’ was written in older Dutch spellings), is pronounced more or less like that. Obviously not with an Anglophone inflection, but in terms of sounds it’s similar or identical even. Issue would be that it could also be read like ‘Ill-ay-dah’. Advantage there is that it’s an established name since the name is thought to be derived from ‘Adelwald’ (meaning: noble ruler) or ‘Agiwald’ (meaning: powerful sword) or [name_f]Adelheid[/name_f] (meaning: woman of noble nature or posture).
I think the issue with all these spellings, also the ones you listed, is that there are alternative pronunciations. For instance, [name_f]Elida[/name_f] looks like [name_f]Ellie[/name_f]-duh to me, even though I get how it could be Ill-y-dah if you consider how ‘[name_f]Eliza[/name_f]’ is usually pronounced. So it’d be a case in which you might have to correct people every now and then.