I have hard time accepting that [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] is pronounced [name_f]Eloise[/name_f]. To me, these names have different character and I have different images to them. I like to spell [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] just like that, with no accent, because I believe life will be much easier without accent.
Could you tell me something positive about [name_f]Heloise[/name_f]? I love history behind this name, I love rarity of this name and I love Hel-/[name_u]Mel[/name_u]- beginning (love [name_f]Helena[/name_f] and [name_f]Melisende[/name_f])… I love European nobility feel.
But I need to get used to pronunciation. I know that most people will pronounce H, but I don’t want to appear ignorant.
Tell me something nice about [name_f]Heloise[/name_f], because I love the name, just need to get used to pronunciation.
[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t feel offended, I know that in my last poll, most of you said [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] is pronounced with a H, but one member was determined that, as [name_m]French[/name_m] name, it’s pronounced as [name_f]Eloise[/name_f], and it’s only [name_m]French[/name_m] name, so I can’t really argue. If I met girl named [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] who pronounce her own name Hel-oh-eez, I wouldn’t blink an eye, but I really don’t need to be in situation where I appear like white trash dummy - what could I say in my defense - I really like the wrong way?
I think you could just say, “we pronounce it the American way” or whatever is appropriate. I think there are several names like this where different pronunciations are acceptable. Now you’ve gotten me curious about [name_f]Hester[/name_f]/[name_f]Esther[/name_f]. To me they are different pronunciations. I wouldn’t give up on [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] if you love it.
Thank you for your kind words, but I don’t know what’s appropriate (if I mention [name_u]America[/name_u] in any way, I will definitely be total bimbo). I don’t want to give up on [name_f]Heloise[/name_f], problem is that [name_f]Heloise[/name_f]-[name_f]Eloise[/name_f] confuses me.
There are SO many names with different pronunciations in different countries. It’s not a big deal. I wouldn’t give up on a name with a very legitimate pronunciation just because some people say that it should be pronounced another way. This is like the debate that comes up every few months about [name_f]Elena[/name_f] – eh-[name_m]LEN[/name_m]-uh or eh-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh? At the end of the day, both are perfectly acceptable and correct. I would pronounce [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] with the H, and if you corrected me to tell me that the H is silent because it’s [name_m]French[/name_m], I would arch an eyebrow, wonder why you didn’t just go with [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] (which is also apparently [name_m]French[/name_m]), and move on.
I think the biggest question I would ask is do you plan to ever live in [name_f]France[/name_f] or a predominantly [name_m]French[/name_m]-speaking country? If so, you may want to reconsider if you love the hel-oh-eez pronunciation. Otherwise, I think most other places would tend to pronounce the H. I do agree with you, though, that to me [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] and [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] give off very different vibes. Both are great, just different. One is more serious and one is more spunky.
I know that [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] is pronounced the same as [name_f]Eloise[/name_f], just from this site of course, but I would choose to pronounce the H. I don’t particularly like [name_f]Eloise[/name_f], in fact I’ve disliked it since I was a kid. I much prefer the sound of [name_f]Heloise[/name_f]. [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] sounds harsh where [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] sounds more graceful. I agree with @flowermae. [name_m]Just[/name_m] say, we pronounce the H. Most Americans will pronounce it that way anyway. I don’t think many people would challenge you on it. Maybe in Europe they would say something, but not in [name_u]America[/name_u].
I think I might have been the one that said that [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] is obviously [name_m]French[/name_m] to me and that I would pronounce it the [name_m]French[/name_m] way, therefore (plus, the [name_m]German[/name_m] way would be He-lo-ee-zeh, which is just ugly to me). That doesn’t mean that I woul look down on anyone who doesn’t use the [name_m]French[/name_m] pronunciation.
If you’re American, obviously many people won’t pronounce it the [name_m]French[/name_m] way, if you’re European, more people might recognize it as a [name_m]French[/name_m] name, especially those who live close to [name_f]France[/name_f].
I think [name_m]French[/name_m] people are well aware that in English we [name_f]DO[/name_f] pronounce the Hs so it wouldn’t come as a huge shock I don’t think. It would be accepted as the correct pronunciation within your lingual environment - nobody expects foriegn names to be pronounced fully authentically in other languages. Plus the ‘h’ makes so little difference to the actual sound of the name it’s not likely to be a point of argument ever (unlike [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f] and [name_f]Ottilie[/name_f] seem to be).
I know an [name_f]Aislinn[/name_f] who says her name AYZ-lin, it truly truly bugs me. But since [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] is so unusual and nobody would really know any different, I think you could probably keep saying it the ‘wrong’ way to be honest. Its rare enough that you’ll be safe from people calling you out, at least!
^That is assuming you’re in the US / [name_u]North[/name_u] [name_u]America[/name_u] or just generally outside of Europe. Otherwise I’d be worried about people saying her name wrong (okay, ‘right’) frequently.
Oh these things can be maddening can’t they- 2 names I love [name_f]Helena[/name_f] & [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] - [name_f]Helena[/name_f] to me there is a way its pronounced
Heh-[name_m]Len[/name_m]-ah
Then you get everyone on
Hell-in-a
Or
Ha-lay-na
And I just come back out of considering it … Irritated
Currently mulling over [name_f]Naomi[/name_f] again and there is a similar issue with 2 legitimate pronunciations.
One of my children - everyone misspronounces and I cannot for the life of me see where they are getting that pronunciation as its blatantly incorrect and where we live its not a common name but it is clearly defined as what it is… Also no one spells it correctly though it is a very ‘normal’ name, in no way something that should be difficult - and its a name you can look up online and get multiple songs and many people… There is never a perfect way to avoid this- even for example - I had a mate years ago who was called Kaeli - that [name_m]Kale[/name_m]- ee
Not
[name_m]Kal[/name_m]-ee
The distinction is quite significant and one evening she thanked me for always pronouncing her name properly and I hadn’t even thought about it but it really bothered her. like being called
Iz-la when your name is Aila … Drives me up a wall
[name_f]Heloise[/name_f] I honestly believe if you want to pronounce the name that’s quite fine. To me, also, it is [name_m]French[/name_m] … That said I never have been much good with [name_m]French[/name_m] and if like has been suggested you live in the states or at least outside of Europe~ likely no one will have seen this name much of at all and it will clearly be as spelled for the majority of the population. Its also been brought to my attention that different people, often depending on region… [name_m]Add[/name_m] and remove syllables from names- [name_m]William[/name_m] being an example… Clearly it has 3 syllables… Unless you say will-yum… Which aparently is a thing? Sorry this got long, my point is there is fluidity here and no one can tell you something has to be one way, if you love something and its not too too crazy , you’ll be alright
This cheered me up! I agree with you on some points, and I’m glad you reminded me of pronunciation problems.
I live in Southeast Europe (Croatia), most people don’t know [name_m]French[/name_m], although there are people who learn [name_m]French[/name_m] for four years.
To me they are different pronunciations. I wouldn’t give up on [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] if you love it.