My thread on the preferred pronunciations of [name]Elena[/name] got me thinking about this. I like both possible pronunciations, eh-lay-na or eh-leh-na, and was wondering if it would be acceptable if I were to use both on a child? Or is it just too much?
I’d probably choose one and stick with it. While both are similar it does seem like sending mixed signals to use both.
[name]Imagine[/name] if it were more extreme like [name]Graham[/name] : [name]Gram[/name] and [name]Grey[/name]-em.
Upside to liking two or more pronunciations of a name: At least when it’s “mispronounced” it won’t bother you.
Downside to liking two or more pronunciations of a name: you really need to choose one.
I’ve wondered that too; especially with [name]Cassia[/name]. I love both pronunciations- [name]Casha[/name] and [name]Cassie[/name]-ah, but I fluctuate from one to the other.
I don’t think it’s such a big deal, but it could lead to your kid being unsure of how to pronounce her own name.
My family does this with my name, [name]Cristina[/name]. This is the Italian spelling, so my Italian relatives call me cree-stee-nah, while my parents and everyone I know who isn’t Italian calls me chris-tee-nah. I don’t think it’s a big deal, but for [name]Elena[/name] I would simply go with el-lay-nah, as it’s so much prettier.
I think you need to choose one or the other, it’s not fair on the kid other wise. I perfer eh-lay-na though it’s up to you
You’ll probably end up confusing the child by using both and it can take them forever to learn how they should say their name. What if the teacher asked “and how do you pronounce that” She would be so confused! I would pick one and stick with it.
The fact is the world will use both so your child will need to learn to roll with it, but within the family I think you need to choose one and stick with it. Whether she constantly corrects outsiders or just lets it lie probably has more to do with her disposition than any control you can actually exert, but at home I think an [name]Elena[/name] needs to always be el-ayn-a (or el-en-a).
Does anybody watch Real Housewives? [name]LuAnn[/name] on RHNYC has a son named [name]Noel[/name]. I have heard her use both the pronunciation of “nole” and “no-elle” during the course of the series. I always thought that was very strange, mostly because one pronunciation sounds much more feminine than the other.
I think it would be best to pick one and stick. However, I am guilty of this myself. I know little girl named [name]Eva[/name]. I’m still unsure of how the family pronounces it, but I [name]DO[/name] know it’s not EE-va. So I kind of go back and forth between AY-va and EH-va, and she responds to both. I don’t even mean to do it, it just happens. [name]Just[/name] know that if you go back and forth, anyone else who comes into contact with your child is going to be very confused.
I am a [name]Tara[/name] that has gone by different pronunciations in different social circles, at different jobs, ect. I have family members that call me by one & other family members that call me by the other! Never really bothers me. But my mother father only use one pronunciation and in my head it’s the’right way’!
I think keeping it consistent is a good thing, but it’s probably not a big deal to switch ir up
There are definitely some names with 2 common pronunciations and no matter what you do you’re going to get both sometimes.
Usually you prefer one and ask to be called that but try not to be a witch if people forget. I think it would get kinda confusing to use both pronunciations.
I know someone named [name]Tanya[/name] who hates the pronunciation Tawn-ya and prefer [name]Tan[/name]-ya (rhyming with Ban)
Perhaps, I could use one steadily and as she gets older use the other as a “nickname” form?
Such as use Eh-lay-na consistently while she’s young, then when she’s say around 6 introduce Eh-leh-na as a “pet-form/affectionate” version?
I think that’s because her husband was French and [name]Noel[/name] for boys over there sounds like “noh el”
Now that I think about it I know people who pronounce their names two different ways. In general they pronounce it one way but they’re totally okay with others and answer to it. My friend [name]Fatima[/name] generally pronounces it fah-teem-ah but I’ve heard her call herself fat-im-ah before. My friend [name]Eleni[/name] is generally uh-lay-nee but her mother sometimes says eh-len-ee. This is especially true for unusual names that are easily mispronounced (for privacy I won’t post them).
Well I pronounce my middle name two ways.
My grandmother was [name]Alma[/name] [name]Aileen[/name]. She pronounced it [name]AL[/name]-MUH [name]AL[/name]-LEEN.
My mother named me after her and so I am [name]Shana[/name] [name]Aileen[/name].
I think pronouncing [name]Aileen[/name] like [name]AL[/name]-LEEN is incorrect and prefer saying it EYE-LEEN. I really do not understand how you can bypass the “i” and go straight to the “l” with the way it is spelled. Phonetically it makes no sense. It should be spelled [name]Aleen[/name] or [name]Alleen[/name] if it’s said [name]AL[/name]-LEEN. It’s my name so I figure I can say it how I want to say it.
I think it’s perfectly fine, before I changed my name I had people who pronounced it FAR-ah, FAIR-ah (right way, but hardly anyone went for this!) and FAH-rah, and I rarely took note of the differences. I just let people choose the most comfortable pronunciation for themselves. I also had a friend who had the first syllable of her name pronounced as [name]LUM[/name] but some, LOOM but others. Neither of us ever felt confusion.