Is it wrong

Girl Names
1

See the results of this poll: Eleni pronunciation:

Respondents: 42 (This poll is closed)

  • EL-eh-nee is all right! : 21 (50%)
  • eh-LEH-nee is the only way!: 21 (50%)
2

I don’t think anything is wrong with that =]

People will always assume one or the other, so you’ll have to correct them, regardless. My instinctual pronunciation of this name is eh-LEH-nee, but others might think [name_f]EL[/name_f]-eh-nee right away.

[name_f]Edit[/name_f]: Actually, when I thought about it a little more, it has the familiar sound of [name_f]Melanie[/name_f], so I really wouldn’t worry about it putting people off.

3

Looking at the name, I would pronounce it the way you want to.

4

Been Greek, I would find strange to pronounce [name_f]Eleni[/name_f] with the first pronounciation.

5

I would automatically assume it pronounced “[name_f]EL[/name_f]-eh-ni”. But there is no “wrong” or “right” way - pronounce it the way that makes most sense to you.

6

I know an [name_f]Eleni[/name_f] who is British and she pronounces it eh-LEH-nee. No one has ever thought to pronounce it [name_f]EL[/name_f]-eh-nee, so yeah, I do think it’s wrong, but I have only ever heard it pronounced correctly.

7

Thanks for all the replies so far! I agree it feels wrong… no matter how much I try I can’t get past that reservation. I was going to suggest the name to my brother - who is expecting twins in December - but I don’t think he’ll go for the legit pronunciation. C’est la vie.

8

I actually like [name_f]EL[/name_f]-eh-nee best!

9

I pronounce [name_f]Eleni[/name_f] eh-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-nee, but I think EH-le-nee is okay if you want to pronounce it that way. You may have to keep correcting people though.

10

Behindthename.com pronounces [name_f]Eleni[/name_f] as e-[name_m]LEN[/name_m]-ee {like E. [name_m]Lenny[/name_m]}.

11

I don’t think there is a problem in pronouncing a name the way you like it. [name_f]Eleni[/name_f] is not a very common name anyway so no one would really know the correct pronunciation until you tell them. [name_f]Elle[/name_f]-eh-nee sounds beautiful.

12

Your pronunciation actually makes more sense to me.

13

Thank-you everyone, I really appreciate all the input and votes! I’m going to close the poll now - even though it’s at a tie - because I’ve made up my mind that it would be a disservice to the name. Thanks again!