[name_m]Hi[/name_m] everyone, I adore this name but I adore my pronunciation of it rather than the traditional Cornish way. What’s everyone’s thoughts on how to pronounce it plewse? [name_u]Or[/name_u] thoughts on names pronounced in an alternative way? Thanks!
i’ve heard elowen pronounced both like EL-owen and eh-LOW-en. i personally prefer the stress syllable on the ‘el’ like eleanor and eloise. i think either works, and as long as you specify the pronunciation you shouldn’t have any problems!
I prefer that stress too I think because I have a Celtic name that is often mispronounced and has a traditional spelling I’m acutely aware of pronunciation and spellings.
I worry that others will think I’m ignorant of it’s “correct” pronunciation and heritage
i understand your worry about that, but especially in the u.s. i’ve always heard it the way we both prefer it pronounced. i guess it depends where you come from, but i don’t think pronouncing it with a different stress syllable would be disrespectful of its heritage!
From what I’ve seen, many people write the pronunciation as el-O-ən.
I have always pronounced [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] as eh-low-en, which I believe is also the correct Cornish pronunciation.
I always pronounce it ELL-uh-wen, but I think its proper pronunciation is eh-LOH-wen!
my instinct was to pronounce it ELL-oh-wen but I believe the traditional pronunciation puts the emphasis on the second syllable. I used to have [name_f]Elowen[/name_f] on my list, pronounced the first way, but now I actually prefer the traditional pronunciation. I think it has a less flowy sound and more of a spark, which is how my style leans now. I can’t speak to how someone from Cornwall would perceive the incorrect pronunciation. personally, I think I might be a bit bothered if I looked up my name later in life and learned I’d been mispronouncing it the whole time, but that might just be me.
I’d pronounce it Ell-oh-wen
As a name outside of my own culture, I’d probably stick to the El-OH-wen pronunciation. I do like it, but not really when I say it and I have to think too much to be comfy using it. I do like ELL-oh-wen but I’m not a fan of changing the original pronunciation, especially as a first.
I would use the traditional pronunciation. I find it rather disrespectful to take names of another culture and then just change the pronounciation to one you like better, rather than the correct traditional one.
I automatically read it as “ELL-oh-wen”. [name_f]Beautiful[/name_f] name!
I’ve always said it eh-low-in, pretty sure the emphasis is on the second syllable (I’m in the US).
Edit: the more I think about the less sure I am about emphasis, its either eh-LOW-in or EH-low-in, I think switch back and forth. I’ve never actually heard it said out loud.
El-oh-wen.
Uh/eh-LOW-un