Baby Name Poll Results

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Eleni vs. Eh-Len-Ee vs. Eh-Lay-Knee

We did a poll last night and everyone voted for Elena over Eleni and Elene. We still really like Eleni and were just wondering what everyone thought of the name. There are two ways to pronounce it, Eh-Len-ee and Eh-Lay-Knee (like Delaney without the D). Which pronunciation is better and how would you say the name if you read it? We would also appreciate middle names (particularly greek names)! Thanks so so much! Alexandra and Nick

The Top Baby Name is...

Eleni

0%

Eh-Len-Ee

33%

Eh-Lay-Knee

67%

Poll created: Apr 03, 2009
Total Votes: 9
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Comments

I think Eleni is cute, it would make a nice nickname for Elena as well. Good luck.
posted by Carly + Jake :: 16 years ago | report
I like Eh-Lay-Knee better, it flows better, but what if you spelled it Elani?
posted by Crystale :: 16 years ago | report
Oh I forgot to pick my spelling, If I saw the name Eleni, I would pronounce it Eh-len-ee, I like that pronounciation better than the other one. But the other ones nice too, I would spell it Elaini if I wanted to pronounce it Eh-lay-nee
Good luck
posted by Carly + Jake :: 16 years ago | report
if you don’t know how you would pronounce it, then how do you know you like the name? why not just delaney? i pronounce eleni, eh-len-ee. sorry, don’t like it, but it’s your choice. i’m not trying to come across rude, i’m just answering your poll honestly. good luck.
posted by erin :: 16 years ago | report
I do know how to pronounce it, and either pronunciation is acceptable. I have one way that I say it, I just want to make sure that if I name my daughter Eleni, she won’t constantly be correcting people. If enough people were against my particular pronunciation, then I would have considered a different name.
posted by Poll Poster :: 16 years ago | report
Oh, she WILL definitely "constantly be correcting people." And she will constantly have to spell it out, too. I think it would be a pain for her! So, if that’s something you are worried about, i’d find a different name. How about elena (uh-lay-nuh?)
posted by guest :: 16 years ago | report
How about laney? the "uh" sound at the beginning just sounds unnecessary to me. it sounds like it just doesn’t belong. you could go with leni, but people would have more problems pronouncing/spelling that. gl!
posted by guest :: 16 years ago | report
Eleni is an ancient name with rich mythological, historical, and Christian significance. It means light or torch. Most Americans pronounce it El-AY-nee but some say El-EH-nee. The Greek pronunciation actually falls in between these two vowel sounds. It’s a great name that is common in Greece and Ethiopia apparently but unusual here. So what? Give your daughter a good name. It’s other people’s problem if they’re weirded out by their pronunciation difficulties.
- from an Eleni
posted by Eleni :: 15 years ago | report
I love the name Eleni! My own name is Elena and I really hate it when people say, "Eh-lay-nuh". I’m currently pregnant and will be naming my daughter Eleni..."Eh-len-ee"! :)
posted by Elena J. :: 15 years ago | report
My daughter is an Eleni, Eh-leh-nee. We call her Leni for short, pronounced Lenny.
I love her name and I love that it’s unusual here. People are always commenting on her beautiful name.
posted by Eleni’s mum :: 11 years ago | report
My name is eleni. And it is pronounced eh-Len-ee not elaynee if you want to name your child that choose a different name
posted by Eleni :: 10 years ago | report
So, it’s Greek. As in, "Helen of Troy" (really, Helen of Sparta - but that depends on whose side you’re on). There’s not really a discussion on how the spelling or pronunciation SHOULD be, but I’ll throw a wrench in the mix. The original greek has an aspirate over the initial eta. That means the closest pronunciation today would be heh-lay-nee. Of course, the Greeks wouldn’t have the terrible diphthong on the second syllable - just a bright "e" as in Italian.
posted by guest :: 10 years ago | report
As an Eleni I know it is a pain to have to correct people. Good luck to all those other eh-Len-ee ’s out there
posted by guest :: 10 years ago | report
eLENee
posted by rachie :: 10 years ago | report
We chose a variation of this name for our daughter spelling it Elanie and pronouncing it just like Melanie without the M.
posted by Kimmerz :: 9 years ago | report
My name is Eleni (Eh-len-ee). Yes I do have to correct people all the time, but I love my name for how unique it is. Plus I always get complimented on it.
posted by Another Eleni :: 8 years ago | report
My name is Eleni. I'm named after my grandmother which is why i love it so much. It has meaning and history. If you are not going to pronounce it right(Eh-len-ee), don't use it.
posted by Eleni :: 7 years ago | report
Eleni is great name! It's pronounced A-lenny and I love my name! If you're looking for an easy to pronounce here are a few: Leni (Lenny), Elle, Ellie and Nini!
posted by Eleni :: 7 years ago | report
My name is Eleni. I was named after my grandmother but her and several of my cousins with the same name pronounce theirs the proper Greek pronunciation, eh- LEN-ee. My name however is pronounced differently, uh-LAY-nee. My nickname has always been Laney because I've spent atleast one year of my life so far correcting people. Despite the struggles with pronunciation, I know there are many other Eleni's aside from myself who wouldn't trade their name for another because of its meaning and uniqueness. :)
posted by Eleni :: 6 years ago | report

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