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HelpRe: Eleanor or Elizabeth?
in reply to a message by Lily
...but Ella is also a common diminutive for Elizabeth--my favorite, in fact.
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I would definitely not say that it's a common diminutive for Elizabeth. Ella is common on its own. I actually don't like Ella, Ellie, Elle or Lily as nicknames for Elizabeth. I just don't see how you get Lily out of Elizabeth and Ella, Elle and Ellie just aren't related to Elizabeth in any way so I find it extremely odd to use them as nicknames. I wouldn't use Ella as a nickname for Eleanor either, now that I think about it. I'd just name her Ella if I wanted to call her that. It's not like it's nickname-ish or anything. To me using Ella as a nn for Elizabeth is like using Anna as a nickname for Andrea or Angela or something. To each their own :)
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Here is a famous example of an Elizabeth/Elisabeth who was called Ella: Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna of Russia, granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Feodorovna
This example is also my inspiration for appreciating Elizabeth nn Ella.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Feodorovna
This example is also my inspiration for appreciating Elizabeth nn Ella.
This message was edited 2/28/2012, 9:51 PM
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Yeah that might have worked back then. I don't know but nowadays there are so many Ellas around that people would probably find it confusing. Just my opinion, though. If you love it you should definitely use it. Ella and Elizabeth are lovely and you get to use them both :)
edited for typo
edited for typo
This message was edited 2/28/2012, 9:58 PM
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I respectfully disagree with you. I think having a daughter called Ella whose name was Elizabeth would not be problematic or awkward in the least. I think it has a subtle charm and grace which one seldom encounters these days, but in no way is it outmoded.
This message was edited 2/28/2012, 10:24 PM
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How are Ellie and Ella and Elle not related to Elizabeth? Elizabeth starts with El, it's right there. Ella's pretty nicknamey, it has no separate etymology other than a nickname. I know people use it as a full name now but... it comes from names like Elizabeth and Eleanor...
Lily isn't so much of a stretch. e-LI-zabeth, and then you get kind of stuck on the Li- sound.
Lily isn't so much of a stretch. e-LI-zabeth, and then you get kind of stuck on the Li- sound.
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Ella to me is a nickname for Eleanor, not for Elizabeth. This is just my opinion. I dislike Elizabeth nn Ella just as I'd dislike Elvira nn Ella or Elysia nn Ella or something. It just seems far fetched. I also can't stand stuff like Persephone nn Poppy or Aviva nn Ava. They just don't make sense to me and I think they don't to most people. After all Ella is extremely common on its own but I've never met an Elizabeth who was nicknamed Ella. I've met one Eleanor nn Ella. It might have worked centuries ago but I think nowadays people would be confused.
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