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I was thinking about Eliel and its usage in more international context. Here in Finland, it has been fairly popular in recent years, though not as popular as Elias (which has been one of the most popular baby names here for years now). Eliel's usage here has most likely been influenced by the well-known architect Eliel Saarinen, who's famous for designing National Museum of Finland and Helsinki Central railway station (among many other buildings).
Since Elijah and Eli are very common in the US (not sure about other anglophone countries), I wondered if Eliel would work there and even become popular? Eliel's Finnish pronunciation is EH-lee-ehl, but I assume it would be pronounced as ee-LIE-əl in the US: does it sound good to American ears?
Since Elijah and Eli are very common in the US (not sure about other anglophone countries), I wondered if Eliel would work there and even become popular? Eliel's Finnish pronunciation is EH-lee-ehl, but I assume it would be pronounced as ee-LIE-əl in the US: does it sound good to American ears?
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Despite Elijah having the LIE sound, Eliel as "ee-LIE-əl" doesn't seem intuitive to me because it looks like a religious *iel name (Gabriel, Ariel, Ezekiel, Remiel), and those are pronounced with an EE sound most of the time (only exception I know of is Daniel) in the US, plus it looks kind of like Elian, which I've only heard as eh-lee-an.
My first thought was eh-lee-el, but when I say it fast, I think it might come out as eh-LEE-uhl (or eh-LEEL).
I don't see it getting popular (the repetition's too sing-songy, I think), but it sounds pleasant enough to me, either way.
My first thought was eh-lee-el, but when I say it fast, I think it might come out as eh-LEE-uhl (or eh-LEEL).
I don't see it getting popular (the repetition's too sing-songy, I think), but it sounds pleasant enough to me, either way.
This message was edited 4/9/2019, 11:58 AM
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I think it'd be pronounced all different ways in the US... like "L.E.L." and EE-lee-L and uh-Lyell and eh-LEEL and probably some other ways. I personally read it as EL-ee-el.
I don't like the way it feels in my mouth... it's like Aurora. It wouldn't bug me if I didn't have to say it very often, though. I know I've seen Saarinen's name before, but I didn't even notice his first name.
I think it's usable in the US but most people would have to be taught the pronunciation you want (no big deal). I don't think it would sound bad - lots of people would think it was cool. But I don't think it'd become very popular. If you pronounced it ee-LIE-əl it might get shortened to Lyle.
I don't like the way it feels in my mouth... it's like Aurora. It wouldn't bug me if I didn't have to say it very often, though. I know I've seen Saarinen's name before, but I didn't even notice his first name.
I think it's usable in the US but most people would have to be taught the pronunciation you want (no big deal). I don't think it would sound bad - lots of people would think it was cool. But I don't think it'd become very popular. If you pronounced it ee-LIE-əl it might get shortened to Lyle.
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Hi !!!
I can give you an Italian perspective if you want.
I grew up thinking that Elijah were pronounced e-LEE-yah and I found its actually pronounciation just few months ago. It is a pretentious and way too complex form of the name in my opinion.
Eliel is too religious to my ears.. whatever form of Eliyahu has already in it the two ways to say _ _ _ _ so Eliel is melodious but too much.
Eli in Italy seems the short for Elisa or Elisabetta and it's pronounced EH-lee. It doesn't work here.
Nowadays there are popular some foreign forms: Elias (Spanish), Ilyas (Arabic) and Ilya (Russian). I personally like Élie (French) too.
I think what the English pronounciations are too complex in general.
I agree with the Finnish pronounciation as it is the same of mine. Being a philologist inside I would choose it also because it is the Hebrew correct too.
About an alternative spelling I would use Elyel rather than Eliyel but the pronounciation would be exactly the same of Eliel.
I can give you an Italian perspective if you want.
I grew up thinking that Elijah were pronounced e-LEE-yah and I found its actually pronounciation just few months ago. It is a pretentious and way too complex form of the name in my opinion.
Eliel is too religious to my ears.. whatever form of Eliyahu has already in it the two ways to say _ _ _ _ so Eliel is melodious but too much.
Eli in Italy seems the short for Elisa or Elisabetta and it's pronounced EH-lee. It doesn't work here.
Nowadays there are popular some foreign forms: Elias (Spanish), Ilyas (Arabic) and Ilya (Russian). I personally like Élie (French) too.
I think what the English pronounciations are too complex in general.
I agree with the Finnish pronounciation as it is the same of mine. Being a philologist inside I would choose it also because it is the Hebrew correct too.
About an alternative spelling I would use Elyel rather than Eliyel but the pronounciation would be exactly the same of Eliel.
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