New Post
Search
Help
ArchivesHere goes...
in reply to a message by Stefanos Papadopoulos
Mike C. (the webmaster himself!) appeared on a radio show to talk about this. Here's a link from the archives that summarizes it:
http://www.behindthename.com/wwwboardarc/messages/13786.html
http://www.behindthename.com/wwwboardarc/messages/13786.html
1
Replies
Nell and Eleanor/Helen
That's very interesting! Do you think that this also applies to Nell as a pet form of Eleanor? So that would mean Nelly was rhymed with Elly?
On the other hand, Nell is more common as a pet form of Helen. "Hell" was obviously a bad abbreviation of the name. Since Helen (and Eleanor too) has n in the middle, do you think that might have influenced the addition of n at the beginning?
That's very interesting! Do you think that this also applies to Nell as a pet form of Eleanor? So that would mean Nelly was rhymed with Elly?
On the other hand, Nell is more common as a pet form of Helen. "Hell" was obviously a bad abbreviation of the name. Since Helen (and Eleanor too) has n in the middle, do you think that might have influenced the addition of n at the beginning?
1
Wasn't there a guy who thought that people could get all sorts of interesting nicknames by putting an N in front of the first syllables of names that started with vowels?
If I remember correctly, it's because of that guy that we have Ned (Edward), Nan (Ann), and Nell (Eleanor/Helen). Because Hs aren't always stongly pronounced, it's quite logical to me that the name Helen would be considered a name starting with a vowel.
Not sure this is right, but I think it is.
Array
If I remember correctly, it's because of that guy that we have Ned (Edward), Nan (Ann), and Nell (Eleanor/Helen). Because Hs aren't always stongly pronounced, it's quite logical to me that the name Helen would be considered a name starting with a vowel.
Not sure this is right, but I think it is.
Array
1
Yes, h is or was considered a vowel. You may know the rule, a before consonants, an before vowels? In older books, you may find "an hat" etc.
Y :)
Y :)
1