Help with spelling of names!

georgiaknox · February 2015

Hi ladies, I know some people do not like unusual spelling of names but me and fiancé have fallen in love with a name for a boy. It's Eli pronounce Ee-lie and if reading can be mistaken for Ellie. So I know you can also spell it Eligh but is this just as confusing! I love the name but can't work out which way is best to spell it!

lisadoninelli · February 2015

I've always liked that name. I've always seen it to be spelled Eligh. I would think most people know how to pronounce it correctly that way. I think if you spell it Eli you might get a lot of people saying Ellie. Just my two cents. Nice choice

trj724 · February 2015

If I see Eli I would pronounce it ee-lie and not even think about the other pronunciation you used. I've only ever seen it spelled Eli and not the other way so for me personally I wouldn't mispronounce it. Also too I feel it is a pretty common name now that most people would pronounce it correctly!! Btw I really love that name!

Melzig76 · February 2015

I like that name, I have seen several people with it through out school & it was always spelled Eli. I never heard pronounce in the fem.

bpv101283 · February 2015

I always saw it spelled Eli. Spelling it the other way makes me think Leigh. Like Lay.

nattn · February 2015

I've always seen it spelled Eli, that's the way I would spell it.

Duckybears · February 2015

Eli is the way it is spelled in the Bible. As a school teacher I had students with that name as well and never knew it to be a problem. But that is in the US. Maybe in other countries it is different?

Mufflerlove · February 2015

I knew an Eli and it was spelt that way. I don't think people would assume Ellie especially once they realize it's a boy.

adtaylor2015 · February 2015

I've never seen Eli spelled any other way. Not in the states anyway. Also, I think you have a way better chance of having it mispronounced if you try to spell it differently, like Eligh. Never seen it spelled that way.

Kiek · February 2015

I've only ever seen it spelled Eli. I don't think it would get confused with Ellie just due to basic phonics. I think if it was spelled different people would have a hard time pronouncing it correctly because the normal spelling is Eli.

off2thefunnyfarm · February 2015

never in a million years would I see Eli and think it's Ellie. The name Eli for a boy is fairly common and would always be pronounced E-lye.

megewy · February 2015

Only seen it spelled Eli. And actually most Eli's I know or have met first name is Elijah and they go by Eli. Would of never confused it with Ellie

TeamHayes · February 2015

I've only ever seen Eli and would know it wasn't boy and how to pronounce it

TeamHayes · February 2015

Ditto Elijah is Eli

georgiaknox · February 2015

Thanks girlies!! A lot of help, I just didn't want to pick a name and people spelt it wrong all the time xxx

nika716 · February 2015

I named my son Eli, I've never had a problem with anyone calling him or pronouncing his name differently. However I am spanish and my spanish relative had a problem at first with it as they would read it as if it was spanish and then and only then does it sound like "Ellie" he is 4 now and other than my parents at first no one has mistaken his name. Good luck btw I love the name!!!!

Kiek · February 2015

My mom spelled my name a little different and EVERYONE mispronounces it. Nobody can spell it properly either. I've gotten over it as an adult but as a kid it was soooo frustrating. My husband also has a different spelling to his name and same deal. We both are very careful to pick the classic spelling when it comes to names lol. It just wasn't worth the hassle in school year after year lol.

I'm not saying unique spellings are bad. I'd never judge a parent for something like that. Just 2 cents from two people who got stuck with uniquely spelled names lol

rablissful · February 2015

Kiek said:

My mom spelled my name a little different and EVERYONE mispronounces it. Nobody can spell it properly either. I've gotten over it as an adult but as a kid it was soooo frustrating. My husband also has a different spelling to his name and same deal. We both are very careful to pick the classic spelling when it comes to names lol. It just wasn't worth the hassle in school year after year lol. I'm not saying unique spellings are bad. I'd never judge a parent for something like that. Just 2 cents from two people who got stuck with uniquely spelled names lol

I don't even have that unique of a spelling of my name and it is insane how many people spell or pronounce it wrong! Mine is Rachael instead of Rachel (Christian vs Jewish spelling). My school I work at spells it wrong, and I had to email my birthing center because the online portal has it spelled wrong (I don't want my medical records to be all screwed up because of this oversight). It's insane. My mom felt so bad because growing up was hell administration wise. She wrote a note every time a report card etc came home in middle school and they never fixed it. I love it now and am attached to the spelling.

That being said... I've never seen Eli not spelled that way. I'm a teacher and would never pronounce it Ellie.

mrscate88 · February 2015

I think Eli is cute and won't face any mispronouncing. First thing I thought of was the movie the Book of Eli and I doubt anyone called it the Book of Ellie by mistake haha. Love the name by the way! Very strong!

myndihallberg · February 2015

My brothers name is Eli and is spelt like Eli!I don't think you would have any problems with it Ellie, I've always none it as Eli--ee-lie

apayne0731 · February 2015

I think you will be safe with Eli. I went to school with an Eli and my cousin's son is named Eli. No one has ever called them Ellie!

GeorgiaDottie · February 2015

As a teacher also I would always pronounce it as Eli, the regular way for a boy. Cute name!

cjstats87 · February 2015

I LOVE Eli! We have a cousin who's name is Elias and is nicked Eli.

tigerfish227 · February 2015

I think I would be more likely to pronounce Eligh as Ellie than Eli. To me Eli is the common spelling. My middle name is Leigh(pronounced Lee) so Eligh to me looks like a unique way to spell Ellie. And as a PP said Eli is the biblical spelling.

musicmomma00 · February 2015

I agree with PP - Eligh looks way more confusing than Eli. Plus it's a top 20 name so everyone will be familiar with it anyway. (SN: I love the name!! DS is named Eli also)

MoveByFaith · February 2015

I've seen it spelled Ely as well.

Pyraknight · February 2015

trj724 said:
If I see Eli I would pronounce it ee-lie and not even think about the other pronunciation you used. I've only ever seen it spelled Eli and not the other way so for me personally I wouldn't mispronounce it. Also too I feel it is a pretty common name now that most people would pronounce it correctly!! Btw I really love that name!

Pyraknight · February 2015

Meant to say ditto to that

mill1020 · February 2015

Definitely go with the traditional spelling, Eli. Better yet, put Elijah on the birth certificate and have him go by Eli for short.

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