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[Opinions] Elke
There was a little girl I met this summer named Elke. I assumed it was Dutch because there are a ton of Dutch people in my area, and so it's not a particularly remarkable name. But I hadn't seen it on a preschooler before and thought much about it, and it was super adorable. However, turned out she pronounced it ELK-ee, and I see it can also be a Hebrew name... is that the correct pronunciation with that etymology? Maybe that's what her parents were going for, not Dutch, I dunno.Rambling aside, what do you think of Elke with either pronunciation?Like any of these combos?
Elke Bethany
Elke Caroline
Elke Claire
Elke Frances
Elke Genevieve
Elke Maple
Elke Ramona
Elke Rowan
Elke Virginia
Elke Zinnia
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Elke is a common name where I live although a little dated. If I read about a woman called Elke I'd assume she was middle-aged, probably between 40 and 60 years old. I've never heard Elke being used as a Hebrew name and I have absolutely no idea what Hebrew sounds like so I have no clue whether ELK-ee is a valid pronunciation or not. In German/ Dutch it definitly isn't.I like Elke Caroline (I'd pronounce it ca-ro-LEE-nuh) and Elke Ramona. The other combos don't really fit together IMO.
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To me, Elke is very common and pretty dated, so I'm not sure I can see it in another way. ELK-ee may very well be the correct Hebrew pronunciation (but to be honest, I doubt that it is) but to me it just sounds like someone trying to say Elke and getting it all wrong. I don't like any of the combos you listed, because Elke is so Dutch to me that I can't imagine it with an English middle nam. They all sound off.

This message was edited 7/30/2015, 11:48 PM

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It's actually possible, I suppose, that her parents do pronounce it correctly (in Dutch). The only time I heard it said was from another adult teacher who I assumed already knew her.

This message was edited 7/31/2015, 4:24 AM

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I adore Elke pronounced the Dutch way. Elke Frances, Elke Maple, Elke Ramona, and Elke Zinnia delight me.
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Elke seems too much like the antlered creatures up near Atlanta, Michigan.
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I actually like the elk bit. Elk are cool.
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My first thought too!Although we don't have those particular creature where I live, just deer and moose.
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Mrs. Claire wrote the pronunciation as elk-keh / el-kah and she would know. I really dislike the elk-ee pronunciation
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My old neighbours had a little girl named Elke, and as far as I know they weren't Dutch or Hebrew. They pronounced it EL-kee too. I think it's pretty cute and spunky, sort of like Maxine or other flapperesque names. The problem is that I can't get past the elk imagery.I like Elke Caroline a lot. Elke Ramona is also really spunky in a good way.

This message was edited 7/30/2015, 4:07 PM

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I prefer the Dutch pronunciation. Elke Caroline
Elke Claire
Elke Genevieve
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I love this name. I actually almost convinced my husband to agree to it for our daughter. I pronounce it Elk-eh. Part of what changes his mind is when we brought up the name to family, a lot of them thought it was pronounced Elk-ee, we didn't want her to have to constantly correct people.
Elke Claire has a nice flow.
I also like Elke Frances.
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