Conversation:

>>That's Ely in Cambridgeshire, not Ely in Wales, which is pronounced 'elly'.<<

I'm pretty sure the Welsh Ely is also pronounced 'ee-lee'.

Thanks Iaconian.

I think I've now heard both since I wrote the article - is it a creeping Anglicisation of an old Welsh name, do you think?

Icy

The Welsh name is 'Trelai', from 'Tref' (town) and 'Elai' (the river called Ely in English). I would think 'Elai' is pronounced 'ell-eye', so actually 'Elly' is closer to the mark as an Anglicisation. Interesting .

Hmm, yes - that sounds closer.

I'll get the footnote changed to reflect that. I hate to see a good Welsh name get Anglicised.

Would you agree with this footnote change?

That's Ely in Cambridgeshire, but Ely in Wales is also pronounced 'ell-eye', from its Welsh name Trelai.

Yes I think that's , but I'm not really an expert. I'm not from the area but I do know my Welsh pronunciations .

Entry corrected - many thanks!