The spelling of the name McNelis is based on the pronunciation. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is spelled as /məkˈnɛlɪs/. The "Mc" indicates a Scottish or Irish ancestry and is pronounced as "mək." The "N" and "L" in the spelling correspond to the sounds heard in the word "null" and "let" respectively. The "E" and "I" sounds in the name follow the rules of English spelling. The final "S" is silent, a common trait among many English words ending in "s."