Elena v. Nina (or Elena nickname Nina?)

[prince4ever]

I like Elena (Uh-LAY-na -- controversial pronunciation I know), and my husband prefers Nina. I was thinking that maybe we could do Elena nickname Nina. Is that too far off? Gives us options, but I don't want to make her life too annoying!

Also is the Uh-LAY-na pronunciation uncommon? The only Elena I know pronounces it this way and I prefer it to Ellen-uh (though that's also lovely.) In the UK if that matters.

[Rockaby]

Elena .

[Rockaby]

Oh sorry, re Nina as a nn... I think it might be a bit forced personally. She's more likely to become Ella, Ellie, Elle or Leni imo.

I would have assumed it was pronounced Uh-lay-na too. There's a character in peep show called Elena who pronounces it that way I think.

[Sugarpiehoneyeye]

Sorry OP, I don't think Nina lends itself as a nick name for Elena.

[Sophronia]

I prefer just Nina

[IamNotDarling]

Not a nickname for Elena. E-ley-na is how I would say it.

[SuperBeagle]

Elena and Nina are two separate names, and I can't see getting Nina from Elena as a nickname. It won't stick.

I like the look of Elena more, but like the sound and simplicity of Nina more, so I'd choose Nina.

[sycamore54321]

I agree that Nina and Elena just look like two different unrelated names. It doesn't really work to shorten one into the other.

[Didiusfalco]

Have you been watching the Vampire Diaries?? I think that's the pronunciation they use. Both beautiful names but Nina as a nickname for Elena makes no sense to me.