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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Helena or Eliza?

24 replies

RebeccaN1 · 09/07/2012 17:43

I recently named my second daughter Elizabeth Helena, intending to call her Eliza. (Her sister's name is Vivienne Sophia). However, as time passes, I'm feeling conflicted and now think I might prefer Helena, pronounced heh-LAY-nÉ™. Eliza seems more cheeky and fun, but Helena is maybe softer and more sophisticated. Thoughts? Which name do you prefer? Which do you think goes better with Vivienne? Thanks!

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Original poster
RebeccaN1 · 09/07/2012 17:45

Text went wonky. Meant heh-LAY-na.

OP posts:
ivanapoo · 09/07/2012 17:50

Lovely name. I love Eliza. I think though I prefer Helena - pronounced the other way HEH-Lena personally ;)

WowOoo · 09/07/2012 17:53

Prefer Helena., but Eliza lovely too and also goes with Vivienne I think.
Congratulations too.

DottieRose · 09/07/2012 18:53

Eliza 100% it is a beautiful name, Helena is lovely but a bit boring compared to Eliza.

Emandlu · 09/07/2012 18:54

Eliza, most definitely Eliza. I think it is a beautiful name.

randomimposter · 09/07/2012 19:21

Really like both names but with Vivienne would probably go Eliza.

Heavensmells · 09/07/2012 19:37

Yes another vote for Eliza here Smile

FadingAwayToAHippo · 09/07/2012 19:51

I think of you are sticking with Elizabeth as first name she'll decide what she wants to be called later in life anyway. We call ours Lizzie but who's to say what she'll prefer when older.

Also with Helena you'll always be correcting pronunciation.

Our Lizzie is an Elizabeth Ellen, we have good taste ;)

FadingAwayToAHippo · 09/07/2012 19:51

I meant you and I OP, I wasn't just bragging :D

Original poster
RebeccaN1 · 11/07/2012 21:14

Thank you very much for your helpful responses. After much deliberation, we have decided we are happy using Elizabeth/ Eliza. We think it suits her well and has the sophistication of Helena without the pronunciation ambiguity. It also offers more nickname choices for the future. At last, I have some conviction about what to call our baby!

OP posts:
dubz · 11/07/2012 22:29

Both are really lovely. I think you have made the right decision and Elizabeth gives lots of options if you/she/friends decide she is more of a softer person (or if she turns into a party animal)

ceeveebee · 11/07/2012 22:34

Our Dd is called Eliza and we love the name, haven't met many other Eliza's so far either

exoticfruits · 11/07/2012 22:38

Both lovely but prefer Eliza.

Badgerina · 11/07/2012 22:48

Like them both. I think Eliza goes better with Vivienne. Lovely names Smile

birdofthenorth · 11/07/2012 22:55

Eliza is lovely.

mrtu · 16/07/2012 02:28

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

glamourcats · 16/07/2012 02:31

Oh do fuck off mrtu

winkle2 · 16/07/2012 23:20

All beautiful names!

emmyloo2 · 18/07/2012 06:50

I would stick with Elizabeth which is an absolutely gorgeous name. Perhaps a different nickname? However I also love Helena however given you have already chosen Elizabeth I would stick with that.
P.s. I always think of Eliza as a stand alone name but perhaps I am wrong??

Kaekae · 18/07/2012 13:29

I LOVE Eliza, if it wasn't for the fact my DD has Elizabeth as a middle name I would use it 100%.

NarkedRaspberry · 18/07/2012 13:55

Eliza is going to be very popular.

MoonHare · 18/07/2012 18:44

I love the name Eliza, it's on our shortlist for DC3. Helena is nice too but I prefer the more sparky sound of Eliza.

racingheart · 18/07/2012 18:48

Both gorgeous. Eliza was top of our list if we'd had girls. By the way, I love love love the name Vivienne. So beautiful and elegant and unusual. Great name.

Dogsmom · 18/07/2012 19:15

I prefer Helena, as you say it sounds quite sophisticated and pretty and I can imagine it being suitable for any age although I do love both.

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