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Original poster

will people know how to pronounce Elena?

64 replies

MrsCharlieD · 05/01/2014 21:32

Hi ladies Im just after some feedback really. We've decided if bimba turns out to be a girl that we will name her Elena. We've shared this with close family and have had people mispronouncing it which had never crossed my mind would happen. so far I've heard e-len-a, a-leen-a and ee-len-ar. Is this a difficult name to know how to pronounce? We have always pronounced it e-lay-na x

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OverByYer · 29/11/2021 21:45

Why do people do this?

ZenNudist · 29/11/2021 21:32

Oh Zombie thread... how bizarre

ZenNudist · 29/11/2021 21:29

I have similar name and just answer to variants of it. The most common will be Eh-lay-nah, eh-len-ah, and eh-lay nor (despite the ending) and even making the middle sound "lee". Lots of ways to say but as it's practically my name I'm not going to criticise

Blubells · 29/11/2021 21:29

I'd pronounce Elayna as Elayna.

But Elena is Elena imo.

OverByYer · 29/11/2021 21:27

Eh-lay-nah

Blubells · 29/11/2021 21:25

How is ‘len’ pronounced ‘lay’?

Exactly. It's El en ah.

And Lena is Lehn-ah. There no ay either.

Blubells · 29/11/2021 21:23

Elena is pronounced as it's written:

El en a

Like Ellen with an a.

There's no ay sound.

ferneytorro · 29/11/2021 15:04

Friends daughter is called Elena. Everyone seems to cope with pronouncing it like you’ve described. She’s 12.

crochetmonkey74 · 29/11/2021 14:44

I teach three Elenas at the moment - one pronounces it El-ay-na
the other two pronounce it Ellen-ar (exactly the same as Eleanor)

NowEvenBetter · 29/11/2021 14:34

I’d say Lena as Leena (Dunham)
@DyeKen revived this ZOMBIETHREAD why?

ChessieFL · 29/11/2021 14:04

The child is now 7 years old so I don’t think it matters any more.

Zombie Thread!!!

steppemum · 29/11/2021 13:50

@NowEvenBetter

Ellen-ah How is ‘len’ pronounced ‘lay’?
In the same way that Lena is pronounces LAY -na?

Lena is the abbreviation for Elena in many Russian speaking countries

steppemum · 29/11/2021 13:49

I think there are several pronunciations depending on country.

I know a German Elena where it is the same name as English Eleanor (so ELLE en er).

And Russian ones where it is Elle LAY na.

I speak Dutch and Russian and it is usually pronounced those 2 ways in Dutch/German and Russian speaking countries respectively

Mintearo7 · 29/11/2021 13:42

I would say E-lay-na. But if I was you I would spell it Elaina. Just as pretty but more likely to get the pronunciation that you want (but also concede you are just not get 100% pronunciation with that name).

NowEvenBetter · 29/11/2021 12:03

Ellen-ah
How is ‘len’ pronounced ‘lay’?

SequinsandStiIettos · 29/11/2021 04:11

eh-LAY- na here but that's because of the Spanish origin
Eleanor is el-len-a
Alina is a-leen-a
ee-len-ar - absolutely no idea Grin

DyeKen · 29/11/2021 04:00

So would I.
But there are obviously multiple ways to pronounce the name. It's up to the person whose name it is.

miffybun73 · 12/01/2014 11:00

I would assume E-Lay-na, but I know a three year old Elena who is El-e-na (similar to Eleanor).

Rosieliveson · 12/01/2014 09:23

Finding out today aren't you?

Hope it goes well

gruffalosfriend · 12/01/2014 08:03

ELLEN-a for me.

magichamster · 12/01/2014 07:39

I'm a supply teacher and when I see this name on the register I usually say El-lay-na, because that's how I would say it. I am usually corrected to el-len-a, so that's the usual pronunciation round these parts.

JapaneseMargaret · 12/01/2014 07:34

We have a 3.5YO Helena (lay) and yes, you have to make your peace with the fact that people will mispronounce it as often as not. :)

Just be sure that won't bother you. It doesn't bother us - just hope it won't bother DD!

Artandco · 11/01/2014 22:50

Elena- el len a
Alina - el leen a
Elaina - e lay na

Oriunda · 07/01/2014 20:31

Are you Italian (bimba = little girl)? In Italy the Elenas I know pronounce it Ell-Len-ah.

Gunznroses · 07/01/2014 13:16

One of my close friends is called (Elena) 'E-lay-na', she is Spanish, everyone pronounces her name like this and so does she, its a lovely name Smile