Is this an awful nickname?

32 replies

ClareBell08 · 12/04/2014 16:13

Hi all :)

Sorry for my second post of the day. I have just got back from lunch with my sister and would love some thoughts!

So I posted earlier about my final 2 names selected for DD. DH and I think it will be a case of looking at her and seeing what fits. One of the names is Helena. My sister knows that I definitely want a name that can be shortened or turned into cute nicknames. Both her, my other sister and my brother all have names that can be shortened etc and I was always jealous when I was little! The most I ever got was Clarebear!

Anyway she asked what I would shorten Helena to and said that Heli was awful (apparently sounds like "smelly"?) I think though that with NN's they sort of just "happen" and develop but my DH and I have already discussed using Leni as a possible nn which I think is really cute! As soon as I mentioned it, sister blurts out "oh god no you can't call a little girl Leni that's awful!!" She said it's too "boyish" and "old man-y" To me though it's no different than Ronnie, Kenny (I know a little Kendra who gets Kenny) Billie, Bobby, Dani (not that we see many Danielle's these days but you get the point!)...what do you all think? Is Leni truly awful?

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BlondeMalteser · 12/04/2014 16:28

How are you planning on pronouncing Helena? like Helen-ah or Hel-ay-nah? If the latter, then how about Leni but pronounced more like Laney rather than Lenny? (Although I do think Leni is cute!) but just another suggestion.

Have you considered Eleni? I believe it's pronounced El-ay-nee and I think it's a Greek version of Helen. That way the "leni" would be said like Laney not Lenny so possibly a bit less masculine.

napoleonsnose · 12/04/2014 16:24

I went to school with a Leni - proper name Lorraine . I like Leni. Heidi Klum's daughter is called Leni.

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ClareBell08 · 12/04/2014 16:24

Chopsypie I'm not a fan of Nellie..can't disconnect it from "the elephant!" Also was my grandmother's mother's name. I never met her but hear she wasn't the nicest of people!

Thanks solveaproblemlikemaria and pippitypip. As you say I suppose the name will form over time

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NoArmaniNoPunani · 12/04/2014 16:22

I love Leni. Nellie is cute too

PippityPip · 12/04/2014 16:21

I also think Leni is quite cute. As you say no different from the "boy" names like Ronnie, Billy, Dani etc. If it fits, it fits :)

SolveAProblemLikeMaria · 12/04/2014 16:19

aww I think Leni is adorable!! I wouldn't have even though of that but it's really cute. Don't listen to your sister lol anyway like you said nn's often sort of "come about". My nephew was christened James with the intention of calling him Jamie but it somehow just didn't fit with him and my brother and his wife naturally started calling him Jimmy, so he's now Jim/Jimmy.

Similarly with my friend's daughter, named Alexandra with the plan being to nn her Lexi. Didn't seem to fit so she's Ali. Also nothing wrong with Heli.. I know plenty of Ellie/Elly's and never think "smelly!"

Chopsypie · 12/04/2014 16:16

I know two Helenas. One gets Nellie and the other gets hels.

I don't think Leni is too bad, but I prefer Nellie. As your sis said, Lenny is a male name, I associate it with the Simpsons!

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