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Baby names

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

Original poster

Elaina/Helaina

141 replies

Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 16:40

I love these 2 names, pronounced this way. I know many mnetters are anti 'made up' name's but I think in this instance phonetic spelling will save them a lifetime of correcting people who call them the other version?

Its not like Feebee for instance...

Please mumsnet guide me!

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Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 19:19

It does sadden me when I hear parents in my eldest son's class mock certain students names with comments like 'well I know what kind of families they're from.'

And some of these parents have children called Evie, Jamie, Gracie on BC but aren't these made up names? They might not seem it as they're unpopular use, but still...

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Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 19:12

iguana so Elora is OK as its not a made up selling of popular name? OK,I can understand that.

Also can I just add that I didn't make up these names. These versions have been in circulation for awhile.

Also I m challenging the quick to judge. It's one thing saying this version confuses you because youre not used to this spelling, quite another to say you'd presume the parents were illiterate.

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villainousbroodmare · 13/12/2015 19:10

Elena and Helena are practically perfect names imo. Elegant, feminine, internationally familiar yet not overused. I definitely wouldn't invent an offbeat spelling to spoil them.

IguanaTail · 13/12/2015 19:02

Although if someone said Elora to me I would think it was spelt Alaura or Elaura. Another name she will have to spell out every time. But at least it's not a made up version of a very popular name.

A boy at a school where I taught was called Jaymiee because his dad couldn't spell the name.

IguanaTail · 13/12/2015 19:00

You are asking people's opinions and then having a go at them for judging. Either accept that a number of people will think it's appalling or decide that you want your child to have to spell out her name for her entire life and get on with it.

I quite like Elora. It's pretty without looking illiterate.

Sunshine511 · 13/12/2015 19:00

Maybe I sound like an idiot for writing this, but when I read the names at the top of this page, I had to re-read and actually take a moment to think of the pronunciations because I've never seen these names spelt this way. If it said Elena and Helena at the top of the thread, I would have instantly pronounced them the right way. Could cause you more trouble that anything to change them to phonetic spelling. Like someone else has said, they will always have to spell their name out which is an unnecessary draw back in my opinion.x

Costacoffeeplease · 13/12/2015 18:58

or this says something about the mumsnet demographic.

Grin

Perhaps it says that it's totally unnecessary to invent mis-spellings of perfectly normal names

AvaCrowder · 13/12/2015 18:55

I much prefer Elena and Helena.

TheNumberfaker · 13/12/2015 18:50

Made up names are great for made up places. Some do manage to transition well to the real world, like Wendy and Lorna, but others don't.

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 18:30

Guys, my other option is Elora.

As far as I know it was made up in the film Willow in 1988.

Whats your thought on this name?

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Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 18:21

perspick thanks for killing the name for me now Grin

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Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 18:20

There are a lot of Tolkien inspired names. Would this incur the same distaste?

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PerspicaciaTick · 13/12/2015 18:17

Olorna sounds like an expression of disappointment from a parent faced with Lorna having dropped tomato sauce down her top for the 500th time "Oh, Lorna".

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 18:17

Bertrand but when does a name no longer become made up? Teresa are middle aged people with this name. I don't know the answer to this, btw

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ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 13/12/2015 18:16

There are lots of names that at first glance might appear to be made up spellings but are in fact alternatives from other languages - daniyal and kacpar for example. I might raise an eyebrow at helaina but if I then found out that helaina was a usual spelling in Hungary for example I would put my eyebrow back.
If I realised that helaina's parents just wanted to make up their own spelling I would judge them as either poorly informed or misguided in their belief that a made up spelling is somehow special and interesting.
I'm not alone.

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 18:15

And there are lots of unusual names out there now so nothing really surprises me anymore.

I know a Dixie, Alaska, Faemae and Olorna. I particularly liked Olorna when I first heard it

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BertrandRussell · 13/12/2015 18:14

"I am either misinformed or this says something about the mumsnet demographic."

What demographic do you think would like a made up spelling of a well known name?

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 18:13

Actually he loves his name

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Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 18:12

Pinkangel I like Laina! Coming on mumsnet has been productive after all.

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BertrandRussell · 13/12/2015 18:11

"But lets be honest. You might think its odd at first but soon it would normalise. I know a Krizz, which made me double take but now its just his name."

It's normalised for you. Krizz will have to wait for it to normalise for every single person he meets for the rest of his life. That's 80 years of "No, it's Krizz. Yes, it is unusual, isn't it? No, have no idea why they did it."

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 18:09

OneNote, I agreed with this point earlier. Yes, that is something to consider and a very valid point.

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OneMoreCasualty · 13/12/2015 18:07

" I think in this instance phonetic spelling will save them a lifetime of correcting people who call them the other version?"

This made it seem like you are worried about mispronunciation - but surely mistranscription as per my example above is a similar concern?

EduCated · 13/12/2015 18:01

I knew a Helaina at primary school, so it doesn't seem so out there to me, but have to say it's not a name I ever particularly liked.

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:57

Oyster I know a Jane who hates her name. I know you think you might be embarrassed but if you were born with it, and got used to it, that might not be the case.

Im hardly suggesting Bumface

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Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:53

But lets be honest. You might think its odd at first but soon it would normalise. I know a Krizz, which made me double take but now its just his name.

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