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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 17:51

Dorman, nothing, but unfortunate I know that others do judge.

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AvaCrowder · 13/12/2015 17:50

If I saw Helaina I would probably pronounce it Helina. I would use the conventional spellings, they are both lovely names.

PerspicaciaTick · 13/12/2015 17:49

In 2014, according to the ONS figures, 51 girls in England and Wales were called Elaina and just 3 were called Helaina.

I really don't think that pointing out these spellings are unusual, unexpected and likely to cause confusion is "othering" of an entire group of people.

Pinkangel23 · 13/12/2015 17:48

Alternative spellings can evoke strong opinions! DD is Laina- Finnish name. Not everyone was keen on it but it's unusual and suits her.

Oysterbabe · 13/12/2015 17:48

The spelling is terrible and I would be embarrassed to have that name.
At work I have to give out my email address over the phone multiple times per day. Everyone knows how to spell Helena. If it was Helaina I'd have to spell it every time rather than just say [email protected]
Annoying.

Dornan · 13/12/2015 17:47

Barbie what has intellectual snobbery got to do with class?

There are plenty of bright, educated people in all different social strata.

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:45

Yes, I did come on mn but foolishly I didn't expect such unanimous dislike over this spelling. Maybe 30 percent in favour.

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

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Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:42

Dorman, hence why I mentioned class

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Borninthe60s · 13/12/2015 17:40

I've a name that can be spelt two ways, I purposely gave my children names that left people in no doubt how to, spell them. Personally I like Elena and Helena and find your spellings very unusual, plus so,e people may mis pronounce el en a with e lane a IFYSWIM

StrawberryTeaLeaf · 13/12/2015 17:37

Make no mistake. This is racist behavior. We are emphasizing the otherness of an entire group of people to put ourselves over and above them.

Grin

Yes dear of course it is - the 'others' meaning 'people who can't spell'? Some of us like to emphasise our difference from them. By spelling reasonably well. That doesn't make them an ethnic group. They're just bad at spelling.

Dornan · 13/12/2015 17:37

Barbie you can spell your babies name anyway that you and your partner like.

But you came on to Mumsnet and asked for opinions. And that's what you got - opinions. Mumsnet is well known for being rather straight talking.

Not liking alternative spellings, isn't racist on Mumsnet. It just isn't.

It's intellectual snobbery, but it's not racist.

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:36

Strawberry maybenin the UK its class, not race?

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OneMoreCasualty · 13/12/2015 17:36

I don't think it will solve the spelling it out problem, OP. If Helaina says her name on the phone, the listener will write down Helena.

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:35

You don't want to get it, strawberry, thats fine.

My simple point is that there are people out there with these names. For what reason do we judge them?

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Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:32

It looks it because of your preconceived ideas of what a name should look like

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StrawberryTeaLeaf · 13/12/2015 17:32

And if you think your preplanned goady fuckery isn't showing, you are mistaken.

What response to 'Helaina' did you expect on MN baby names? Oh yes the entirely predictable justified one that would lead up to you illogically yelling 'racist' Hmm

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:31

Quote:

We use the situation as an opportunity for bonding. THOSE people who are not like you and me – THEY name their children things like THIS! Not like you and me who name our children more respectably.

Make no mistake. This is racist behavior. We are emphasizing the otherness of an entire group of people to put ourselves over and above them.

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StrawberryTeaLeaf · 13/12/2015 17:27

Pretend to hear any subtext you like.

The meaning of 'wow that looks illiterate' repeated a dozen times, slightly differently phrased is pretty bloody clear.

IT LOOKS ILLITERATE.

There is no history in the UK of any particular racial group spelling names creatively or phonetically, anyway, so you make little sense.

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:23

Hmmm... or maybe by illiterate you mean some dumb ass ethnic. At least thats the subtext im getting.

gadflyonthewallblog.wordpress.com/2015/09/06/white-people-need-to-stop-snickering-at-black-names/

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ThisIsWhyImBroke · 13/12/2015 17:20

I really love the name Helaina pronounced that way :)

Pinklily1 · 13/12/2015 17:16

I think by 'illiterate' I was meaning that to me, where a fairly standard name like Helena is spelt differently to the traditional/ more common spelling, I think it looks slightly odd and as if either the namer made an error or spelt it that way to be purposefully different (which is not something I like). Its a beautiful name and personally, I would stick with the more usual spelling. I have a name that can be spelt in one of two ways and I constantly have to confirm the correct spelling, which gets irritating.

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:14

Harsh that the people I mentioned might have had illiterate parents?

Yup, thats harsh and more than likely untrue.

You guys have been reading too much Freakanomics to justify your own prejudices.

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SueDunome · 13/12/2015 17:07

Harsh but true

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:03

Im new on the site and posed what I thought was a harmless question and didn't need the likes of you, Costa, to be so blunt.

Thanks everyone for advice. Will bear it in mind

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Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:00

costa wow! Thats a little harsh!

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