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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 17:00

OK, I get about the spelling but now im curious about those who think spelling the names with an ai are illiterate! Thats a bit strong imo

OP posts:
Costacoffeeplease · 13/12/2015 16:59

Their parents might have been illiterate, we don't know, but if you're happy to be thought illiterate, then crack on

TheNumberfaker · 13/12/2015 16:58

If you want to use any of those spellings, go ahead, but they do look daft!

SoupDragon · 13/12/2015 16:56

^phonetic spelling will save them a lifetime of correcting people who call them the other version?

And give them a lifetime of spelling their name to people.

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 13/12/2015 16:56

I would

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 16:54

A quick internet search pulls up Elaina Owen, Olympic medalist from 60s ans Dr Helaina Black, ecologist.

Theres also a Dr Elaina Collie Duguid at University of Aberdeen. I wouldn't think their parents were illiterate

OP posts:
WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 13/12/2015 16:53

They'll have to spell it out for everyone, surely?

Pinklily1 · 13/12/2015 16:53

Both are awful. They would get asked fewer questions/ have fewer issues having to spell the names if you used the traditional spellings. Otherwise I agree with others, they look made up/ like the namer can't spell properly.

Pooka · 13/12/2015 16:52

Actually scratch that - what I wrote makes no sense at all. Brain's not working today.

I still think helaina looks wrong and not really different to feebee.

Spidertracker · 13/12/2015 16:51

Helena is lovely. I would role my eyes at the spelling Helaina though. If you are decided on one or the other I would go for Helaina as Elaina looks like you were aiming for Elaine and made a typo.

Pooka · 13/12/2015 16:51

You'd be setting did up for a lifetime of saying "Helena spelt helaina" which is no different really to "Helena pronounced helaina"

Stirling84 · 13/12/2015 16:49

If you want the pronunciation to be unambiguous use an East European spelling like Jelena.

Veterinari · 13/12/2015 16:49

I went to school with n Alaina (25 years ago )
How about that?

Costacoffeeplease · 13/12/2015 16:48

Yep, dreadful, nothing wrong with the original names, 'creative' spellings look like illiteracy

SoupDragon · 13/12/2015 16:44

I think they look dreadful, particularly Helaina. Surely spelling them phonetically is exactly the same as Feebee?

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 13/12/2015 16:43

Nope, they look daft, sorry. Elena and Helena are both pronounced that way although they both have alternative pronunciations. Don't stick random diagraphs in names because you don't like the usual spelling.
Phonetically spelt variations of names always look to me like the namer is illiterate.