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Original poster

How would you pronounce Helena?

57 replies

Icecappedpinetrees · 06/04/2016 17:52

Just that really....

How would you pronounce the name Helena? Also general opinion on name? Would she always be correcting people/spelling it? Am I overthinking this???

Thanks.

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Finallyonboard · 06/04/2016 22:12

Helen-nu

DramaAlpaca · 06/04/2016 22:11

I pronounce it with the stress on the first syllable.

Nospringflower · 06/04/2016 21:19

My mum is a Hell- een - a.

Luciferbox · 06/04/2016 21:00

Did say Helen-a but now know two who go by Hell-en-na.

LonestarStateOfMind · 06/04/2016 20:58

The Helena I know pronounces her name as Hel-leee-na

Parsley1234 · 06/04/2016 20:04

I'm Hell ay na and get called Helena Heleena and mostly H I think a good nick name would be Leni

GrouchyKiwi · 06/04/2016 19:57

My sister is Hel-ay-na. She adds an accent to the second E (so Heléna). She usually gets "Layna" as a shortened name, but we also call her "Nayna".

NancyDroop · 06/04/2016 19:53

It can be shortened to Ellie as well.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 06/04/2016 19:50

Hel-enna

Olbersparadox · 06/04/2016 19:49

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

AuntJane · 06/04/2016 19:42

The Helen-a I know is nn Hele

Sophronia · 06/04/2016 19:01

helen-a, although I know a hel-ee-na

Original poster
Icecappedpinetrees · 06/04/2016 18:54

Smile yes hardly appealing nickname!

Shortened to
Lena (lay-na?)

Anyone experience/use that?

OP posts:
doubleclaptrap · 06/04/2016 18:51

How do other people shorten it, or don't you? Hell doesn't go down well.

Original poster
Icecappedpinetrees · 06/04/2016 18:47

Thank you everyone.

We would prefer the Hel-ay-na version so I'm happy that this is fairly recognised and accepted.

It's that or Sylvia I think. I'm really struggling....

OP posts:
AutumnRose1988 · 06/04/2016 18:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CremeEggThief · 06/04/2016 18:19

In Ireland, it's pronounced as Heleena, a lot of the time, and in Europe, Helayna. I prefer both of those to Helen-a, to be honest.

Winterdaisy · 06/04/2016 18:19

Helen -a yes you will be correcting people

Artandco · 06/04/2016 18:17

Hel- Len- a

HelenaJustina · 06/04/2016 18:16

I have one Hell-en-a, emphasis on the first syllable. We/she has never had to correct anybody. Seems so far like most British people assume this pronunciation.

StitchesInTime · 06/04/2016 18:16

Helen-a

doubleclaptrap · 06/04/2016 18:15

We have one of these in the family. The usual pronunciation is the same emphasis on all syllables, but the occasional person pronounces it with the emphasis on syllable 2.
A problem with it is that it's difficult to shorten it, and 3 syllables is a bit of a mouthful.

ZenNudist · 06/04/2016 18:14

Hell-en-a but I answer to all variants and it doesn't bother me!

Good name Wink

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 06/04/2016 18:13

I would have to ask because I know a couple of Helena's with the different pronounciations.

I prefer Hell-ay-na.

I think she'd always be correcting people.

Floggingmolly · 06/04/2016 18:12

Hel-ay-na.

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