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Baby names

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

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Original poster

How would you pronounce Elena?

83 replies

lucieloos · 11/01/2017 08:50

I would say E-Leh-Nah. What are your thoughts on the name and which spelling do you prefer? Elena, Elenna or Eleanor?

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Dakota1 · 11/01/2017 14:05

I think it mostly depends on the person - all variations of the name are possible.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 11/01/2017 12:55

Eh - lee - nah.

wundringnow · 11/01/2017 12:49

I have a friend named Elena in her late 30s and she's supposed to be pronounced "eh-LEH-nah" with the first syllable a schwa, but throughout our childhood people mostly called her Eleanor or Elaina when they first met her. Nobody ever got it right first time.

Original poster

lucieloos · 11/01/2017 12:12

Good advice quartz, I think that's what we will do if we go with the name. I'm sure it won't take people long to pick up on the way we want to pronounce it.

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Quartz2208 · 11/01/2017 12:02

Agree the lay is Spanish (I have the theme tune to Elena of Avalor in my head and that is Eh-Lay-na)

I think its a name though that has developed different ways of pronouncing it (like Alicia) so pick one you like and stick with it people will get used to it!

MarmiteDoesYouGood · 11/01/2017 11:54

I wonder where some people get the lay sound from...?

It's an extremely common Spanish/Italian/Portuguese name and we live in a global world these days where we are exposed to a lot of Latin culture, people, language, etc. I think it's also pronounced that way in the Slavic versions too.

So to me, Eh-lay-na seems normal. It's how I'd say it.

twocockersarebetterthanone · 11/01/2017 11:51

Elle eh ner

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 11/01/2017 11:48

Ell-ain-a with a short 'a' like in cat

Breezy1985 · 11/01/2017 11:48

The Elena I know is pronounced El-ee-nah

Original poster

lucieloos · 11/01/2017 11:47

Thats what I wonder star. The lay sounds more American to me.

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Freedom2017 · 11/01/2017 11:45

I know an Elena pronounced El-en-a.

Lots of Ellens and Eleanors and Ellies in my area.

Staranise123 · 11/01/2017 11:44

I wonder where some people get the lay sound from...? It's Elena, not Elayna .

Original poster

lucieloos · 11/01/2017 10:37

I don't mind Elinor but not keen on the 'nor' at the end as I wouldn't pronounce it 'nor' same with Eleanor.

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MiriAmmerman · 11/01/2017 10:33

Eh-LAY-nuh. Although people would only need to be corrected once.
A (Welsh) friend of mine pronounces her name the way you like, and she spells it Elinor (often shortened to Elin). Do you like that?

cheekyfunkymonkey · 11/01/2017 10:32

Eh- lay- na

KavvLar · 11/01/2017 10:30

There is a new Disney Princess called Elena of Avalor and they pronounce that El ay na. I have an Italian friend called Elena and she pronounces it Elinor. However anyone who reads her name pronounces it El ay na.

Original poster

lucieloos · 11/01/2017 10:26

I would be happy with El-len-ah just don't like the El-lay-nah.

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MollyHuaCha · 11/01/2017 10:26

I would pronounce the name either as EL-en-a or El-LAY-na. Either way, it's pretty. I think anyone with this name can expect to get their name wrongly pronounced throughout their life, also it will be misheard as Helena, Eleanor, Yelena...

ineedmorelemonpledge · 11/01/2017 10:22

El-len-ah.

Because I have a Greek colleague and that's how she pronounces her name.

FrizzBombDelight · 11/01/2017 10:18

Oooh love this name, adding it to my list!!

ElornaElephant · 11/01/2017 10:14

(Oh, and my name is not Elorna...just noticed what my username is atm and realised what it could look like!)

ElornaElephant · 11/01/2017 10:12

As a side note I came across the Elinor spelling recently and thought that was really pretty, another alternative for you?

ElornaElephant · 11/01/2017 10:11

I know an Elena which is pronounced Eh-lay-nah (and she hates it, goes by Ellie!) but gets the Eleanor pronunciation constantly from people she meets.

Original poster

lucieloos · 11/01/2017 10:09

Also I would pronounce Eleanor the lazy way like El-en-ah rather than El-la-nor

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Original poster

lucieloos · 11/01/2017 10:08

We can't use Ellen/Elen on its own. Seems like some pronounce it Ell-en-ah and some El-lay-na. I've looked at pronunciation on google and they seem to say El-en-ah so maybe just go with whichever we prefer I guess. I would pronounce Helena as Hel-en-ah as well so I guess maybe it's a regional variation thing and some would pronounce Helena as Hel-lay-ah?

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