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Baby names

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Original poster

How would you pronounce Lena?

88 replies

WhiteHairReally · 27/06/2018 18:09

So, ‘Mr and Mrs Michael Tindall’ have announced that their nearly new daughter is to be called Lena Elizabeth. Pronounced ‘Lay na’.

I have to admit that I’d have pronounced it ‘Lee-na’ but rather like this alternative pronouncation.

Is she in for a lifetime of initial explanations of how to pronounce her name?

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rackhampearl · 07/07/2018 11:43

My Nanna was called Lena and it was pronounced 'Lee-nah' I don't know any other Lena's pronounced 'lay-nah' odd

adoggymama · 07/07/2018 11:42

I like Lena but would spell it 'Léna' so it's actually translates to 'lay-na'

Pudding01 · 07/07/2018 11:29

I'd pronounce it Lay-na. But only because I know someone called Elena, who pronounces it E-lay-na. Think it's lovely x

SleepEatPoopRepeat · 07/07/2018 09:12

I know one Lena ...older lady and she pronounces it Leena

BertieBotts · 06/07/2018 19:11

E can be pronounced in lots of ways. Like hen or like penis (um.... sorry... it was the only word which came to mind!) or like oven or like envelope (which can be the same as hen or more like on-velope) and particularly in names it can make a sort of ay sound. Like someone else said, it's closer to é really. Helena has this pattern in some pronunciations.

SemperIdem · 06/07/2018 19:09

gilly

In most European languages Eva is pronounced Ava. Lena is a similarly European sort of name.

gillybeanz · 06/07/2018 18:59

But surely it's an e and sounds like one, not an a that sounds nothing like an e Grin

misty252 · 06/07/2018 18:55

Layna- and it's a beautiful name

Sessy19 · 06/07/2018 18:47

Beautiful name.

I can’t see folk such as the Tindalls have a HUGE problem explaining the pronunciation of their daughter’s names.

Typically MumsNet, some PP are an Oracle on baby naming, no room for variation. Shame about that.

BasicBetty · 02/07/2018 11:30

Layna definitely. Lovely name.

mathanxiety · 02/07/2018 07:47

Lee-na would be my guess. I am Irish and know three.

But the Lay-na pronunciation is found elsewhere iirc. Very nice either way imo. I thought Mia was a very blah choice for them. (Sweet child though).

DwangelaForever · 01/07/2018 22:29

I would say lenna pronounced like Lennon if you know what I mean

thegreylady · 01/07/2018 18:46

I know a Polish Len(n)a too. I don’t like Leena, don’t mind Layna or Lenna.

BertieBotts · 01/07/2018 18:13

Leena or Laina, either would seem normal to me.

I know a Helena and an Annalena - both of them have the laina ending, although Annalena sometimes uses leena.

YY to German aspect to pronunciation. It's not as strong as ay, defo more like é.

trueblueari · 01/07/2018 18:08

I'd pronounce it Lay-na. Lovely name!

PopPoppityPop · 01/07/2018 17:54

Len-ah

sonnyboo · 01/07/2018 13:45

Very popular in Germany!

The pronunciation can't really be expressed in English but it's somewhat similar to Lay-na. But it's not Ay bu more like é.

FASH84 · 01/07/2018 13:36

Layna like Elena

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 30/06/2018 19:36

Lee-na.

SemperIdem · 30/06/2018 19:34

I’d have assumed “lee-na” but the “lay-nah” pronunciation would have been a close second.

“My-ah” for Mia on the other hand...

Redisthemagicolour · 30/06/2018 18:53

My Nan was called Lena. Pronounced Lee-na so that seems right to me. But I know a young Polish girl who is Lena pronounced Lenna. My Nan would have been 94 now if she was alive so she obviously is the old lady referred to above (although she was once a baby too of course!!)

stickygotstuck · 30/06/2018 18:50

Leh-nah, like half Elena.

I know a Serena (nn Re), and her full name is pronounced Seh-reh-nah.

Names with a Latin /Greek root I'd always pronounce as it's written (in the original Latin, not the adapted English) unless otherwise instructed by the owner of the name.

bellinisurge · 30/06/2018 18:45

Lee-na. Or, if you were Russian, Lye- na.

halcyondays · 30/06/2018 18:44

I thought Leena too but Layna is nice.Perhaps their using it will make it more popular. I suppose Helena can be pronounced in two ways as well.

Skyejuly · 29/06/2018 14:06

I know one and it's said Lay-na