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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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RedDwarves · 27/06/2018 22:56

Leena.

I would expect Layna more from Americans (i.e. Helena is Helayna).

Choccywoccyhooha · 27/06/2018 22:53

If the family were British I would assume that it was pronounced Lay-na. If they were American, I would assume Lee-na. If they were from mainland Europe then I would say Len--a.

LucyFox · 27/06/2018 22:48

Leena...
why not spell it Laina or Layna if that’s what they want?

Anoisagusaris · 27/06/2018 22:48

I’m not British but I can’t see how it could be Layna.

I pronounce it Leena, as does anyone I know who is called it does. Similarly, anyone I know called Helena pronounces it Heleena.

I can understand both being pronounced with short e sounds but not ay sounds.

BlondeB83 · 27/06/2018 22:42

Lay-na

JessambardKingdomBrunel · 27/06/2018 22:41

I would have said Leena, like Lena Dunham.

But equally, I know an Elena pronounced E-Lay-na, so I suppose it's like that.

HeyDolly · 27/06/2018 21:08

Without being told otherwise I would’ve pronounced it Lee-nah.

I’m a bit surprised at their choice but I guess they have a lot more leeway than Kate & Wills to be able to veer away from more traditional/boring names.

Susannach · 27/06/2018 20:29

I would say “LAY-nuh”. It’s pretty and nice with Mia. Good luck to them!

mydogisthebest · 27/06/2018 20:22

How on earth can LENA be pronounced Layna? If that's the way they want it pronounced then they should spell it different. Just seems pretentious to me People are always always going to get it wrong.

Sorry but I do think it is an awful name.

HJL2506 · 27/06/2018 18:59

My husbands cousin has twin girls and one of them is called Lena. It's pronounced to rhyme with Nina (Lee-na).

ToffeeUp · 27/06/2018 18:49

I know a few Dutch and German Lay-nah's and English Lee-na's

DramaAlpaca · 27/06/2018 18:48

I've heard it pronounced both Leena & Layna. It's nice either way & goes well with Mia.

Aprilshouldhavebeenmyname · 27/06/2018 18:47

Pronounced Leena our neighbour was a lovely one! Hope the baby follows suit.
Though dps gonna be forever correcting folk!!

weebarra · 27/06/2018 18:45

I only know older women called Lena, it is a bit of an "older" name in Scotland. Names like Lena, Agnes, Minnie, Ina, Effie. And I'd pronounce it Lee-nah.

MikeUniformMike · 27/06/2018 18:42

I would have guessed Leena or Lenna, but the Layna sound is nice.
Congratulations to the Tindalls

897654321abcvrufhfgg · 27/06/2018 18:35

I know 2 Lena’s and it is Ley-na for both and they are both lovely little girls

QueenCity · 27/06/2018 18:31

I know two Lenas and they are both pronounced Layna so Leena would seem wrong to me.

Branleuse · 27/06/2018 18:29

id pronounce it Layna or Lehna

GrainneWail · 27/06/2018 18:28

It's a lot more charming than you, mydogisthebest Hmm

mydogisthebest · 27/06/2018 18:27

I would pronounce it Leena. Never heard it pronounced any other way.

I think it is an odd choice. Horrible name suitable, in my opinion, only for old ladies

SmashedMug · 27/06/2018 18:25

I would pronounce it Layna but have met a few Lee-nas too. Also heard it pronounced L-yeh-na.

Theycouldhavechoseneve · 27/06/2018 18:24

I work with a Helena (Helen-a) and and Alicia (Aleesha) and a bloke who also works with us knows this but calls them Hel-ay-na and Alice-ia. Not even my name but does my head in

ShatnersBassoon · 27/06/2018 18:24

Leaner, as in Zavaroni.

AlonsoTigerHeart · 27/06/2018 18:24

Leena

RoboJesus · 27/06/2018 18:23

Like lenna

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