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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is Helena a bit boring?

65 replies

Messalena · 30/11/2018 17:36

What do you think of Helena?

I’d semi forgotten about it but its clean, simple sound really appeals to me (would pronounce with stress on the first syllable, like H Bonham Carter).

Helen is a family name so it appeals from that perspective too.

Our other favourite was/is Apolline, which I realise is a lot more “out there”... What do you think? Is Helena a bit dull in comparison? How about Helena Apolline as a combo, maybe?

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KellyMarieTunstall2 · 30/11/2018 17:51

Helena is lovely and classic. Apolline is unusual.

Chickenitalia · 30/11/2018 17:51

Helena is a pretty name but I can think of at least 3 ways to say it, so that could get annoying quickly. However if introduced verbally I think any pronunciation would be spelled correctly.

Apolline would probably never be spelled or said properly, and would become Polly. Fine if you’re all ok with that, it’s certainly unusual.

I would go with Helena, of the two. Use apolline as a middle name if you love it.

daisypond · 30/11/2018 17:50

It's lovely.

NannyR · 30/11/2018 17:49

It's a lovely name. However I know a couple and they all pronounce it slightly differently - Helen-a, hel-EE-na and hel-AY-na.

InvisibleLlama · 30/11/2018 17:47

Lovely except if your surname is Handcart.

Sallygoroundthemoon · 30/11/2018 17:44

Helena is a lovely name.

AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight · 30/11/2018 17:44

Apolline I think is quite popular in France, or did I make that up? It's very sophisticated, but has a bit of potential for variations in pronunciation/stress. Prefer Helena.

AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight · 30/11/2018 17:42

(We would have pronounced it HEL-ena - some might pronounce it Hel-EY-na. That's the one issue I can think of with it)

AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight · 30/11/2018 17:41

Not boring - lovely, and unusual. Ds2 would have been a Helena had he been a girl. We called dd something else (born subsequently), but it was among our frontrunners.

GetOffTheTableMabel · 30/11/2018 17:41

No, it’s elegant. It works for all ages and stages of life. It’s a proper name, but not too commonplace. Unusual enough but without constantly spelling or explaining it. Lovely.

AdaColeman · 30/11/2018 17:41

It's lovely!

Winterwonderland12 · 30/11/2018 17:41

I much prefer Apolline! Beautiful.

Helena is ok but may be pronounced in different ways.

happytoday73 · 30/11/2018 17:40

I also love the Polish version... Halina

happytoday73 · 30/11/2018 17:39

it's a beautiful name. I love it

Alienspaceship · 30/11/2018 17:37

It’s beautiful and classic

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