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Baby names

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

Original poster

His do YOU pronounce Helena?

74 replies

MimiSunshine · 08/01/2019 19:19

I like the name Helena but only if it’s Hell-AYN-a. Not a fan of HELL-ehn-a

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DulciUke · 09/01/2019 03:33

Hell-en-ah. Never heard of anyone using Hell-ay-nah. But if that is what you like, go for it.

notangelinajolie · 09/01/2019 03:30

I only know one and she is a twenty something friend of one of my DC's. She is very posh and pronounces her name as ...

Helen - a

Mum2OneTeen · 09/01/2019 03:16

Hell-een-ah

mathanxiety · 09/01/2019 03:14

Hell-EE-na (this is a typical Irish pronunciation) or Helen-a if I think the Helena is British.

caringcarer · 08/01/2019 23:31

Hel ena

Ngaio2 · 08/01/2019 23:28

Until H Bonham Carter came along I’d only heard it pronounced as Hel lay nah. I believe either pronunciation is acceptable .
A lovely name ( means light) that isn’t too popular

llangennith · 08/01/2019 22:06

I always ask the person (adult or child) how they pronounce it. My default pronunciation is Helen-a.

Janleverton · 08/01/2019 21:34

HELL-en-a

Lovely name. I much prefer the HELL-en-a but I’m not keen on hel-ay-na.

CarrieBlu · 08/01/2019 21:33

Hell-enn-a.

NataliaOsipova · 08/01/2019 21:31

Helen - a. Definitely. Anything else sounds wrong/made up.

PollyEthel · 08/01/2019 21:28

To rhyme with Eleanor

libellule1 · 08/01/2019 21:25

Hell-lean-a
I'm antipodean

Amicompletelyinsane · 08/01/2019 21:05

HEl ayn ah. Never heard it as Helen-a but can see why people would

Enidblyton1 · 08/01/2019 21:05

Definitely Helen-a here.

But don’t let it put you off OP. My DD has a name which can be pronounced differently in different places. It’s not a big deal - all her friends pronounce it the way we pronounce it.

RedDwarves · 08/01/2019 21:03

Helen-uh, like Helena Bonham Carter.

You're more likely to get hel-AY-nah in the US.

Hushabyelullaby · 08/01/2019 21:01

Helen-a, sorry OP, however you only need to tell the person the correct pronunciation once and that should clarify how it is said

WhatASmashingBlouse · 08/01/2019 21:00

I would pronounce it Helen-a

What about Helaina?

FayFortune · 08/01/2019 21:00

HEL en a.

Sallycinnamon17 · 08/01/2019 20:58

Helen-a sorry, I know three of them and they all pronounce it like that.

Cosmoa · 08/01/2019 20:55

I never know which to go for and always ask first if I see it

BrusselPout · 08/01/2019 20:55

HELL-ehn-a I know a couple of varying ages and that's how they all pronounce it

SweetbutAPsycho · 08/01/2019 20:40

I would say hell- eh- nah

Original poster
MimiSunshine · 08/01/2019 20:35

Thanks all. Quite mixed then, one for the list

OP posts:
CathyBigBalls · 08/01/2019 20:16

Eh-lay-na

BartonHollow · 08/01/2019 20:15

For me it's Helen-a

I'm half Irish and a relative of a relative is Hell-ee-na

I think that's the Irish pronunciation

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