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Original poster

How would you pronounce Helena?

138 replies

Zippetydoodahzippetyay · 27/10/2019 06:26

I love the name Helena but not sure if people would pronounce it the way I prefer it.

Would you pronounce it:

  1. Heh-lay-na
  2. Helen-a
  3. Hel-ee-na?
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lowlandLucky · 01/11/2019 07:51

My Greek Aunts name and its Hey lena

daisypond · 31/10/2019 06:53

There’s also the barrister and broadcaster Helena Kennedy - also 2.

AdalbertWaffling · 31/10/2019 00:18

Helen-a (as in Helena Bonham Carter). A very close relative is named this, and it's commonly mid-pronounced the first time, but as soon as she repeats it with the correct pronunciation people always remember. The same will happen if you do the same for a different pronunciation I'm sure! For background, the name is derived from Helios, the sun god, which I don't think has any factor in pronunciation but is kinda cool Smile

89redballoons · 30/10/2019 20:19

I am one, and I pronounce it like your (2). I would say when reading it for the first time, people get it wrong maybe 30% of the time. I correct them and don't really care about it, I really like my name Smile

dairymilkmonster · 30/10/2019 20:07

hel-an-a

Original poster
Zippetydoodahzippetyay · 30/10/2019 20:02

@Pemba haha

I actually now prefer He-lee-na followed by Helen-a as in Bonham Carter. Partly due to seeing/hearing them more while reading this thread and party because it occurred to me that He-lay-na rhymes a little too much with our surname.

OP posts:
Pemba · 30/10/2019 17:03

OK if no-one else is going to ask, I will, what pronunciation do you favour now then? Helen-a like Ms Bonham Carter?

Original poster
Zippetydoodahzippetyay · 30/10/2019 00:56

Such a mix of responses. Very interesting. And funnily enough, since I started this thread I think my favourite pronounciation has changed.

OP posts:
AllStarBySmashMouth · 29/10/2019 17:36

Helen-a. Although I know Heh-lay-nas - but you'd need to tell me that was the pronunciation. Otherwise you're gonna be Helen-a.

marjoretta · 29/10/2019 17:34

2

Theflying19 · 29/10/2019 17:33

2

Flicketyflack · 29/10/2019 14:31

2 as in Helena Bonham Carter

OceanPearl · 29/10/2019 14:27

1

Honeybee85 · 29/10/2019 14:15
Idolovetobebesidethesea · 29/10/2019 14:14
Blondebear123 · 29/10/2019 06:43

In Ireland helena is he-leena.

cloudydaysinautumn · 29/10/2019 06:38

Definitely 1 for me

CravingCheese · 29/10/2019 05:26

Elena would be EH-le-nuh or e-LE-nuh to me...
Or e-LAY-na. (I know someone who pronounces her name like that...)

Pemba · 29/10/2019 03:40

My point is you can't just say that 'Elena is definitely Elen-a' there are different pronunciations from different countries. That is obvious surely.

Not a British name so I suppose there's no 'British pronunciation' as such, but I still believe the most well-known version over here is 'El-ay-na'.

Pemba · 29/10/2019 03:31

I have known 2 Elenas, one now in her twenties, one would be in her 80s now. No connection between them. Both pronounced el-ay-na. I think it is the most common pronunciation here in the UK (not sure which country it comes from).

As for Helena, it would most commonly be Helen-a here, (as in Bonham Carter) but I am well aware of the other pronunciations. I think Hel-eena is the most usual way in Ireland, for example.

Babablackship · 28/10/2019 23:04

I have got no idea on the Helena, could be 1 or 2. But Elena is definitely Elen-a if you want to pronounce it the correct way.

AllTheGoodUNsTaken · 28/10/2019 22:58

Hell-a-nah.

Difficultcustomer · 28/10/2019 19:08

Helen-a

Lavenderblues · 28/10/2019 14:25

but if from the continent, more likely to be He-lay-na.

In Germany Helena and Elena are pronounced
Helen-a and Elen-a.

There's is no ay sound whatsoever.

Drabarni · 28/10/2019 13:23

Hellen a (short)

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