Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

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?
OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Nonnymum · 27/10/2019 13:08

2 Helen a

DramaAlpaca · 27/10/2019 13:05

I'd pronounce it Helen-a. I only like it pronounced that way.

Original poster
Zippetydoodahzippetyay · 27/10/2019 11:43

@Clettercletterthatsbetter I'm actually not sure if many people would say Hel-ee-na but it was what my husband initially thought it was when he saw it written down. His parents were not native English speakers though so he often pronounces hangs differently to me.

OP posts:
Original poster
Zippetydoodahzippetyay · 27/10/2019 11:41

Thanks for that @mininionsteve
At the moment it's definitely a favourite but we have a list of about 10 we are quite fond of. Let you if time to choose though Smile

OP posts:
MyGoodTimes · 27/10/2019 10:55
mininionsteve · 27/10/2019 10:50

@Zippetydoodahzippetyay don't let it be a reason not to use the name if you love it. It's irritating but now I'm older it can be amusing. I like my name and not many people have it. I'd rather correct people than be called Something else.

Sorry my first post was a bit negative

Naomimi · 27/10/2019 10:49

2, Helen-a

My DD has this as a middle name because I’m not keen on the other pronunciations.

EleanorReally · 27/10/2019 10:40

i actually dont know , it could also be 1

EleanorReally · 27/10/2019 10:40

either bonham carter or 3 heleena

Branleuse · 27/10/2019 10:36

Its one of those names where I would ask the person how they pronounced it, because ive heard both Helen-a and Hel-ay-na used and I believe they are both common variations.
Normally id say Helen-a though

Lavenderblues · 27/10/2019 10:26

hel^ en er^

Really? To end with an R?!

Clettercletterthatsbetter · 27/10/2019 10:20

Helen-a. Unless they were from a country where Helayna was usual, in which case I’d guess that.

I didn’t realise Heleena was a potential third way to pronounce it!

TheCanterburyWhales · 27/10/2019 09:31

1 if the person is British
2 if not
3 if an island

vdbfamily · 27/10/2019 09:29

hel. en er

Original poster
Zippetydoodahzippetyay · 27/10/2019 09:27

@mininionsteve that is exactly my concern.

OP posts:
HunterHearstHelmsley · 27/10/2019 09:25

Heh-lay-nah if I was naming a child it.

I wouldn't be surprised by Helen-a or the above though.

PollyShelby · 27/10/2019 09:24

Hel ay nah

DoubleHelix79 · 27/10/2019 09:20

DD is called Helena and pronounced Helen-a. People generally pronounce it correctly (after being told).

ritzbiscuits · 27/10/2019 09:16

1 He-lay-na

honeybunlatte · 27/10/2019 09:09

I would pronounce it Helen-na.
There is also Helaina if you like the pronunciation of Hel-lay-na.

LarkDescending · 27/10/2019 09:06
  1. Helen-a. Lovely name.
mininionsteve · 27/10/2019 08:58

As someone with a very similar name (one letter different). It doesn't matter what the pronunciation is no one will get it right. Some people will say it correctly most people won't. She will spend her life correcting people or just not bothering to anymore. Even members of my family can't say my name correctly. It's not hard, il never understand why people can't get it right.

Helena is a lovely name btw.

BykerBykerWooooo · 27/10/2019 08:53

Heleeena

HandsOffMyRights · 27/10/2019 08:53

Hel-ay-na

Disfordarkchocolate · 27/10/2019 08:52

Blooming heck, spell check is having fun today. Hel-ay-na.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.