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Baby names

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

Original poster

India or Helena

65 replies

pumpkin2021 · 06/12/2019 14:00

I am expecting a baby girl :)

What do you think about names India and Helena?

Which one would you prefer?

Lots of love xox

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aharddaysnight · 07/12/2019 15:03

I think India Helen sounds really nice, with Helen as a middle name. I personally would prefer Helen as then they don't both end in -a

Original poster
pumpkin2021 · 07/12/2019 14:45

Thank you for the kind words ladies.

How about India Helena ? xx

OP posts:
MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet · 07/12/2019 13:51

I love India from Gone with the Wind, but Helena is beautiful.

Grufallosfriends · 07/12/2019 13:43

Helerna Confused?

Mrsjayy · 07/12/2019 13:12

My friends aunt is "Helerna" I thought it was more an accent thing

JumpiestBat · 07/12/2019 12:48

Actually yes there's the "Helerna" pronunciation too isn't there!

Batmanandrobin123 · 07/12/2019 12:19

I think I prefer India although I prefer Indie.
They have a very different feel.
I would put Helena with names like Eleanor and Louisa, very classic. Helena will get pronounced in three different ways which could be annoying.
India has a more modern slightly boho feel to it.

JumpiestBat · 07/12/2019 12:01

My cousin is Helena which is lovely but you'll get some people pronouncing it Helayna and others Helina, not sure if that would bother you. It used to bother her (when she was about 6 so prob got over it now) Grin

Grufallosfriends · 07/12/2019 11:58

India 🇮🇳? Are you from there?!

I much prefer Helena.

Queenoftheashes · 06/12/2019 23:05

Helena

Sherrybabyy · 06/12/2019 23:00

Helena

Astronica · 06/12/2019 22:59

Helena

NoSauce · 06/12/2019 18:16

India.

Helena is a bit old fashioned. Eleanor is better. But I would choose India as I love it.

LucyFox · 06/12/2019 18:01

Helena
Never really liked the trend of calling people after places ...

Clettercletterthatsbetter · 06/12/2019 17:50

Helena. Classic and beautiful name.

Peachbubble · 06/12/2019 17:48

India

TatianaLarina · 06/12/2019 17:32

Helena

MillyMollie · 06/12/2019 17:21

I live Helen.
All the Helens I know are lovely.

I don't like India unless you have a great affinity to India as a country.

DramaAlpaca · 06/12/2019 17:03

I like Helena. India is a fantastic country, but not nice as a name.

Thinkingsticks · 06/12/2019 17:00

I like India, and nickname Indy x

neversleepagain · 06/12/2019 16:50

I prefer Indigo to India.

Leopardprintboots · 06/12/2019 16:41

India is more mainstream now though. The name India will have been outside the top 1000 when we were at school. It’s top 200 now so much more mainstream without being too common.

Sorry I really don’t like Helena - I’d actually prefer Helen although I don’t really like that either. I remember a boy at my school being called Phillip in the 1980s. A nice name but every other Philip was in their 50s at the time so it just sounded a bit absurd and uncool to me and I think the same will be applicable to any children called Helena, Sarah or Kate etc in 2019. It’ll be their friends’ mums name

SweetAsSpice · 06/12/2019 16:34

Helena every time.

I went to school with an India. Who was not from India. It wasn’t a fun time for her.

Indie?

EleanorShellstrop100 · 06/12/2019 16:32

I like both but Helena is more classy and has adorable nickname Nell 🥰

user1493494961 · 06/12/2019 15:55

Helena.