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Baby names

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Original poster

Help, due in a week? Helen?

81 replies

jfoyo26 · 03/05/2020 23:51

Hubby and I had agreed on Rachel Georgia, both names are meaningful too us and we like the sound of Rachel, and nn Rae. But I am due in a week and we have been having 2nd thoughts as it sounds very Jewish to us - not that this is really a big problem but we a not religious at all.

Don't really have many alternatives at the minute but but what do people think of the name HELEN?

Would probably be
Helen Zoe
Helen Heather
Helen Grace

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emilybrontescorsett · 05/05/2020 11:36

I would stick with Rachel. Most older Rachel’s I know get called Rach but I do know a Rae , not sure if she is Rachel!

Disfordarkchocolate · 05/05/2020 10:17

I like Helen. I love Helena (pronounced Hel-ay-na). Great name.

AJPTaylor · 05/05/2020 08:35

Funnily enough I know a baby Rachel. I think it's a good name but every Rachel I knew growing up was called Rach by friends.
I don't think it is particularly Jewish?
If you like that sort of thing, Sarah? Clare? Dawn? Donna? Maxine?.Lisa? Laura?

NC4Now · 04/05/2020 21:55

I'm Rachel. It's a good name and I've never been mistaken for Jewish!
It serves me well.
Helen's a nice name too. There are a lot of Rachels and Helens my age (40s) but you don't come across many babies or toddlers with the names.
I think I prefer Helena, pronounced (HELena, rather than HeLAYna) but the ambiguity over pronunciation would put me off. I have a good friend Helen who is known as Lenny.

tubbycustardtummyache · 04/05/2020 21:48

I’m a Helen, it’s ok but there are loads of us my age (40s). Don’t like Nell at all but tbh no one really tries to shorten Helen anyway I’ve found. I occasionally got the French pronunciation which I think is much nicer

I never know how to pronounce Helena - is it an e or a sound?

Twolittlebears · 04/05/2020 21:46

I know a Helen who goes by nn Hallie, which I think is nice

SylvanianFrenemies · 04/05/2020 21:38

Love Helen. You rarely hear it nowadays.

KingCatMeowInSpace · 04/05/2020 21:24

Really don't like Helen AT ALL - sorry/ Rachel is much better and definitely not particularly Jewish/ I know many Rachel's (work with 3) and none are Jewish - all catholic actually.

user1493494961 · 04/05/2020 21:20

Helen Grace is very pretty (although prefer Helena).

17caterpillars1mouse · 04/05/2020 21:16

I really love Helen, much more than the fancier Helena. I also like Rachel though too (not a fan of Rae though)

Wait til babies here and try both names :)

bridgetreilly · 04/05/2020 18:44

I like Helen better, but I think Rachel is perfectly fine and doesn't read as strongly Jewish.

Both are good strong names, that won't date badly.

VisionQuest · 04/05/2020 18:38

Georgia is by far the nicest.

Helen and Rachel are very dated.

CountFosco · 04/05/2020 18:34

Rachel is lovely and no-one in Britain would think of it as a Jewish name unless they were from the eighteenth century. Are you British because old testament names have been used by protestants for centuries, can't imagine it being a concern (and what is wrong with a Jewish name anyway)? Having said that Helen has also lovely, unless you are worried about people thinking you are an ancient Greek Confused.

Jayneisagirlsname · 04/05/2020 18:31

I love Helen. Beautiful name. Rachel I like too but Helen gets my vote.

Abreadsandwich · 04/05/2020 18:26

All the Helens and Rachel/Rachaels I know are late 30s-40s. When I was at school there were lots of Helens, Rachels, Louise, Laura and Sarah.
I think I prefer Rachel to Helen and I wouldnt automatically think of it as a Jewish name. I know probably 5 or 6 Rachels and none are Jewish.

Noideaatall2020 · 04/05/2020 18:14

I'm a Helen and I don't like it at all. Helena is far prettier

decktheballss · 04/05/2020 18:11

I prefer Rachel. But Helen is perfectly fine too.

MikeUniformMike · 04/05/2020 18:07

Helen Grace is married to Rob Titchener.
I'd go for Helen Zoe.

I know an adult Rae, short for Rachel. It suits her

Iamthewombat · 04/05/2020 15:49

Don’t kid yourself that Rachel will be shortened to ‘Rae’. It will, of course, be shortened to ‘Rach’ by friends and colleagues.

Both Rachel and Helen are lovely, classic names. The best thing about them is that they don’t end with an ‘a’ or an ‘ee’ sound, so they aren’t necessarily feminine sounding words.

Really intrigued by the apparent multitude of sex workers called Helen. If I were in that profession I’d choose ‘Scarlet’ or ‘Flame’ or something.

SpratsOnParade · 04/05/2020 15:49

Helen is such an ugly name. Rachel is much nicer.

elfran · 04/05/2020 15:47

I love Helen, I would find it surprising in the best way on a little girl.

In general, if there's a way a name can be made shorter/less girly, I prefer it that way (Helen>Helena, Isabel>Isabella, Frances>Francesca)... just my taste, though.

I think Nell is a very cool nickname, as well.

midsomermurderess · 04/05/2020 15:40

I like it. It's rarely heard nowadays. I don't think it needs gussying up as Helena either.

peperethecat · 04/05/2020 15:02

I love Helen. (And also Ellen.)

Pemba · 04/05/2020 14:55

Well Rachel is a Jewish name of course, from the Old testament, but it has been used in Europe for so long it is just a classic name now. I like it. I mean names as common and 'traditionally English' as John, Mary, Elizabeth, Joseph, Susan, Anne etc etc all derive from Hebrew names too!

I like Helen too, although prefer Helena as pps said. Both Rachel and Helen are good strong classic names, you can't go wrong really.

Spirali · 04/05/2020 13:49

I’ve known Helen’s who get call Hel (which just sounds like hell of course) and Helly. Both are so awful!

Rachel Georgia is a lovely name and I wouldn’t assume someone was Jewish with that name at all! Rae is also really nice Smile