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

Helena or Cecilia?

45 replies

Shasha17 · 20/11/2021 04:19

Still on the quest for the perfect biblical or saint's name?

What do you think of
Helena (nn Nell) and Cecilia (nn Cece)?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
35andThriving · 23/11/2021 12:13

Helena

Edenember · 23/11/2021 11:11

Difficult one for me as Cecelia (this spelling) has special meaning for me. But I think of the two I’d say Helena, it’s more streamlined. However I much prefer Nell as a standalone and Cecily to both (both on my list). Really dislike Cece. Nell has such a different feel to Helena, imo, that while it’s a legitimate diminutive I can’t imagine a child that can be called and suit both. Whereas as a shorted form of Eleanor, I feel like it has the same feel. Just my (extremely subjective) opinion.

ShanghaiDiva · 22/11/2021 17:26

Helena.

4vrBubbles · 22/11/2021 17:24

Cecilia is lovely

TatianaBis · 22/11/2021 17:14

Prefer Cecilia to Helena, but much prefer Nell to CeCe.

generalh · 21/11/2021 17:18

Cecilia

Bibliophile001 · 21/11/2021 17:15

OP - are you leaning any way in favour of either of these names?

😬

LozMarieFielder · 21/11/2021 13:20

Helena isn’t bad, and much better than Helen, but Cecelia is far far nicer.

Perrinexhales · 21/11/2021 11:35

Cecelia !

VenusClapTrap · 21/11/2021 11:32

I think it’s just fashion. When I was at school it was all Sophie, Claire, Helen, Anne. Whereas currently the children are Sophia, Clara, Helena, Anna. Etc. The pendulum will swing back again in time.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 21/11/2021 11:17

Most Latin and Greek feminine names end in A (Helena is Greek, Cecilia is Latin) - and we tend to like/be influenced by our classical heritage in the UK so those names have a long history of use here too (for example Shakespeare used Helena twice and Celia too, although not Cecilia).

Admittedly stronger consonant names were more strongly used in the past (Anne, Margaret, Jane, etc) but I think there has always been something of a mix.

Smurftastic · 21/11/2021 09:19

@ODFOgrinch

Why do so many names have an A on the end at the moment? Both your names are lovely OP, as are Helen and Cecily.
In a lot of countries names ending in 'a' are traditionally female, perhaps that's why?
ODFOgrinch · 20/11/2021 23:58

Why do so many names have an A on the end at the moment? Both your names are lovely OP, as are Helen and Cecily.

ThreeLocusts · 20/11/2021 23:51

Cecilia not Cecil's

ThreeLocusts · 20/11/2021 23:51

I think Helena sounds nicer but if you choose Cecilia check our Henry Purcell's Ode to Cecil's. Lovely music. Apparently St Cecilia was associated with music in his day.

Mollymalone123 · 20/11/2021 23:47

Helena

amsadandconfused · 20/11/2021 23:40

Helena ..beautiful name . Cecilia too exaggerated and awkward.

shiningstar2 · 20/11/2021 23:39

I prefer Helena

ratussbaguss · 20/11/2021 23:38

I love Helena

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 20/11/2021 22:24

Both gorgeous! Lovely and elegant, underused classical names. However of the two I think Cecilia is more likely to be shortened (being 4 syllables) - so make sure you like the nn's too. Therefore I'd probably pick Helena, as even if that does get shortened I personally prefer Nell to Cece or Cissy.

notangelinajolie · 20/11/2021 20:48

Helena is classy. Cecilia is a bit to fussy for me.

HelenaJustina · 20/11/2021 20:45

I adore both (biased Wink )

RaoulDufysCat · 20/11/2021 20:41

Helena for me.

I know the brattiest Cecilia and it has put me right off! But it is actually a good name.

I think Nell definitely has the edge over Cece - much classier.

alexdgr8 · 20/11/2021 20:39

both of them are good proper names.
such a relief from all those threads about calling them tiddlewinks or twinkletoes, or blossom, like a cart horse.
anyway, i personally do not like nell, sounds comic, or below-stairs;
nelly the elephant packed her trunk and said goodbye to the circus...

Classicblunder · 20/11/2021 20:38

I prefer Helen and Celia