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Baby names

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Original poster

Elena pronunciation?

56 replies

JDF1611 · 17/03/2022 07:28

I wondered how people living in the UK (we're in London) most commonly pronounce this name?
Would you say
Eh Len a?
Or
E lay na?

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Soubriquet · 17/03/2022 09:31

Eh-lay-ner

Eh-len-er to me is Eleanor

Hikoridikori · 17/03/2022 09:27

To me Elena is Eh Len Na, Elenna is again Eh Len Na and Elennna is again Eh Len Na! Sorry Grin

SickAndTiredAgain · 17/03/2022 09:24

I’d pronounce it Eh-lay-na

Pemba · 17/03/2022 09:16

That was to Riko.... etc.

Pemba · 17/03/2022 09:14

It's not 'wrong'. Newsflash, sometimes names can have different pronunciations, especially a name like Elena which does not originate in the UK. I've known two, and they were both 'Eh - LAY-na'. So that would be my default pronunciation. However I'm do realise there are other legitimate ways to say it because I'm not uninformed.

Tetherless · 17/03/2022 09:14

@Hikoridikori

Eh Len a .

Elena is Elena , it's not Elaina (Eh lay na) !

I really can't understand why people get the pronunciation wrong, it's not even a complicated name.

Helena is the English name. Elaine is the English version of Hélène. Elena, pronounced Elayna, is the Spanish version of Helena and I think used in multiple other countries as well.

So the “correct” pronunciation of Elena is ac actually Elayna. Pronouncing it “Ellen-a” is an anglicisation and actually incorrect.

Eleanor is a completely different name.

SundayTeatime · 17/03/2022 09:14

@Hikoridikori

Eh Len a .

Elena is Elena , it's not Elaina (Eh lay na) !

I really can't understand why people get the pronunciation wrong, it's not even a complicated name.

Eh-Len-a is wrong, though… That’s the most wrong pronunciation. So it is a complicated name to pronounce. I suppose it depends if you are pronouncing it the Greek or Spanish or Russian or whatever country way. And where does the stress go? That’s why you will get a lot of different pronunciations.
SoupDragon · 17/03/2022 09:12

Elenna would be el len na,

SoupDragon · 17/03/2022 09:11

Elena is Elena

Helpful.

Hikoridikori · 17/03/2022 09:06

Eh Len a .

Elena is Elena , it's not Elaina (Eh lay na) !

I really can't understand why people get the pronunciation wrong, it's not even a complicated name.

Original poster
JDF1611 · 17/03/2022 09:02

Sundayteatime
Yes I guess Elaina would naturally be ee-lay-na but you've made a good point, I like the softer eh-lay-na better!

OP posts:
SundayTeatime · 17/03/2022 08:18

Neither. I’d say Eh-lay-na.

How would you pronounce Elaina? Like Elaine with an -a at the end? Ee-lay-na?

stickygotstuck · 17/03/2022 08:15

e-LEH-na

TitoMojito · 17/03/2022 08:13

E-lay-na

Original poster
JDF1611 · 17/03/2022 08:06

Thanks everyone,

We love the name but like the "lay" pronunciation so chose Elaina to try and avoid confusion but I'm second guessing myself now as it's not a common spelling.

People have assumed it's spelt Elena when said aloud or read it as Eli-anna when it's written :(

I'm one torn and confused mummy and not sure whether to stick with Elena and correct the Eh-len-as!

OP posts:
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 17/03/2022 08:03

The one I know is Eh Lane a... shes German.

I'd expect E len a to be spelt Eleanor.

MajorCarolDanvers · 17/03/2022 08:01

Eh-lee-na

Or

Eh-len-a

toastofthetown · 17/03/2022 08:00

I’d say ə-LAY-na, (with the first syllable being an unstressed vowel). It’s the kind of name where I’d expect I might be corrected though.

Herja · 17/03/2022 07:55

There are a fair few of both around here. My natural reaction would be Eh Lay Na, but I always seem to pick the incorrect option when saying it just now - everytime I swap, the next person is the opposite.

NotNotNotMyName · 17/03/2022 07:50

First

allmysons · 17/03/2022 07:48

DD has a friend called this and I automatically thought it was pronounced E-Lay-na but is el-eh-na.

GeneLovesJezebel · 17/03/2022 07:47

El-en-na

SoupDragon · 17/03/2022 07:47

E lay na

sunflowerdaisyrose · 17/03/2022 07:47

I'd pronounce it e-lay-na unless I was told otherwise

EmmaGrundyForPM · 17/03/2022 07:46

I'd pronounce it eh-LAY-nah. A bit like Elaine but with an added "a" at the end

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