Baby name regret

Would it help you to think that it's not the name that you regret, only the spelling? That's much less significant.

It's a lovely name, although I do prefer Elena. It's really easy to request a new birth certificate with the different spelling, if that would make you feel better.

If you're looking for a NN would Elle be more likely to stick?

Don't worry OP, you've picked a beautiful name, you're just having a dither about the spelling.

The name is lovely OP, I don't think that's the issue here. I agree with seeing your GP.

l pronouced it eh-lay-na when i saw your spelling. Its a beautiful name, i considered calling my daughter that because of my fave character in the vampire diaries.
don't change it, it's lovely

When confronted by Elena I always hesitate while trying to guess which way to pronounce it. Elaina is much more logical and I actually prefer the extra vowel as it looks more “ complete” somehow. If anyone asks how to spell it it’s quite simple to say, LikeElaine but ending with an A.

Elaina is fine OP. Easy to make sense of how it's said and Elena is often mistaken for el-en-uh anyway.

I know an Elaina, I like the spelling as you've done it. It's sensible to do the phonetic spelling in my opinion.

The Elaina I know goes by Laney, I think they've told her school that's the name she uses as she is called it everywhere.

If you like Ella as a diminutive keep using it but I do think you should keep her full name as Elaina, it's not different enough to warrant the paperwork and Ella was so common only a few years ago when your dd gets older she might not want to be known as Ella and she has the choice.

I thought it would be something common with a “unique” spelling, like Caytee instead of Katie. I don’t think Elaina is a problem; as a pp said, it’s “Elaine with an a”. Elena tends to be pronounced more like Eleanor in the UK anyway.

I really like the spelling Elaina and think it is a very pretty name. It does take the guesswork out of pronunciation. It's lovely.

Also my mum is always pronouncing my sons name wrong. Annoying but I don’t let it bother me and at 8 months it’s his name now.

Love the name and the spelling you’ve chosen, it’s a bit more modern. With respect I think you are getting too hung up on this. It’s a lovely name whichever version you had picked.

Prefer your spelling actually.. not seen it before but people will always pronounce it correctly. Really pretty name

Definitely stick with Elaina, I think it’s spelt the way it should sound :)

Dont worry about family members getting it wrong, my MIL couldn’t say my daughters name for months and it’s not exactly hard. We have another DD on the way and have already decided on the name and MIL is already making a mess of it.

Elaina is a lovely name! It's very feminine, very sweet for a little girl. I think the spelling and pronunciation is definitely not too difficult for people and when she's older she'll be able to correct them which isn't a big deal. Many people have tricky names and surnames and I doubt it makes much of an impact on their lives unless people are rude.

Do speak to your GP though, it sounds like your DH has noticed what you haven't and it's important to get checked out.

I went to school with an Elaina and an Elena both pronounced E Lay Na.
To this day Elena gets called El La Na. It used to really annoy her.
Elaina has never had any issues.

I think you have to decide which bothers you more, the look of the name or people pronouncing it correctly.
There's no right or wrong answer, it's whatever turns out to be more important to you personally.

They are both beautiful namesi xx

I would pronounce the name Elena as el-ena and Elaina in the way you want it to be pronounced… eh-lay-na - like Elaine but with an ‘a’ .

Don’t worry too much about it. It is easy to change the name if you wish to do so. If you choose to change you can formally make the change at a later date - there’s no rush.

I much prefer your version. I think it’s a very pretty name spelt this way.
The other spelling looks blunt and I am never sure which pronunciation is correct.
I knew an Elaina who used the nickname Layna.

The name is fine @JDF1611. I know one and I've always thought it's a pretty name.

Elena is more current but could be Ellen-a, Elaina, Eleena or El-enna, so your spelling makes sense.

Some people would struggle with any name (my friend Jill gets Gill, Gillian and Jillian).

The name does seem linked to some sort of issue though, so it might be an idea to address that issue, or change the name, or both

I would continue with the NN if you like it OP. It doesn't really matter if it doesn't stick with family, when she starts nursery / school you can tell them she's known as Ella and will become that to all her friends / teachers etc. both are beautiful names.

Lovely name and I would spell it how you have spelt it.

Really Lovely name, how about you just pay the small fee ( if in uk) and change the spelling via deed pool to Elena?? There is absolutely nothing to struggle about saying/ pronouncing it reading the ELENA spelling in my opinion xx

Ime using her name is taking you back to that horrific time.
Have you got any newborn photos to remind yourself the outcome was worth it and your dd is safe and well?
Lovely name btw...
I had a suspected heart attack post emcs. I know the things that go through your mind after a bad birth trust me.

Following as I'm going through the same. Although my wobble is more around the name's origin (i think I spend too much time on here where people don't like English families with no other known heritage to use Scottish/Irish/Welsh names!) I made a thread on here and people were positive about it but I still keep obsessing. I still love the name but there was another I had my heart set on for a long time.. but DH didn't like it. Never knew the responsibility of choosing a name would be so hard. I can relate to how you feel (baby is 5 months).
If it helps my a name can be spelt in different ways and it's never bothered me to have to spell it out

This