Page 2 | Is Helen too boring?

PinkPanther57 · 2022-12-21T16:35:15+00:00

I love it and a classic but seen as dull it seems (?)

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Firebird83 · 21/12/2022 23:53

I prefer Helena, which is one of my favourite girls names.

Slipperjangle · 21/12/2022 23:46

I'm a Helen (name changed for this) and love my name. I also live in a place that generally drops the 'h' but people don't tend to with my name. I am middle aged but my daughter in her teens went to school with a Helen.

I think that now we've had the resurgence of names like George and Harry etc that were the names of my grandparents era, it may be the turns of the Helen's, Sarah's, Samantha's etc.

menareallthesame · 21/12/2022 23:07

iknowhimsowell · 21/12/2022 19:01

I was one of three Helens in my class at school and there are a lot my age at work now too. I'm 42. I have never ever been called Nellie or Ell. Helen isnt really a name that can be shortened ( although I get called H or Hels by my friends!) I'm biased but I do think it's a nice name although I prefer Ellen or Eleanor.

I could have written this - even same age. Hate it if someone calls me hell but don’t mind Hels so much. Actually think it’s a really ugly name and I would prefer to be called something prettier!

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 21/12/2022 22:59

Helen's pleasant enough and I love it's Ancient Greek mythological heritage- it's just that it feels a bit middle aged/older lady currently (I've met a fair few over the years and none have been younger than about 40). Having said that, it's nice and simple and I can see it making a comeback sooner or later along with similar "plain" names like Jane, Ruth, Mary, Frances etc.

But I must admit that despite the pronunciation issues I'd go for Helena instead as its far more timeless - in that it's never been super popular so you couldn't guess how old one is, plus it has an extra Shakespearean elegance to boot (he used it twice for main characters).

TenThousandSpoons · 21/12/2022 20:10

Both the Helens I know are lovely.

Beautiful, strong, classic name. Due a comeback.

Helena I don’t like as much and the different pronunciations make it difficult.

Lightsbonaza · 21/12/2022 20:07

Yes

crimsonpeak · 21/12/2022 20:05

Dull. Helena is much better imho.

shreddies · 21/12/2022 20:03

Lovely name

JamSandle · 21/12/2022 20:02

I like Helena moreso than Helen.

Farmageddon · 21/12/2022 20:01

You could try Eleni which is (I think) the Greek variation of Helen.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 21/12/2022 19:57

I personally find it a very boring name. But boring 1950s names will be a hot trend soon enough. Names like Helen and Peter and Jane and Alan. Not for me though.

WaltzingWaters · 21/12/2022 19:27

Not a fan. But then I worked with an awful Helen once so my view is clouded. And my view doesn’t matter anyway! If you love it go for it.

Squamata · 21/12/2022 19:26

I like it.

I think Elaine is another variant but maybe a bit dated!

miltonj · 21/12/2022 19:23

It's not boring at all because it's not common. It's nice to hear these names on little ones.

20viona · 21/12/2022 19:16

Awful

Wakk · 21/12/2022 19:12

Yes it is imo.

Oakbeam · 21/12/2022 19:11

Love it.

Appalonia · 21/12/2022 19:09

Helen is a beautiful, classic name. Is def due a resurgence IMO!

iknowhimsowell · 21/12/2022 19:01

I was one of three Helens in my class at school and there are a lot my age at work now too. I'm 42. I have never ever been called Nellie or Ell. Helen isnt really a name that can be shortened ( although I get called H or Hels by my friends!) I'm biased but I do think it's a nice name although I prefer Ellen or Eleanor.

scottishnames · 21/12/2022 18:01

I like both Helen and Helena.
As earlier poster has said, Ellen is another version, though I prefer the ones with an initial 'H'.

But to those saying Helena sounds new, it was really, really popular in the late 19th cent (after one of Queen Victoria's daughters). She was very go-ahead for her time - her interests included many charities (she was one of the early supporters of the Red Cross) but also nursing, science and technology, and traditional women's arts.

winonarose · 21/12/2022 17:32

I know of a Helen my age (25). It's also my granny's name and I would use it as a middle name for my newborn daughter if her first name didn't end in an N as well. I like the name x

Krakenwakes · 21/12/2022 17:32

I like it. It’s fresher, simpler and more ahead of the curve than Helena, which I also like.

TidyDancer · 21/12/2022 17:30

It's okay but yeah a bit boring. Inoffensive though. I like it but don't love it.

Helena is much prettier. Feels elegant and classic.

Yika · 21/12/2022 17:30

Very classic, elegant. I would have said it was dull when I was young but I think these simpler less frilly names that were popular in the 60s and 70s are due a revival.
I actually prefer Helena (pronounced Helen-uh) or Ellen but they are all nice.
Makes me think of Helen of Troy.

Kanaloa · 21/12/2022 17:30

It’s pretty. I’ve met a few kids named Lois & Mabel & Margot & Ivy recently - these more simple, classic, elegant names are about to come back in, with the more ‘pretty’ and frilly Ariana/Olivia/Eliana/Liliana type names falling out.