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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Helena or Seren?

78 replies

watermelonsoda · 09/04/2025 19:25

Just that really
have been set on Seren for baby girl die end of April for a while but for some reason this past week I’ve been second guessing it.. I think I’ve started to prefer Helena

if you had to choose which would it be?

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Mingenious · 09/04/2025 21:14

Seren all day long,

But I do like Helena, Serena, Eleanor etc, too. All lovely classic names.

On the star theme, I almost called DD Stella and I wish I’d had the guts now.

Edited to say that Hera may work with your taste.

bettydavieseyes · 09/04/2025 21:11

I like both. Seren is more interesting/memorable/pretty

SoScarletItWas · 09/04/2025 21:08

mdinbc · 09/04/2025 21:03

Never heard of Seren as a name before. Do you pronounce it like Karen?

Not when it’s pronounced properly. It’s Welsh. Not Serrunn like ‘Karrunn’. Sair-en is the nearest I can type!

strawlight · 09/04/2025 21:06

I prefer Seren too, it was on our list. I know a little girl called Lena (pronounced Layna) which is also lovely.

mdinbc · 09/04/2025 21:03

Never heard of Seren as a name before. Do you pronounce it like Karen?

Friendofdennis · 09/04/2025 21:01

Seren is a Welsh name meaning star I love it

Emanwenym · 09/04/2025 20:49

@ZiggyZowie , classic and unfussy, I like it. Helena is nice but I know a 'Heleena', 'Helaina' and a few who are Helen-a.

Seren is a bit naff IMO. Would you call a child Star?

KayEmAy · 09/04/2025 20:48

I have such a name crush on Seren <3

TidyDancer · 09/04/2025 20:45

Helena is a much much nicer name.

To me, Seren is unfinished, should be either Serene or Serena. Also reminds me of Sarin which isn’t great obviously!

ZiggyZowie · 09/04/2025 20:44

I'm a Helen. And I love my name😀

tillytoodles1 · 09/04/2025 20:43

LeedsZebra90 · 09/04/2025 20:34

I voted helena purely cause all the serens I know are 0-5 so i imagine it will date. Seren is lovely though.

I live in Wales, but I'm not Welsh. I've met quite a few older Seren's, who are late teens to early twenties, as well as younger ones. It's quite a common name here and it means star.

Pieceofpurplesky · 09/04/2025 20:40

I know two girls named Helena - both pronounce it differently. Hel- ay - na and Hel - len - a.
Neither has an accent. That might be an issue. Seren is lovely, even though quite popular. I know one with the nn Ren and think that’s fab

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/04/2025 20:37

Helene? With all the accents!

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/04/2025 20:37

Helene? With all the accents!

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/04/2025 20:37

Helene? With all the accents!

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/04/2025 20:37

Helene? With all the accents!

LeedsZebra90 · 09/04/2025 20:34

I voted helena purely cause all the serens I know are 0-5 so i imagine it will date. Seren is lovely though.

Original poster
watermelonsoda · 09/04/2025 20:22

Emanwenym · 09/04/2025 19:38

Helen or Serena?
Helena is better than Seren, which seems a bit like it might date badly.

😂 I do also like Serena but OH won’t have it

OP posts:
Cabbagefamily · 09/04/2025 20:12

Helena by far.

GeorgianaM · 09/04/2025 20:04

I like both but I also love Elena.

LittleLabrador · 09/04/2025 19:59

Seren if pronounced the Welsh way and not like serrun

murasaki · 09/04/2025 19:58

Both are lovely but I prefer Seren.

username462025 · 09/04/2025 19:55

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

BeaLola · 09/04/2025 19:54

I don't like Helena ;mostly because the 2 people I've known with that name weren't that nice)

I like Seren but I love Serena

AndImBrit · 09/04/2025 19:40

Seren every day.

Helena feels dated, and it feels like a non word in my northern mouth. Eleanor, Elaina or Helen would be better options.

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