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Baby names

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Original poster

Opinions needed on Violet and Helena please

41 replies

TheTealOtter · 01/06/2025 07:01

Like both but a few people I've mentioned to associate Violet with "violent" and wondering how most people say Helena. We would pronounce "Helen-ah" but know there is the potential for Hel-ay-na, Hel-ee-na, and Helen-ar (too similar to Eleanor?) Violet or Helena or (suggestions)?

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MovingBird123 · 01/06/2025 09:49

I've never associated Violet with "violent", but the name gives me a headache for some reason.

Helena is beautiful. Say it once, and people will remember the pronunciation. But as pp said, standard British pronunciation is Helen-uh.

BlossomIsSoPretty · 01/06/2025 09:40

Violet firstly makes me think of those disgusting palma violet sweets and then the word Violent.

Helena is old fashioned to me.

WaltzingWaters · 01/06/2025 09:34

Violet is nice.

Helena, if British, I would assume was Helen - ah. And if a different ethnicity I’d clarify. Personally not a fan of Helena at all though.

Pinkychilla · 01/06/2025 08:09

Love Violet. Feel that Helena is very dated and also there are many pronunciations as a previous poster commented

MyNameIsHelena · 01/06/2025 08:07

I am Helena (Hel-ee-na) and the majority of people in England do tend to assume Helen-ah. It's rare that anyone pronounces it as I do without being told beforehand (though does happen occasionally and makes my day!). I think you would still have some mispronunciation issues though- I know a Helen-ah who is incredibly frustrated by people calling her Hel-ay-na all the time, and I also get this pronunciation a fair bit!

AlorsTimeForWine · 01/06/2025 08:01

Both are nice i would only ever pronounce Helena as Helen-ah.

Moreteaandchocolate · 01/06/2025 07:59

I like both. I think I prefer Helena, it’s such an underused classic, and I would pronounce it how you do, and I really like Nell / Nellie as nn options.

angelinawasrobbed · 01/06/2025 07:57

Viola?

VioletSpeedwell · 01/06/2025 07:44

There is nothing violent about us Violets!

Both lovely names though a little Violet might have to endure Violet Bott taunts.

And Helena might have to correct people's pronunciation. And don't you dare call her Nellie!

Iamthemoom · 01/06/2025 07:39

I love Violet. It was my second choice name. I liked the Italian, Violetta too but DH said it sounded too much like a frozen desert! 😂

ChocolateGanache · 01/06/2025 07:35

I’d pronounce Hel-AY-na

And I LOVE Violet! Way nicer imo

Shetlands · 01/06/2025 07:28

Both names are classic and pretty.

PurpleReindeer2 · 01/06/2025 07:19

Round here people would call her Helen-ah or even Elen-o (with the O making the sound of the O at the the beginning of October). Violet would be pronounced Vi-let. I'm not too keen on either sorry OP.

Enko · 01/06/2025 07:09

Not a fan of Violet. I pronounce Helena as people tell me they pronounce it.
I have known
Helen-ah
He Lay Nah
He Leeh nah
and Helen ar

justgoandgetpizza · 01/06/2025 07:06

I think violet is lovely and I’ve never associated it with violent myself.

I would say Helena like you but there is a potential for mispronunciation, as well as everyone mishearing it and saying Eleanor or Helen which could get really annoying!

KookyDenimBalonz · 01/06/2025 07:05

Violet really makes me think of violent, sorry. Where I'm from Helena is always pronounced Hel-een-a. Never heard it pronounced differently. I do like it! Personally I love Elena. Pronounced like -Eh-lane-ah.

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