Helen?

[Janoschi]

Bit dull, or sweet and simple? Can't quite make my mind up about it...

Some days I love it, then I worry it's really boring. I have a really really odd name myself and I want to pass on the fun to my child, but I also like some of the classics.

Bit confused. Any ideas?

Think it is a great name - really underused these days.

I love the name Helena.

I think it is lovely, a real classic. Helena is also pretty, but I prefer Helen.

What about Elena? Ithink it sounds cute, and bit different?

Elena's cute but it'll probably end up as Ellie and I'm not keen on that. But Helen might go on my (very short) list then. Thanks guys.

I think Helen is much more timeless and classic then the more 'trendy' Elena/Helena.

Gorgeous and timeless. Was on our shortlist for a girl.

Also has Nell as a very cute nn.

It's my mum's name, was my great grandmothers name and is mine, dd's and my cousin's middle name.

I do really like it.

Love it but prefer Helena which would be on my shortlist if it wasn't my boss's name. I didn't realise Helena was trendy. She's the only one I know and she's 40-odd.

Helen Back, sorry not keen

Helen is very boring. I think Helena is so much nicer.

oooh, it's my name
I haven't heard of any others in years and it's never been a very popular name. Elena does seem to be shortened to Ellie, aparently the nn for Helen is Nell.

The agedpaerent, I was always known as Hel on wheels

Don't like it despite it being my first name. Since I can remember I've been called by my middle name. Assume my parents got bored of it very quickly!

I always got called Helen, so didn't like it. However, since I've grown up (a little) I think it is quite distinguished and demure.

Helen of Troy, the face that launched a thousand ships. I like it very much in that context.

But i have a friend called Helen and we shorten it to Hell, not massively nice. And a bit boring when you take away the classical connotations

Prefer Helena, Elin or Eleanor. Nell works for either IMO.

DS was going to be Helen if he was a girl (obviously!) after MIL who died a few years ago. I really like the name

Helen is a lovely name and means "shining one".

I think Helen is a lovely name - very classic.

I have a 12 year old Helen- she loves her name. Recently she's encouraged her friends to call her Melon as a nickname. I think the name is more unusual now than when I chose it. I like Helena too.

Ooooh GRW my dd is friends with a 12 year old Helen, could it be yours? LOL

I like. Also like Helena

I like Helen. Classy.

Thanks so much! Love the Hel on Wheels comment - hoping we get the kind of tomboy where that would apply :-) I always thought it dull when younger but was thinking recently that I didn't know any Helens at all. Seems odd for a name you assume is common to actually be quite unusual. Love Nell as a nickname. My great-grandmother was Nellie.