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Helena

17 replies

flopsy1974 · 02/03/2011 09:01

Not heard this for a while, and seems a good alternative to Eleanor which seems quite popular.
What do people think?

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Hassled · 02/03/2011 09:02

I love it. But then you have the whole "is it Helayna or Helina" thing.

Hassled · 02/03/2011 09:02

I mean in terms of pronunciation

brightcopperkettles · 02/03/2011 09:06

I love it, and if I saw it I would pron. Hel-ay-na rather than Hel-eh-na if that helps.

mayanna123 · 02/03/2011 09:20

I'd say Helena to rhyme with Elena, so Hell-enna.

Slightlyreluctantexpat · 02/03/2011 09:28

I like Helena. Would have chosen it were it not for clash with surname. Too many Hs.

Definitely pronounced like Eleanor ie Helen-a.

Hatterbox · 02/03/2011 11:48

I adore it and prefer hel-eh-nah pronunciation.

It isn't related to Eleanor though, the names have totally different roots, and they don't sound alike either, because Eleanor should be pronounced el-eh-nore (not el-en-ah as people keep mispronouncing it).

5DollarShake · 02/03/2011 14:38

Love it. Grin

But be prepared to make your peace with the fact that only 1 in 3 people will pronounce it your chosen way. There is also the He-lee-na pronunciation to throw into the mix.

pinkhebe · 02/03/2011 14:40

prefer Helen

Glamour · 02/03/2011 14:40

love it

mayanna123 · 02/03/2011 15:00

Helen is lovely and easier to pronounce.

cumbria81 · 02/03/2011 15:22

I like pronounced as Hell-enna

GwendolineMaryLacey · 02/03/2011 16:25

Gorgeous,one of my absolute favourite names but it's my boss's name so it rules it out for me although she's lovely, I'm not up for that level of arselicking!

But, she constantly gets the Hel-ay-na/Helen-a thing.

eileenslightlytotheleft · 02/03/2011 16:49

I love it! Would choose it if I was going to have a DD3.

mayanna123 · 02/03/2011 16:50

Hell or Helly wouldn't be a nice nickname though Smile.

lucyintheskywithdinos · 02/03/2011 18:20

DD1 is Hel-enna, we just get asked if it is Hel-ay-na or Hel-enna usually. It doesn't really annoy be to be honest and she is the only Helena we know!

mathanxiety · 02/03/2011 18:54

I knew one Helen-a and one Hel-ee-na in school and after a week everyone had sorted them out.

I love both pronunciations -- beautiful name.

chipmonkey · 02/03/2011 19:25

Well, in Kildare they were all Hel-ee-nas math! I prefer Helen-a myself but have a feeling it would end up Hel-ee-na!

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