So how would you pronounce Helena?

[DangerMousey]

Following my previous post about liking the name Nell and wondering what it was short for, one of the options that came up was Helena (which I much prefer to Helen for some reason).

Only thing is not sure how much variation there is in its pronunciation? Would you tend to say it:

HEH-lenna (quite quickly with the accent on the Heh)

Or:

He-LAY-na

??

Or something else? I think I prefer the latter but am aware I may not get to choose how propel would pronounce it!

I think moat would say 'Hell-en-a', but I prefer 'Hell-ay-na', too. I think that you can have it pronounced the latter way as when you introduce your DD, you'd say "Hello, this is Hell-ay-na". With the name written as Helena, if anyone mispronounces it, you and DD would simply correct them.

For example, I went to school with a Sian. She didn't pronounce it 'Sharn' bit literally 'See-ann'. Way off how it ought to be pronounced but no-one called her 'Sharn'. (I hope that point makes sense?)

Was thinking about this thread tonight and i would pronounce it Hel-ay-na... ..BUT

say Hel-ena Bonham Carter

Weird
[c]onfused

I would say hell ee na
I think it's lovely.

Always exceptions to every rule, but I'd say

Hel-en-a Bonham Carter... is the English pronounciation

Hel-ay-na... is usual in several other countries, e.g. Helena Christensen (Denmark) or Helena Rubinstein (Polish-born).