Hélène in the UK - your thoughts?

[language]

Hello, we are French living in the UK and Hélène is our favourite name for a girl so far. What would be your reaction to this name? How would most native English speakers pronounce it - Helen, Helene or Ellen (or something else)?
Also, what nicknames apart from Nell can you think of?

Many thanks!

I think if spelled with the accent, most people would know that it was to be pronounced without the "H" sound. Or maybe I am giving people too much credit...?

Nicknames are hard - might end up Nell or Hels.

OR (given the dropped "H") a nickname could be "Ellie"

I wouldn't know to drop the H. id only know if id been told.

If it was spelt like your OP I'd pronounce it L-en.

HELL-en. Or HEE-lean.
I like Nell, but can you stomach Nellie?

Leni (lay-nee)

Leni as a nickname I meant to say.

I'd pronounce Hélène as eh-LEN.

I do like Nellie as a nickname but I though it was a short form of Eleanor? 'm not keen on Hels though!

Nell and Nellie are definitely nicknames for Helen.

IIRC, Eleanor was originally a variant form of Helen.

H-el-EINE or H-el-AINE, with a slight 'H' is how I'd pronounce it. I'd nn Nell, cos I like it, but my cousin Helene is Hels, Ellie would probably be a common one, and I love Leni as a nn too.

But if you have a specific way you want it pronounced, just introduce her as that, and by the time she gets to school she'll be old enough to do the same.

I'd have guessed hel-enn. I wouldn't know to drop the H but I did German instead of French at school.