will people know how to pronounce Elena?

[MrsCharlieD]

Hi ladies Im just after some feedback really. We've decided if bimba turns out to be a girl that we will name her Elena. We've shared this with close family and have had people mispronouncing it which had never crossed my mind would happen. so far I've heard e-len-a, a-leen-a and ee-len-ar. Is this a difficult name to know how to pronounce? We have always pronounced it e-lay-na x

[OverByYer]

Why do people do this?

[ZenNudist]

Oh Zombie thread... how bizarre

[ZenNudist]

I have similar name and just answer to variants of it. The most common will be Eh-lay-nah, eh-len-ah, and eh-lay nor (despite the ending) and even making the middle sound "lee". Lots of ways to say but as it's practically my name I'm not going to criticise

[Blubells]

I'd pronounce Elayna as Elayna.

But Elena is Elena imo.

[OverByYer]

Eh-lay-nah

[Blubells]

How is ‘len’ pronounced ‘lay’?

Exactly. It's El en ah.

And Lena is Lehn-ah. There no ay either.

[Blubells]

Elena is pronounced as it's written:

El en a

Like Ellen with an a.

There's no ay sound.

[ferneytorro]

Friends daughter is called Elena. Everyone seems to cope with pronouncing it like you’ve described. She’s 12.

[crochetmonkey74]

I teach three Elenas at the moment - one pronounces it El-ay-na
the other two pronounce it Ellen-ar (exactly the same as Eleanor)

[NowEvenBetter]

I’d say Lena as Leena (Dunham)
@DyeKen revived this ZOMBIETHREAD why?

[ChessieFL]

The child is now 7 years old so I don’t think it matters any more.

Zombie Thread!!!

[steppemum]

@NowEvenBetter

Ellen-ah
How is ‘len’ pronounced ‘lay’?

In the same way that Lena is pronounces LAY -na?

Lena is the abbreviation for Elena in many Russian speaking countries

[steppemum]

I think there are several pronunciations depending on country.

I know a German Elena where it is the same name as English Eleanor (so ELLE en er).

And Russian ones where it is Elle LAY na.

I speak Dutch and Russian and it is usually pronounced those 2 ways in Dutch/German and Russian speaking countries respectively

[Mintearo7]

I would say E-lay-na. But if I was you I would spell it Elaina. Just as pretty but more likely to get the pronunciation that you want (but also concede you are just not get 100% pronunciation with that name).

[NowEvenBetter]

Ellen-ah
How is ‘len’ pronounced ‘lay’?

[SequinsandStiIettos]

eh-LAY- na here but that's because of the Spanish origin
Eleanor is el-len-a
Alina is a-leen-a
ee-len-ar - absolutely no idea

[DyeKen]

So would I.
But there are obviously multiple ways to pronounce the name. It's up to the person whose name it is.

[miffybun73]

I would assume E-Lay-na, but I know a three year old Elena who is El-e-na (similar to Eleanor).

[Rosieliveson]

Finding out today aren't you?

Hope it goes well

[gruffalosfriend]

ELLEN-a for me.

[magichamster]

I'm a supply teacher and when I see this name on the register I usually say El-lay-na, because that's how I would say it. I am usually corrected to el-len-a, so that's the usual pronunciation round these parts.

[JapaneseMargaret]

We have a 3.5YO Helena (lay) and yes, you have to make your peace with the fact that people will mispronounce it as often as not. :)

Just be sure that won't bother you. It doesn't bother us - just hope it won't bother DD!

[Artandco]

Elena- el len a
Alina - el leen a
Elaina - e lay na

[Oriunda]

Are you Italian (bimba = little girl)? In Italy the Elenas I know pronounce it Ell-Len-ah.

[Gunznroses]

One of my close friends is called (Elena) 'E-lay-na', she is Spanish, everyone pronounces her name like this and so does she, its a lovely name