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

[MrsCharlieD]

Thanks elquinto x

[MissPlumBroughtALadder]

I knew an Ellen-ah Elena so that's how I think of it now. Beautiful name.

[DollarDollarBills]

I would pronounce it E - lay - na

[OBehaveMaeve]

Eh-LEN-ah.

ElAYna is wrong as it's taking a foreign name and pronouncing it as though it were English? But obviously how you pronounce your own child's name is your decision.

[Frikadellen]

I would say E-len-ah As the 2 with the name i have known pronounced it that way.. but Once told how i would say it as you wanted it.

[CarryOnDancing]

I'd pn it the same as you. I also like Alena, pn the same apart from the A obviously!

[BuffyxSummers]

I'd pronounce it Eh-lay-na if I saw it written down. I've heard it as Eh-lyeh-na too. You'll just have to correct people like us who say it the way you don't like

[Alisvolatpropiis]

I'd say El-ee-na. This was how a Greek girl I knew said it and I've never met another.

Think CZJ was an Eh-lay-na in the Zorro films though

[YoungBritishPissArtist]

I would say it el-LAY-nah but I do know someone who pronounces it like Eleanor.

[SomethingOnce]

The last one I knew was an e-LEN-a, so I'd probably default to that unless I knew otherwise.

[Jeezimacasalinga]

In Italian it's E-len-a. In Spanish it's E-lay-na. In Greek its E-lee-na. We are Italian so our DD1 is E-len-a. As we live in London, her name is often pronounced wrongly at first, because of all these different (and all correct!) versions of pronunciation. She often gets Eleanor, too. However, people are very quick to get it right, it's not a big problem!

[SoupDragon]

I would pronounce it E-lay-na unless told otherwise.

[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

[Oriunda]

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

[Artandco]

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

[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!

[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.

[gruffalosfriend]

ELLEN-a for me.

[Rosieliveson]

Finding out today aren't you?

Hope it goes well

[miffybun73]

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

[DyeKen]

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

[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

[NowEvenBetter]

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