I think I'm in love..

[strawberryyDaiquiri]

But "traditional name loving" family think I'm bonkers.

I've loved the name Helena for a long long time and a few days ago DH and I were discussing potential nn's. We know that nicknames usually just sort of "happen" but I think Laney is such a nice name. Originally we wanted Helena pronounced Helen-ah but we thought if we use Hel-ay-nah then Laney could be a really nice shortened version. What do you think of Laney? Is it too cutsie? I'm not really a fan of frilly cutsie names but it sounds like more of a strong cutsie name IUSWIM.

My DH also really likes Lenny and I thought he was mad at first but I love Ronnie, Bobbie, Billie etc and I'm falling for Lenny too!

Went to school with an helena prounced hel- layn- nah and we all called her laney or lane, she was no way cutsey. Its a good shortened of the name I really like it

I like Laney and Helen-ah but I'm not keen on Hel-ay-nah.

I would keep the pronounciation as Helen-ah but still use the nickname Laney.

Laney is nice! Don't like Helena though

I think it works. I'm a fan of Larry for Laurence myself.

OorWullie that's what I think too as I much prefer Helen-ah but DH said Laney doesn't really come from Helen-ah but I'm glad someone else agrees it shouldn't be a problem!

TheAwfulDaughter Lenore is very pretty but I'm afraid I associate it too much with the fabric conditioner! But it is a very pretty name.

Fan Lane by itself is lovely too. DH said that she may automatically be Heli or Hels at school but I really hope not as I'm not really keen...then again we can't really control our nn's!

I love the name Helena. I went to a school with a Helena, whose NN was Ellia!

I love it!! Heidi Klume's daughter is Helene and I heard her refer to her as Laney in an interview once and thought it was gorgeous. Then in another interview it sounded more like Lenny so I'm not sure which it actually is lol but I think both are really nice. Lane by itself is sweet as well.

love laney! reminds me of wining ryder's character in reality bites, lilaina. lenny is great too, you can't go wrong!!!

*winona

I know a Helena nn Nell

And lots of Helen-based names have Leni as nn. Laney is very close.

I think Heidi Klum's daughter is Leni.

yay pleased it's getting such good feedback! middle finger to the family. I can't be too harsh I suppose everyone has their own taste! My DM loved Helena then when I told her we were thinking of nn Laney her jaw dropped! My Ddad just kept saying "but that isn't a name!" Made me doubt it for a while but it feels like when you find the perfect wedding dress for me.

My dd2s nn is Lanie or Miss Elainious! So happy to read this thread!

PS think leni is prn Laney.

Pron of Leni varies - can be from 'Leh-nee' (closer to original) to 'Laine-ee'

The only nn I've ever heard a Helena called is hell.

My auntie calls me laney also my late dgf did too. (But my full name isn't Helena). Also the main character in she's all that (played by Rachael Leigh Cook) is called laney
So 2 thumbs up from me.

Florascotia, where have you been!

I hunk Nell is a much nicer nn!

Think not hunk

I think Laney/Lainey/Leni as short for Helena is lovely and not too frilly at all.

Hardly off the wall enough to shock family members.

My friend's DS is called Lane so I see it as a boy's name, but love Hel-ay-na!

Actually my Granny was a Helena/Lena

Laney reminds me of that 90's film Shes All That. It was the main characters name. I like it :)