Elena or Elaina?

[Raines100]

We've just found out we're expecting a girl, and so we can finally use the girl's name we've had in mind for years. She will be Elena, pronounced the Spanish way, 'El-ay-na'. I'm concerned that, with this spelling, everyone will call her Eleanor or Ellen-ah (the Italian pronunciation). 'Elaina' should set the record straight... but will everybody think I can't spell?

Elena. So elegant. Elaina just makes me think of 'Elaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaine' in a very East Enders accent.

You'll just have to correct people if they get it wrong. Although my name is pronounced incorrectly EVERY time and I've given up correcting people. Don't care.

Elena.

Erase thoughts of Elaina from your mind.

elena.

Don't like Elaina. However, I'm afraid I would pronounce Elena the Italian way.

Elena.

Elena

I went to school with an Elena, and tbh she was called eleanor a few times until the teacher was corrected, it is a beautiful name.

I liked Elena, the way you pronounce it, when we were choosing names (before we knew they were boys). But as you said, I was worried about other people pronouncing it wrong, so I would have spelt it either Eleyna or Eleina.
Sorry, that was probably unhelpful!

Elena

Elena is not pronounced El-ay-na in Spanish, btw and I always correct my DH when he says it incorrectly. To be honest there isn't much difference between the Italian and Spanish pronunciation.

Elena. The other option looks like you've spelt it wrong.

Elena

I've never heard of Elena being pronounced as "elaina"... So I'd happily mispronounce it even if I heard you say it differently unless you corrected me. I'd think it's a bit like Brits pronouncing chorizo incorrectly, and I'd sound silly trying to mimic your Spanish accent.

I'd go for Elaina spelling if you plan to reside in UK long term.

Elena. Elaina just looks wrong, it's not pretty at all.

Elena.

I knew an Elena and it was pronounced Elayna. I never thought of pronouncing it Eleanor or Ellena.

It's not the end of the world if a few people pronounce it wrongly - just correct them and then most of them will get it right.

Elena

Nothing wrong with the name Elaine

I personally like your Elaina spelling as it is pronounced exactly as it's spelt!

I would pronounce Elena as Elayna so stick with Elena. I think Elaina looks terrible.

Go with Elena. It's perfect as it is.

my mothers name is Elaina and I love this name, so much so I wanted it to be my daughters middle name. like you I couldn't decide on spelling however as prefer it Elena as you've said.

in the end i used my grandmothers name Eleanor as the Middle name instead.. stopped confusion

I think if it was to be DDs first name i would use Elaina though.

Thank you for your kind responses, ladies. Unfortunately, I'm getting the opposite result when asking people face to face- maybe it makes a difference if you say the name first and then try to spell it?- so, for the moment, I'm none the wiser ! Ah well, 20 weeks to decide...

Elena.

I have one (pronounced Elayna) and it's sometimes mmispronounced but eaaily corrected. There was another Elena at nursery with her - both pronounced the same way.

Apparently Disney are creating a Princess Elena. DD will be very excited.

Yikes! A Disney princess called Elena? That's quite a compelling reason not to alter the spelling! I was just thinking the anglicised alternative might make more sense in the UK, but if the original spelling comes into common usage, I'll probably just look daft. Now to convince DH. He'll probably go all indignant and non-conformist and demand the other spelling now

Elena was on the list for dd3 for a good while, I pronounce it E Len a. I didn't go for it in the end because they was a lot of mangled pronounciation, I think when I heard people say Eleanor for it, that was the final nail in the coffin for me, I went with a different name. Elena is a really lovely name, the spelling Elaina not so much.