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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Elaina/Helaina

141 replies

Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 16:40

I love these 2 names, pronounced this way. I know many mnetters are anti 'made up' name's but I think in this instance phonetic spelling will save them a lifetime of correcting people who call them the other version?

Its not like Feebee for instance...

Please mumsnet guide me!

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ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 13/12/2015 16:43

Nope, they look daft, sorry. Elena and Helena are both pronounced that way although they both have alternative pronunciations. Don't stick random diagraphs in names because you don't like the usual spelling.
Phonetically spelt variations of names always look to me like the namer is illiterate.

SoupDragon · 13/12/2015 16:44

I think they look dreadful, particularly Helaina. Surely spelling them phonetically is exactly the same as Feebee?

Costacoffeeplease · 13/12/2015 16:48

Yep, dreadful, nothing wrong with the original names, 'creative' spellings look like illiteracy

Veterinari · 13/12/2015 16:49

I went to school with n Alaina (25 years ago )
How about that?

Stirling84 · 13/12/2015 16:49

If you want the pronunciation to be unambiguous use an East European spelling like Jelena.

Pooka · 13/12/2015 16:51

You'd be setting did up for a lifetime of saying "Helena spelt helaina" which is no different really to "Helena pronounced helaina"

Spidertracker · 13/12/2015 16:51

Helena is lovely. I would role my eyes at the spelling Helaina though. If you are decided on one or the other I would go for Helaina as Elaina looks like you were aiming for Elaine and made a typo.

Pooka · 13/12/2015 16:52

Actually scratch that - what I wrote makes no sense at all. Brain's not working today.

I still think helaina looks wrong and not really different to feebee.

Pinklily1 · 13/12/2015 16:53

Both are awful. They would get asked fewer questions/ have fewer issues having to spell the names if you used the traditional spellings. Otherwise I agree with others, they look made up/ like the namer can't spell properly.

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 13/12/2015 16:53

They'll have to spell it out for everyone, surely?

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 16:54

A quick internet search pulls up Elaina Owen, Olympic medalist from 60s ans Dr Helaina Black, ecologist.

Theres also a Dr Elaina Collie Duguid at University of Aberdeen. I wouldn't think their parents were illiterate

OP posts:
ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 13/12/2015 16:56

I would

SoupDragon · 13/12/2015 16:56

^phonetic spelling will save them a lifetime of correcting people who call them the other version?

And give them a lifetime of spelling their name to people.

TheNumberfaker · 13/12/2015 16:58

If you want to use any of those spellings, go ahead, but they do look daft!

Costacoffeeplease · 13/12/2015 16:59

Their parents might have been illiterate, we don't know, but if you're happy to be thought illiterate, then crack on

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:00

OK, I get about the spelling but now im curious about those who think spelling the names with an ai are illiterate! Thats a bit strong imo

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Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:00

costa wow! Thats a little harsh!

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Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:03

Im new on the site and posed what I thought was a harmless question and didn't need the likes of you, Costa, to be so blunt.

Thanks everyone for advice. Will bear it in mind

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SueDunome · 13/12/2015 17:07

Harsh but true

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:14

Harsh that the people I mentioned might have had illiterate parents?

Yup, thats harsh and more than likely untrue.

You guys have been reading too much Freakanomics to justify your own prejudices.

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Pinklily1 · 13/12/2015 17:16

I think by 'illiterate' I was meaning that to me, where a fairly standard name like Helena is spelt differently to the traditional/ more common spelling, I think it looks slightly odd and as if either the namer made an error or spelt it that way to be purposefully different (which is not something I like). Its a beautiful name and personally, I would stick with the more usual spelling. I have a name that can be spelt in one of two ways and I constantly have to confirm the correct spelling, which gets irritating.

ThisIsWhyImBroke · 13/12/2015 17:20

I really love the name Helaina pronounced that way :)

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:23

Hmmm... or maybe by illiterate you mean some dumb ass ethnic. At least thats the subtext im getting.

gadflyonthewallblog.wordpress.com/2015/09/06/white-people-need-to-stop-snickering-at-black-names/

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StrawberryTeaLeaf · 13/12/2015 17:27

Pretend to hear any subtext you like.

The meaning of 'wow that looks illiterate' repeated a dozen times, slightly differently phrased is pretty bloody clear.

IT LOOKS ILLITERATE.

There is no history in the UK of any particular racial group spelling names creatively or phonetically, anyway, so you make little sense.

Original poster
Barbiequed · 13/12/2015 17:31

Quote:

We use the situation as an opportunity for bonding. THOSE people who are not like you and me – THEY name their children things like THIS! Not like you and me who name our children more respectably.

Make no mistake. This is racist behavior. We are emphasizing the otherness of an entire group of people to put ourselves over and above them.

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