Elaina/Helaina

[Barbiequed]

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!

Be posting, I mean, or words to that effect.

And why the he'll would this be fishy?

Took to post 125 to give the op the response she wanted though!

Jane

Sorry, was that bad Fergus

Wat doo yoo meen phishee?

Aye goost meen thayt sum peeple wood thinck aye carnt spel yf aye right lyk thys.

Howevva ayem hyyly eddukayted, aye symplyy downt reysponde too urr spellyng norms

Aym alsow a byt off a speshul snowphlacke

Not at all!!

Pretend

Illiterate is harsh. MN can be harsh, lots of snobs on here! I'm not keen on the two names but I love Elora and know a lovely couple with a toddler with this name.

I don't think expecting correct spelling is snobbish at all.

Snowphlacke

Love it!

Both names would indicate to me that the parents weren't terribly well educated, ie couldn't spell.

Do us and yourself a favour and don't ask if you don't want people's honest opinions. It's pointless getting arsey and saying it's racist is beyond pathetic.

The problem with the names Helena and Elena is that there are 2 ways of pronunciating them, Helayna and Hellena. By spelling them the way you're suggesting you are making the pronunciation clear but you are making your dd have to spell out her name a lot, because most of us aren't used to your spellings. But then, a lot of names have to be spelt out....

6 years later.. I was reading about what my name actually meant and couldn’t believe these comments! Anyway I love my name and wouldn’t change it for the world - Helaina x

@Stirling84

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

In Croatian that would be pronounced like an English Y in front (like the words “yell in a” smushed together)

I know an Elaina and it never crossed my mind that her name was anything but pretty.

Helaina looks awful, sorry. I understand why you feel it's a better sppelling but it looks wrong,

@Barbiequed

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!

I actually quite like Elaina. While I do prefer standard spellings for most names this looks fine to me. She can say “like Elaine with an A” when folks ask for spelling. If you like it go for it.

I think for Helaina it would be easier to go with Helena and she can just correct pronunciation when needed, the spelling will be extra confusing and won’t help folks pronounce it how you want. I only assume you want it to rhyme with Elaina because I saw them together.

As to folks who say people who use alternate spelling look “illiterate” that’s mean and untrue. I’ve got kids in elementary school and lots of parents, including professionals with graduate degrees, have chosen an alternate spelling for their kid’s name. Sometimes there are cultural reasons, sometimes personal reasons, but it’s common enough that it is no longer something with a stigma. At in my community.