How would you pronounce Lena?

[WhiteHairReally]

So, ‘Mr and Mrs Michael Tindall’ have announced that their nearly new daughter is to be called Lena Elizabeth. Pronounced ‘Lay na’.

I have to admit that I’d have pronounced it ‘Lee-na’ but rather like this alternative pronouncation.

Is she in for a lifetime of initial explanations of how to pronounce her name?

I know one Lee-na and one Lay-na.

I’ve met Leenas and Laynas - depends which country they’re from.

I would prounounce it ‘Lenna’ because that it what the only one I know calls herself.

But I’m prepared to be told I’m wrong! Presumably they will have considered the pronounciation. Congratulations to them.

The only Lena I've heard of is the esc winner (German). I'd say it's Lee-na, but I would say it depends on the culture. I think the Germans pronounce it Lay-na but quite softly, if that makes sense?

Lovely name either way

I have a friend who is called Lena ... pronounced Lenna. Lives on the Med.

I’d say Layna, but used to live in Germany where it is quite common. Similarly Elena and also Eva (which living in France I would instinctively pronounce Ava).

Leena if English, Layna if German, Lenna if Polish.

I suppose this kid has some German blood but not much. People are always describing the Queen as German, but as far as I can work out, her last first-generation German ancestor was Prince Albert! So I think if I'd been them and wanted the Layna pronunciation I would have used the Layna spelling.

Mike Find all confirms pronunciation is 'Lay-na' and the elder one is pronounced 'Mee-a', not 'My-a'.

*Mike Tindall ffs

Dh has about 5000 nieces/friends daughters named Lena. Stupidly popular in Germany, pronounced lay-na or leyh-na (the second one is more of lay-na in a German accent though...).

My daughter is Marcelina known sometimes as Lina (Lee-na). So that's probably why I wouldn't jump to that pronunciation.

Names are not always pronounced the way they are spelled FFS, what is with some of you posters? Many names have multiple pronunciations too, mine being one of them. I’m used to both pronunciations and as long as I’m not called something completely different I will respond to either, as I’m sure little Lena will when older.

Leenah or Lennah

I know one and it's said Lay-na

I thought Leena too but Layna is nice.Perhaps their using it will make it more popular. I suppose Helena can be pronounced in two ways as well.

Lee-na. Or, if you were Russian, Lye- na.

Leh-nah, like half Elena.

I know a Serena (nn Re), and her full name is pronounced Seh-reh-nah.

Names with a Latin /Greek root I'd always pronounce as it's written (in the original Latin, not the adapted English) unless otherwise instructed by the owner of the name.

My Nan was called Lena. Pronounced Lee-na so that seems right to me. But I know a young Polish girl who is Lena pronounced Lenna. My Nan would have been 94 now if she was alive so she obviously is the old lady referred to above (although she was once a baby too of course!!)

I’d have assumed “lee-na” but the “lay-nah” pronunciation would have been a close second.

“My-ah” for Mia on the other hand...

Lee-na.

Layna like Elena

Very popular in Germany!

The pronunciation can't really be expressed in English but it's somewhat similar to Lay-na. But it's not Ay bu more like é.

Len-ah

I'd pronounce it Lay-na. Lovely name!

Leena or Laina, either would seem normal to me.

I know a Helena and an Annalena - both of them have the laina ending, although Annalena sometimes uses leena.

YY to German aspect to pronunciation. It's not as strong as ay, defo more like é.