Is Elena too similar to Ella?

[Sednajo]

Love love love the name Elena Rose for a girl but we have a four year old niece called Ella. Does this mean this is off the cards for being too similar?

Alternative names we are considering...Lauren, Mollie, Evelyn (but we associate this with beautiful dark hair/eyes and we are almost certainly likely to produce blonde/blue eyes), and less so Georgia, Margot and Amy. Middle name Mae to honour family member or Rose.

Any thoughts please? We haven't told family the sex so haven't been able to run names past them.

If its El-ay-na rather than E-len-a. I'd personally say youd be okay. Its the e and the ay sound that makes all the difference.
However a thing to consider is. When she's older, she might want to go by Ellie or El making it very similar.
Another thing though. Will they see each much. If I sat and thought about it. I could probably count the number of times on my hands that I have seen my cousins

I think it's fine

Much too close for siblings but for cousins it's fine.

It's fine in that situation. I wouldn't have sisters called Ella and Elena, but for cousins, I can't see any problem at all.

For cousins, completely fine.

It would be e-lay-na (e-lane-a) with layna or laney (not sure if I've got the spelling of those right) perhaps as possible nn's?

Niece is sometimes referred to as El by her parents.

Ok for cousins. Just don't call her Ellie or El. Leni/Laney is nice as a nn

I’ve always thought Elena sounds like a cockney Helena!

I agree with pp: totally fine for cousins, your NN are nice

What 7salmon swimming said. Elena is Helena without the 'H' to me.
I prefer the Elayna spelling if it was to be pronounced e- lay-na. (saves any confusion).
That said, I think its fine if they are cousins to have similar names.

I think they will both inevitably get called Ellie, it’s up to you whether that bothers you or not.

Love Elena and especially Lainey as a nn!! If you call her Lainey and not Ellie people will follow suit! Great name choice OP.

Doesn't Zara Phillips have a daughter called Lena pron. Layna? That might be the name for your daughter.