Helen

[Heh1991]

Thoughts on the name Helen?

Helen-a and Helay-na are both valid pronunciations. The people who say the latter aren’t wrong. Like Sara, which can be a homophone of Sarah or rhyme with Zara.

It's a classic but I don't like the 'hel' sound at the beginning. Too much like 'hell'.

Yep, Helen-a, Hel-ay-na and Hel-ee-na are all valid pronunciations.

How on earth can people mispronounce Helena?

Hell en a
Hell ay na
Hell ee na

Whereas Helen is always Hell en.

Sorry @ronconcoke, but if you give your child a name with multiple correct pronunciations then people can't psychically know which one is your preference.

@mynameisnotmichaelcaine, it was a very common girls nsne at school for my too. I’m a few years older than you. Even now, it’s probably the most common name amongst the women I know age 40-50.

It’s my middle name. I much prefer it to my first name, but never managed to get people into the habit of using it instead. My DBro uses his middle mane, DSis has bern known by a totally unrelated to her mane since she was a toddler, I guess my parents wanted one child to use the nane they’d chosen!

I love it. Feminine and strong.

Also like Helena and Eleanor.

@Puppulangstrumpfi

How on earth can people mispronounce Helena?

Hell en a
Hell ay na
Hell ee na

Whereas Helen is always Hell en.

…... you'd be surprised how many times I've been called "Hell-in" over the years.

Hell-in is an accent thing though, right? Slightly clipped delivery. If you're an Archers listener it is notoriously how Pat Archer pronounces her daughter's name.

I only hear a carefully enunciated 'e' in the second syllable when my name is pronounced by someone Welsh. In most other UK accents (including my own) it's closer to hell-un.

@ZoyaTheDestroyer

Sorry *@ronconcoke*, but if you give your child a name with multiple correct pronunciations then people can't psychically know which one is your preference.

No, you're right - but I didn't even realise there were multiple correct pronunciations (other than my grandmother's Norwegian version) until people started pronouncing it differently. That's OK, it's just when they ask me how to say it ("is it Helayna?") and I say "No, it's Helen-a" and they carry on with Helayna anyway. I realise she's going to have to live with it.

Oh, and she has a foreign surname too

it's just when they ask me how to say it ("is it Helayna?") and I say "No, it's Helen-a" and they carry on with Helayna anyway. I realise she's going to have to live with it.

Now that IS annoying and you have my sympathies!

I like it.

It's beautiful and timeless - one of the very best names.

^Whereas Helen is always Hell en.

…... you'd be surprised how many times I've been called "Hell-in" over the years.^

That's almost the same though

Whereas Helena can be Helayna, Heleena or Hellena. Much more scope for mispronunciation.

The only ones I've ever known have been frumpy and exceedingly dull. Despite that, it still seems like rather a lovely name, which is saying something!

It isn’t for me. I think it’s very dated now x

I love the name Helen. It sounds lovely.

I like Helen. It makes a refreshing change.

Another Helen here, I’m in my thirties. I don’t hate my name but I’ve never particularly liked it either. I always felt that my friends at school had softer, prettier names and was quite envious. I love Helena though (pronounced any way), have often thought of adding that ‘a’ on!

It sounds dated