Help me pick!

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Hello everyone. Need some help with picking a name. I'm due today and my last child was about a week old by the time we picked a name, and I pretty much let dp decide because I just got fed up with myself.

Top of my list is Elaina. I think the more traditional way to spell it is Elena which is lovely but pretty sure where we live people will call her Ellen-a which I don't want. Sounds too much like Eleanor, which as nice as it is, isn't a name I would pick.

Middle name will be Rose after a family member, but will hardly ever be used.

Others on my list are:

Ella (but it's pretty popular here)
Rosa (in this case her middle name won't be Rose)
Romy (again wouldn't have Rose as a middle name)
Lainey (but that could be a nn for Elaina)
Catriona (said the way its spelt)

Opinions please, or suggestions of similar names. I've went through hundreds. Always thought picking a girls name would be much easier, but it's not!

Yeah, I'm in Scotland and I know a few Catriona's... all pronounced Katrina.

I love Elaina, and Eleni for what it's worth ❤️

I really don't like Elaina - it's just too close to Elaine which is just horrible. Pronouncing it Ellen-ah would be much better!

I'd go with Catriona.

Lainey is awful
Romy ok, bit harsh
Rose too boring.

Cara?

My friend had a baby in the first lockdown and she called her Alaina Maria. She's such a beautiful little thing and really suits her name.

I'm in Scotland and have only ever met two Catriona's, one pronounced Katreena (adult), and one pronounced the way it looks (child). I really don't like the Katreena pronunciation, and I suppose she would probably spend her life correcting people, because most will presume Katreena. Unless she prefers that 😂.

Not keen on Cara. I think that sounds a bit harsh.
I agree that Romy and Lainey sound a bit made up, but Lainey was definitely on a couple of "Scottish baby names" lists.

I agree that Elaina, will get confused with Elaine, which is exactly what my mum said, and her reason for not being keen on it.

Catriona, is definitely meant to be closest to ka tree nah.

Romy is short for Romily?

Elayna rather than Elaina

Elisa?

I think Elaina is a fine spelling - it’s just Elaine but with an a, people will get it - and I think you are right OP, it’s the only way you’ll get it pronounced the way you want. I like like Lainey but only as a nn.

Catriona is probably my favourite from your list. It is often pronounced as spelt, even in Scotland.

Rosa is nice. Ella is nice but a bit dull. Romy sounds like a nn to me - maybe Ramona nn Romy?!

Few other thoughts - Stella, Dorey, Caitlin, Robin, Fernanda, Rosanna, Lara, Livia, Adela, Lois

Elena is gorgeous and definitely pronounced Elain-a. If anyone says 'Ellen-a' they're simply wrong amd you just need to correft them. I think the spelling Elaina spoils the name a bit.

I love Romy and Rosa.

Chiara - pronounced kee-ah-rah
Maya, Camille, Eliana, Amara, Catalina, Ayda, Alina,
Cecilia, Adriana, Ariella, Cecily, Verity

I always used to pronounce Elena as Elaina but in the last 20 years everyone I've met with that name pronounces it ellen-a.
I'm in an area with a very large Greek population and they all say it like that plus I've met quite a few non Greek children whose parents pronounce it like that.
I' m not normally a fan of non standard spelling but I think Elaina might be your best bet here (although lots of people might then confuse it with the increasingly popular Eliana).

What about Alana/Alanna?

The only Elena I've known pronounced it Elaine-uh. I think it's much pretty as Elena.

I love Romy as a nickname for Ramona it was our other option for my youngest.

I think Elena does have more than one "legit" pronunciation. The stress is on the first syllable in Italian (so, more like Eleanor in English), but on the second syllable in Spanish and possibly other languages (so, more like Elaina in English).

I know one who says it to sound like El-enna.

Elaina or Elena are both lovely.

I also know an Eliana.

I like Elaina. I know an Aleyna, pronounced the same. I prefer your spelling though.

Eleni is beautiful.