Lena and Leo for twins??

[LVThompson]

Hi there mums :D we're expecting twins (boy and girl) and we are set on the girl being named Lena (Lay-nuh) but we're having trouble coming up with a boy's name...My husband and i are thinking about the name Leo but are not sure if it sounds to similar to Lena.
thoughts?? and feel free to suggest some other names that could go well with Lena aswell

I like Lena but too similar to Leo. I would also say Leena if I just saw it written down. I have b/g twins too and I was careful not to give them the same initial. It will be annoying for them later eg. At secondary school.

So.. To go with Lena
Christian
Isaac/ Zach
Theo

You could get away with Lena and Leo, they don't sound that similar. I know some people say twins should have a different initial though for practical reasons.

What about:
Ivo
Finn
Max
Asa
Jude
Joel
Guy

I would always steer clear of having the same initials for family members , it’s a pain . I also agree with pp that I’d read Lena as Lee not Lay . For some reason I’ve automatically gone for Marcus as a good match although it’s not a name I’d usually go for .

Yes it reads as Leena not Layna/Lana.

I never know whether Lena is supposed to be pronounced lee-na, lay-na or lenna, so it might be a bit confusing with Leo.

Too similar. They are also very popular names at the moment.

I also have boy girl twins and definitely wanted to shy away from names that sound too ‘twinny’, when to me Lena and Leo are. But would absolutely suggest that you need names that complement each other, as you’ll be saying them together a million times a day, so they need to easily roll off the tongue.

Mine are Lulu and Ezra, which to me flow really well when said together.

Not too similar but don't expect anyone to pronounce Lena with a Lay sound.

Too twinny as mentioned.
Lulu and Ezra how lovely!

I like both names but separately, how and Lena and Patrick? For some reason that seems to flow well in my head

Are you Italian?
I do like Lena. Leo as well is a little similar to me. Ideas:
Franco
Giulio
Paolo

Luke?

Too similar imo

Avoid matchy-matchy names for twins - it’s a bit naff.
Encourage them to be individuals not “the twins”. See Twins Trust for research as to why this is so important.

It's a bit Luke and Leia (Star Wars) to my ears.

I would have definitely said Leena for Lena. And I think with Leo people will default to thinking it's Leo and Leena not Leo and Layna.

Bit smart how about theo instead?

Lena doesn't work in English. English speakers say Lenna or Leena.

In German Lena would be Leh-na (almost Lay but more Leh) na.

Leo(nardo) is nice but not with Lena. I'd avoid the same initials.

I'd spell it Layna if that's what you want.

I love both names but I do think they're very similar, sorry.

Helena?

@Blubells

Lena doesn't work in English. English speakers say Lenna or Leena.

In German Lena would be Leh-na (almost Lay but more Leh) na.

Leo(nardo) is nice but not with Lena. I'd avoid the same initials.

If you put an accent above the e, it'd work. Like in Esmé.

Léna

Lena and Milo

I love the name Lena, but it will be constantly mispronounced. I think it's fine with Leo, they're different enough.

Leon and Layla.
Similar but different to each other.