Helena or Cecilia?

[Shasha17]

Still on the quest for the perfect biblical or saint's name?

What do you think of
Helena (nn Nell) and Cecilia (nn Cece)?

Both gorgeous! Lovely and elegant, underused classical names. However of the two I think Cecilia is more likely to be shortened (being 4 syllables) - so make sure you like the nn's too. Therefore I'd probably pick Helena, as even if that does get shortened I personally prefer Nell to Cece or Cissy.

I love Helena

I prefer Helena

Helena ..beautiful name . Cecilia too exaggerated and awkward.

Helena

I think Helena sounds nicer but if you choose Cecilia check our Henry Purcell's Ode to Cecil's. Lovely music. Apparently St Cecilia was associated with music in his day.

Cecilia not Cecil's

Why do so many names have an A on the end at the moment? Both your names are lovely OP, as are Helen and Cecily.

@ODFOgrinch

Why do so many names have an A on the end at the moment? Both your names are lovely OP, as are Helen and Cecily.

In a lot of countries names ending in 'a' are traditionally female, perhaps that's why?

Most Latin and Greek feminine names end in A (Helena is Greek, Cecilia is Latin) - and we tend to like/be influenced by our classical heritage in the UK so those names have a long history of use here too (for example Shakespeare used Helena twice and Celia too, although not Cecilia).

Admittedly stronger consonant names were more strongly used in the past (Anne, Margaret, Jane, etc) but I think there has always been something of a mix.

I think it’s just fashion. When I was at school it was all Sophie, Claire, Helen, Anne. Whereas currently the children are Sophia, Clara, Helena, Anna. Etc. The pendulum will swing back again in time.

Cecelia !

Helena isn’t bad, and much better than Helen, but Cecelia is far far nicer.

OP - are you leaning any way in favour of either of these names?

😬

Cecilia

Prefer Cecilia to Helena, but much prefer Nell to CeCe.

Cecilia is lovely

Helena.

Difficult one for me as Cecelia (this spelling) has special meaning for me. But I think of the two I’d say Helena, it’s more streamlined. However I much prefer Nell as a standalone and Cecily to both (both on my list). Really dislike Cece. Nell has such a different feel to Helena, imo, that while it’s a legitimate diminutive I can’t imagine a child that can be called and suit both. Whereas as a shorted form of Eleanor, I feel like it has the same feel. Just my (extremely subjective) opinion.

Helena