Lena

[katielou987]

What are your thoughts on this name? I heard it in conversation recently an older distant relative has the name (her name is Helena but from childhood she's been known as Lena)
What are your thoughts as a stand alone name?
I was considering either Lena Grace or Grace Elizabeth what do you prefer? Thanks xx

How is it pronounced? Leena or Lena?

Could be short for Selena

I like it its different! Kinda has a scandi feel to me, not sure why?!

I know a great Lena (pronounced ‘Lenn -uh’). She’s 70 something and it’s her full name - no reason you can’t use it.

It's actually fairly popular in my area with Polish families, my daughter has two in her year at school. Pronounced lenn-uh.

Is it lay-na?

I like it.

I like it. I know a family with Irish names and then a Lena in with them. It seems to fit.

Good point that it can be short for Selena too, prefer that to Helena.
I think I'd go for Selena Grace (Lena)

Regular Scandi name. Pronounced LEAR-na (as in a non-rhotic 'King Lear').

I love Lena.
(I'm not sure why PPs say it's unusual/never heard, Lena Heady comes to mind.)

Lena was my gran's name, short for Alena. It's a family name going back a couple of generations before my Gran (her grandmother was Polish).
It's also my daughter, cousin and her daughter's middle name.

If there's a Russian prostitute in a gritty tv drama, she's always Lena.

I like it, but I think the multiple pronunciations thing (Lee-na Vs lay-na Vs leh-na) could be a pain. Based on your post, I have no idea how you want it pronounced!

The tindalls have one, I think pronounced Lay-na
that would be my concern, is it lay-na or Lee-na. Helena is similarly confusing

Not necessarily- my name is Helena (pronounced the Irish way Hel-ee-na) and I often use Lena (Lee-na) as a shortening. I find that most people do pronounce it Lee-na rather than Lay-na, but I suppose as it's a shortening rather than my full name many will have heard it before they see it written down, so that's maybe not fully representative.

I am Elena!

Lena is lovely.

Lena is a lovely name but I would definitely pronounce it Lay- na.

Lina is a different name IMO- I know one, pronounced Lee-na.

I've always heard Lena as Leh-na. There's no -ay sound.

Lena = Leh-na

Leena = Lee-na

Layna = Lay-na

Just makes me think of Lena Zavaroni

Lena Zavaroni

Yes and that was pronounced Leena.

lovely name.

Lena Zavaroni but only because I grew up in the area.
I don't think that many other people would think of her.

I think it’s pronounced Layna in America - I had two different American students both spelled Lena and pronounced Lay-na. Lovely name! Also love Selena and Helena 😃

Lena pronounced Leh-nuh is a lovely Welsh name.

Definitely Zavaroni vibes so Lee-na