Helena

[caitlinrose]

Helena is a name I liked a while back. I didn't even think of it for the longest time. I recently discovered it again.

What do you think of Helena?

I like that it's a classic but sometimes it bothers me that it has the "hell"-sound in it and does sound a bit dark and gloomy.

Does Ellie work as a nickname for Helena? Ellie is on our list too.

It's not like I wouldn't use Ellie as a full name, it's more that I like Helena and Ellie but I don't like any nicknames for Helena (Hellie, Lena, Leni) but I do like Ellie so wondering if this would work as a nickname from time to time or to offer to people who want to use a nickname so that they don't resort to Hellie.

She pronounces it the Skandi/Germanic way, which is to pronounce the ‘e’ as a long ‘a’, so He-lay-na.

I know a Helena pronounced Helaynuh nickname Laney (Laynee)

Love it! And love Nell as a NN (also, perhaps, more typically, used as NN for Helen).

Elena works better if you want Ellie in my opinion.

She pronounces it the Skandi/Germanic way, which is to pronounce the ‘e’ as a long ‘a’, so He-lay-na.

In German there is no -ay sound.

It's Hel-eh-ne

Ok, Scandinavian way, then.

Absolutely beautiful and a timeless classic. Was on my list when pregnant but I had a boy ! Would definitely use it for a future DD. I'd go with the Hell-uh-na pronunciation.

One of my favourite things about Helena is that it’s ancient and classy and has the elegance of Eleanor WITHOUT the tedious ‘Ellie’ nickname. I’d nickname my imaginary Helena Nell 😍