Lena

[Guardian12]

What do people think of the name Lena (pronounced Lee-na)?

We both like it and it has some family significance.

Love it! Great name.

all the old lady names are fashionable again!*

*exceptions for Bertha, Beryl. Brenda and Gladys.

I work with a Lena and she goes by LEN-ah (as it rhymes with Tena). If you want LEE-na, I'd go with Lina.

Lina would say Line-a to me.

My name is Helena and I normally go by Lena (Hel-ee-na and Lee-na pronunciations). I'm in my 30s so not just a grandma name It's rare that anyone pronounces Helena as I do upon reading it written down (understandably I guess as I live in England and it's the Irish pronunciation) but I haven't had too many people calling me Layna- people have tended to pronounce Lena as Leena.

Not a fan, pronounced Lay-na is better.

Really love this name, pronounced as in your OP, and happy to hear that it’s making a comeback.

I’ve come it a lot in Italy, but usually as shortening of names like as Marilena and pron. Leyna. Whereas here it’s a standalone name - my DGM was Lena Mary

I also would think it’s pronounced Lay-na. I think Lina would be clearer if you want that pronunciation

See to me Lina would be pronounced Line-a. Maybe because my grandmother was Lena I’m just used to that spelling and pronunciation.

@HelenaLena lovely name😉 glad you haven’t had too much trouble with the Lena pronunciation. Do people say Helena as Hel-en-uh like Helena Bonham Carter?

You wouldn't pronounce Gina 'G-EYE-na', would you? 😂

I agree. In languages like Italian Lina = ‘ee’ sound and Lena = ‘ey’ sound, automatically.

English just doesn’t work like that because so many words with ‘e’ in the first syllable or 2nd syllable are pronounced ‘ee’.

The name has been around in uk for a long time and with that pronunciation. Granted it’s been very popular elsewhere. But Eve, Evie, Ethan etc keep being chosen by English speaking parents despite the risk.

Actually just remembered there was a girl called Eve in my DD’s class when we were in Italy and teachers and other parents really struggled!!

*I meant to say 2nd para - there isn’t a fixed rule with ‘e’ sound in English

Love it! So classy

Thank you Yes, Helen-uh as in Bonham Carter is the most common way people pronounce it, followed by Hel-ay-na. I know two people who pronounce it Helen-uh though who both also find mispronunciation a pain, so I think it's always an issue with the name whichever your favoured pronunciation.

I have a Lena, pronounced Layna. Love it now (and like to think the Tindalls copied us ) but be warned that whichever way you say it people will mis-pronounce it.

This sums it up really well!! Just choose the one you like. Both sound lovely to me.

Also we don’t always get the chance to tell someone how to pronounce our name. Many people would read out my username as Caterina …..

I like it! It’s my name! I usually get called Len-na, but I pronounce mine as Lee-na.

I don't like it. Lena- Lee na to much like Eileen.
Why not have Helena or Selina.
Ciena?

My daughter's name is Helena, pronounced He-lay-na. We call her Lena (Lay-na).