Please settle this argument for me

[BluLagoon]

DH and I have pretty much agreed on a name but not on how to spell it. Please settle this by telling us - how would you pronounce ‘Selena’?

I highly doubt that you have genuinely never in your life heard a non-rhotic accent 😵‍💫

If I met one, I would assume leen, but if told layn I wouldn't be surprised

The Spanish pronunciation isn't ‘Suh-Layna’

same as mine, but my Sarah is Ser-er, and Seh leen er

Selena to rhyme with Helena

I'd naturally say it 'seh-LEH-nah' but have heard it other ways eg seeLEEnuh

How on earth does a name ending in A get pronounced with an er?

This!

Surely the sound -ah is completely different to -er?!?!

@pinkmags , some accents say 'Sarah' as 'Sair-ah' and some as 'Sair-uh'
Some accents say 'Taylor' as 'Tayl-er' and some as 'Tayl-uh'

If you say Taylor as 'Tayl-uh' chances are you say 'er' and 'uh' the same, so see 'er' and 'uh' as interchangeable.

If you give Sarah the middle name Ann, some will say it as Sair-uh-rAnn.

Selina

If you give Sarah the middle name Ann, some will say it as Sair-uh-rAnn.

Interesting.... although I'd still say Sair-ah-Ann

I’ve got quite a broad South Yorkshire accent and most words ending in A sound like “er” “uh” when pronounced.

@pinkmags , me too but not everyone will. I think Sairuh-rann sounds awful. I don't know any though, they're all Sarah Janes.

It's an issue if the surname starts with a vowel or H. Sarah Atkins becomes Sarah Ratkins.

Might be best to consider it if you want to call your daughter Anna and your surname is Ackroyd.

Thanks for the explanation @BluLagoon
I was trying to work out how it could be pronounced any other way from

Seh-Lean-ah / er (which sound the same to most of us)