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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Helena or Seren?

78 replies

watermelonsoda · 09/04/2025 19:25

Just that really
have been set on Seren for baby girl die end of April for a while but for some reason this past week I’ve been second guessing it.. I think I’ve started to prefer Helena

if you had to choose which would it be?

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SoScarletItWas · 09/04/2025 21:08

mdinbc · 09/04/2025 21:03

Never heard of Seren as a name before. Do you pronounce it like Karen?

Not when it’s pronounced properly. It’s Welsh. Not Serrunn like ‘Karrunn’. Sair-en is the nearest I can type!

bettydavieseyes · 09/04/2025 21:11

I like both. Seren is more interesting/memorable/pretty

Mingenious · 09/04/2025 21:14

Seren all day long,

But I do like Helena, Serena, Eleanor etc, too. All lovely classic names.

On the star theme, I almost called DD Stella and I wish I’d had the guts now.

Edited to say that Hera may work with your taste.

HarryVanderspeigle · 09/04/2025 21:16

Your poll currently gives one name 49% and the other 51%, so the internet isn't much help! My vote was for Seren, but both lovely names.

Emanwenym · 09/04/2025 21:19

@SoScarletItWas , it's SERR-en, serr like the err in ferry, en like in pen.

iwentjasonwaterfalls · 09/04/2025 21:20

Seren. I don't understand the argument that it dates itself; I know Serens in their thirties.

itsgettingweird · 09/04/2025 21:22

I know a Seren and she’s one of the nicest people you could meet.

So I’m biased.

But both names are lovely.

SoScarletItWas · 09/04/2025 21:27

Emanwenym · 09/04/2025 21:19

@SoScarletItWas , it's SERR-en, serr like the err in ferry, en like in pen.

Yes ferry is the better comparison, I made it sound too much like fairy!

iseethembloom · 09/04/2025 21:40

Helena is gorgeous and timeless. It won’t date. . Seren is too modern / fashionable.

Emanwenym · 09/04/2025 21:45

I think it falls into the Sharon, Karen, Lauren type names.

There was a Seren on Pobol y Cwm and her 'mum' said it with the local accent.
Poor Seren came to a tragic end Sad. Coincidentally, the actor who plays Kelly is a Lauren, and she says Lauren more like Law-renne. Smile

user1492757084 · 10/04/2025 02:07

Both Helena and Seren are nice enough.
I prefer Helena.

Do you like ..
Helen
Sabine
Sarah
Serena

Zanatdy · 10/04/2025 08:02

I love Seren. I am Welsh, probably wouldn’t choose it if I wasn’t Welsh, but sure lots do, and do with lots of other Welsh names. I didn’t use it as DS has a Welsh name and felt a bit twee, so went with an arabic name to reflect other side of her heritage.!

DiscoBeat · 10/04/2025 08:07

I like both but people will stick an A on Seren so it's probably easier to just go with that. Still really pretty and more like 'serene' than 'serengeti'

BestIsWest · 10/04/2025 08:14

I like both but only like the Helen - a pronounciation. I don’t like Helayna or Heleena both of which I’ve heard.

Seren doesn’t sound like ‘serene’ though, that’s confused me.

Emanwenym · 10/04/2025 08:19

Seren isn't anything to do with Serena. The similarity is only in the spelling.

BestIsWest · 10/04/2025 08:25

Both lovely names though (Seren and Serena). I think the oldest Seren I know is about 35 now.

Ecocool · 10/04/2025 08:26

How do you pronounce Seren? Whatever...I prefer the classic Helena. Unusual and underused. Beautiful name.

ThursdayLastWeek · 10/04/2025 08:27

Lots of Seren’s in Cornwall too.
if I were worried about not having too popular a name I’d go for Helena.

Original poster
watermelonsoda · 10/04/2025 08:52

BestIsWest · 10/04/2025 08:14

I like both but only like the Helen - a pronounciation. I don’t like Helayna or Heleena both of which I’ve heard.

Seren doesn’t sound like ‘serene’ though, that’s confused me.

Yes we’d be using the Helen-a pronunciation
OH’s name is commonly mispronounced so correcting people isn’t something we’re strangers to in this house 😂

OP posts:
BestIsWest · 10/04/2025 08:54

Both lovely names then! I approve @watermelonsoda 😂

Original poster
watermelonsoda · 10/04/2025 08:55

TidyDancer · 09/04/2025 20:45

Helena is a much much nicer name.

To me, Seren is unfinished, should be either Serene or Serena. Also reminds me of Sarin which isn’t great obviously!

I think this is maybe why I’ve started to second guess Seren, I really like Serena and Seren feels a bit abrupt and like you say unfinished in some way

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Original poster
watermelonsoda · 10/04/2025 09:57

HarryVanderspeigle · 09/04/2025 21:16

Your poll currently gives one name 49% and the other 51%, so the internet isn't much help! My vote was for Seren, but both lovely names.

I know, currently 50/50 😂 I suppose it does help in that one of them isn’t a runaway favourite!

OP posts:
Arlanymor · 10/04/2025 09:58

Emanwenym · 09/04/2025 20:49

@ZiggyZowie , classic and unfussy, I like it. Helena is nice but I know a 'Heleena', 'Helaina' and a few who are Helen-a.

Seren is a bit naff IMO. Would you call a child Star?

You call a child Stella - same difference. We also have the name Enfys - means rainbow, plenty of people in Wales are called this.

CandidExpert · 10/04/2025 10:21

Helena is much classier, timeless and more beautiful in my humble opinion.

Seren is quite drab...a Karen or Colin type of name to my ear. Sounds far nicer in a Welsh accent though, so if you're in Wales ignore me! Although...there are much more beautiful Welsh names than Seren.

grinchsourcream · 10/04/2025 10:30

My Seren is a teenager now, but when she was born I met a lady in her 50's who's best friend growing up was Seren, so it is timeless I would say. Only issue I have found is some people calling her Serene. Teachers mainly! We are not in Wales, so its not a popular name here.