Helen or Ellen?

[Butterflygirl7]

Which sounds prettier? I know Ellie is popular these days but wondered if Ellen is too?

TIA

Ellen

Ellen

Or Helena?

I don't know any children called Ellen.

An awful lot as you say called Ellie/Eleanor tho.

I actually know 2 small Helens; DH calls one "DD's 40yo friend Helen" because it's more a name of my vintage lol! It is pretty tho IMO.

Prefer Helen, but I love Helene (French).

I know one little Ellen. Nice name.

Helen is quite retro, isn't it? I dont know any under 35 yrs old.

prefer Helena or Elena

How about Elena or Ealanor?

depends what part of the country you live in
My friend's DH, in thick lancashire accent said in reply to "and what name have you given your new daughter"
...Anna - with an "H"

I prefer Ellen and think it is really lovely. I didn't think it was hugely popular but there are 2 in ds class at school.

helen is beautiful and much underused.

elen in welsh is nice cos the second e is pronounced the same as the first, in english the second e is more like an -uh and i'm not so keen on that.

Thanks for the replies. Helena-that's lovely will put that on the shortlist!

I am the owner of an Ellen (so hugely biased, of course) and it's a lovely name. She is never called Ellie. If anything, I call her Elsie. I also like Nell/Nellie, but she doesn't like those, so it's Elsie or nothing. She also hates being called Helen.

I am currently teaching one Ellen (age 19/20) but other than that, it is a fairly unusual (but not whacky) name, which is why I chose it.

I love the name Ellen and want it for DC2 if it turns out to be DD2 but with our surname it sounds like elephant (especially if you shorten it to Ellie) so DP has vetoed quite strongly.

We will be using it as a middle name as it was my gran's name.

I know a 22 year old called Ellen, no nn just Ellen and in my baby massage class last year there were 2 Ellen's. So I think it's great as it suits all ages!

Ellen definitely.

ALso Anna over Hannah.

And Honor is nice because the H is silent.

Helen is a beautiful name, very classic. Helen of Troy, the face that launched a thousand ships...

Helena is definitely one for your short list - tis very nice.

You need to be careful with Ellen/Helen though. I've told this story on here before, but it is quite funny....

My brother was dating a girl who called the house one day. I answered the phone, she asked for DB and I asked who was calling.

"Ellen" she said.

"Ellen?" I asked.

"No, Ellen" she said.

"Ah, Ellen" I repeated.

"NO it's Ellen with an AITCH" she nearly screamed at me.

"Ohh...Helen" I replied, nearly PMSL.

Don't think DB's relationship with her lasted for very long

Ellen.

Helen was on our short list.
Lovely and not popular.

I'm a Helen and under 35 (but only just).
My parents called me it because it was lovely and not popular.
Some of my family call me Ellie, which I'm not keen on, but other call me Heli, which I don't mind.
I'd say go for Helen, but then I'm biased!!

My dd is Eilidh which is a Gaelic form of Helen

Elen, Helen or Eleanor

Helen must be due a comeback - when I was a teen (er, over 30 years ago) it was always the name given to really nice older ladies in my Mums romantic fiction books.

Mind you, I did know one whose mother thought that it was an unshortenable name till friends started calling her Hell

Ellens are pround fiesty and beautiful..they are fantastic people

I am a Helen (I am 25 and have lots of friends of a similar age with the same name). Its such a dull name imo. I think its a personal thing though because it doesn't suit me, its a sensible capable practical name and I am none of those things!

Also, if you live in the north PLEASE don't do it. I am called 'elen all the time, my own Grandad cannot say my name.

Helena is nicer.