Helen or Ellen?

[Butterflygirl7]

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

TIA

helen

every second girl on facebbook is elli ella ellen etc

Ellen

I am 34 and called Helen. I would have LOVED to have been Helena but alas, it wasn't meant to be. My Mum didn't have the bottle to add the "a" on the end.

Helen is a classic underused name but is a tad boring but then boring is nice! Doesn't cause any offence to anyone.

agree

actually i think Helena is delightful and know two lovely teenage Helenas

Helena is very nice.

Helen and Ellen both a bit too staid.

I like both, Ellen is rather Edwardian, Helen is 1950's both very good names.

If I had to choose, I think Ellen is my preference.

helen is much nicer than ellen

I prefer Ellen.
Every Helen I have ever met has bad breath and wets the bed.

I'm Ellen (30) and have only ever met 2 in my whole life.

Do get a bit of 'Helen?' NO Ellen.. And what's it short for?

I too have never wet the bed and my breath smells delightful!
every mrsruffallo I've heard of has been unpleasent, but then I've only heard of the one!

Very defensive
The truth hurts, eh?

Helen is a lovely name.

In Germany, Helena is sometimes shortened to "Leni" (Lay-nee). Might be another nickname option if you want to avoid the popularity of Ellie. I think Heidi Klum's daughter is named that, though, so it might get popular, too, although maybe only in Germany.

Or... you could go Gaelic for Helen - Eilidh. Another really pretty name!

Ellen or Helena are my favourites

My name is Helen and so is my daughter in law who is 29 today. It does get a little confusing at family gatherings when someone calls out Helen. My son refers to her as little Hels. She was named after her Nana her name is Helena although known as Lena.

I like both but think right now I'd go for Helen. Classic but not common right now.

Ellen is quite similar to all the many bairns out there called Ella, Eleanor, Elsa, Eliza, Elora... who will all be abbreviated at school to Ellie! Still nice names though.