How do you pronounce Helena?

[minkydog]

I have 2 cousins named Elena, after a great-aunt Helen, and both pronounce it "L-en-uh", not "Uh-Lay-na". That said, I would use the 2nd option in your poll even having those 2 cousins.

My beautiful DD16 is named Eleni (eh-LEN-ee). It's the Greek form of Helen, actually very popular in Greek communities. Unfortunately, I have a very strong Southern accent, so when I say it the name comes out more like "eh-LAY-nee." She just rolls her eyes.

 

[Sorsha]

Heh-LAY-nuh, and I think it's pretty when it's pronounced that way. The only time I say HELL-eh-nuh is for the city in Montana.

Yup - the capital city, to be exact. And having lived in MT my whole life, that's the ONLY way my brain wants to pronounce it - HELL-eh-nuh.

Heh-LAY-nuh is very pretty too though.

 

[redlight]

Heh-LAY-nuh

 

[SunshineOR]

Clearly if you give your daughter (if it is a girl!)this name, she may have to clarify some of the time, but I don't think it's that tricky on the scale of things. If you keep the spelling basic and aren't offended by mispronunciations and corrections part of the time, I don't think she'll have too much trouble. I am biased, of course, because we gave our daughter the middle name Helena and I love that name. We pronounce it Hel-lay-nuh, but most people assume it's Hel-len-a. For what it's worth, I researched it once and Hel-len-a is the traditional greek form and still the most common pronunciation. That's according to some website I can't remember, not that that means anything...

 

[Silent1CB]

My aunt is Helene. Rhymes with Arlene, Carleen & lean.

 

[HelenePA]

Since my name is mistaken for it ALL the time.. I'm going to go with the first one I answer to handful of names...

 

[luvmyfam444]

I would bet it depends on where you live - I know there's a city that's pronounced the way you would like it to be pronounced so everyone around there would probably pronounce it that way

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

I pronounce it Heh-LAY-nuh, for the most part. Helena Bonham Carter's is pronounced HELL-en-uh, though, so I say her name like that.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I know 3 Helenas, one in my home town, one in NYC and on somewhere in Illinois... all 3 of them pronounce it heh-LAY-na. Two of them correct people all the time and it drives them nuts! That is mainly because the town Helena, it messes up the pronunciation of their names... or so they say.

 

[The Orchid]

I had a friend in college named Helena. Her name rhymed with mine, which is Elayna.

 

[clgwli]

Rhymes with Elena (or even pronounced that way in Spain). A loved one has that as a name and pronounces it that way. Sadly it irks me to hear it pronounced the way you want.

 

[JerseyJanice]

If you go with "Helena," you'll have to be O.K. with people pronouncing different ways. If you choose "Helen" or "Helene" instead, that won't happen much.

I like all these names. A very good friend of mine is a Helen; she's as lovely as her name.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Hel-len-ah is how I say it.

 

[antmaril]

For what it's worth, I think you should go with Helen. I know it seems a little old fashioned, but in a good way. You never know, you might start a trend.

 

[Helene]

Since my name is mistaken for it ALL the time.. I'm going to go with the first one I answer to handful of names...

Ditto!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

For what it's worth, I think you should go with Helen. I know it seems a little old fashioned, but in a good way. You never know, you might start a trend.

I have a neice named Helen.

 

[elgerber]

Actually now that I think about it, when I think of the actress Helena Bonham Carter I think of the pronunciation HELL-eh-nuh. Probably because I've heard it said that way, and it stuck. I'm sure that once people know how you pronounce it, it'll stay that way. Only those who see it in writing first (such as teachers, doctors, etc) would be likely to pronounce it as they imagine it sounds, IMO.

Yep, it is because of her I chose HELL-eh-nuh.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Just like "Helen" with an "uh" at the end!

 

[kacaju]

I know a 8 year old with the name Helen. I like it.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Hel-len-ah is how I say it.

me too, just like the city in Montana