How do you pronounce Helena?

[VillageMama]

I'm pregnant and trying to come up with a name for my (gender unknown) baby. My grandmother was Helen, which is a tad too old-fashioned for me, though I'm not ruling it out.

I really like Helena, but I'm afraid that people will be forever pronouncing it differently than I intend.

To me, it's HELL-eh-nuh. But some might say heh-LAY-nuh or heh-LEE-nuh.

What say you?

 

[handinpocket]

Heh-LAY-nuh

 

[AKL_Megs]

If I saw it as a name, I would think heh-LAY-nuh...

 

[NikitaZee]

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.

 

[bballmom56]

The only time I say HELL-eh-nuh is for the city in Montana.

 

[VillageMama]

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.

Oh dear. I hadn't even thought of that.

I am seriously outnumbered here, so I had better either grow to love heLAYnuh or stick with Helen. Or go an entirely different route. I might even be having a boy.

I appreciate all of the votes and comments!

 

[justhat]

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.

ETA: FWIW, my son has a little girl named Helen in his class (he's 3yo) and she is the cutest little thing ever.

 

[Imzadi]

I prefer to pronounce it Heh-LAY-nuh, but I have always heard the Helena in Shakespeare's, A Midsummer Night's Dream pronounced as as HELL-eh-nuh.


I think it's just one of those names that can be pronounced in different ways. Like Tamara. It can be pronounced as Ta-MARA or TAM-a-ra.

Then of course there's the name Demi.

 

[VillageMama]

I prefer to pronounce it Heh-LAY-nuh, but I have always heard the Helena in Shakespeare's, A Midsummer Night's Dream pronounced as as HELL-eh-nuh.

Ooh, now see? That's much nicer than being named after a city. Though I'm sure Helena, Montana is a lovely place.

I just don't want to have to be one of those moms... or have my child be one of those people... who has to say constantly, "No, it's Hell-eh-nuh.". Names should be easy and obvious.

~sigh~ I could do something nutty like spell it Hellena or Hellenna, but I refuse to do that!

 

[JessicaR]

Thats my middle name and my Grandmothers first name. We pronounce it Helen-uh. My mom intended it to be halaine-ah

http://www.behindthename.com/bb/arcview.php?id=322128&board=gen

 

[N.Bailey]

I've never heard of anyone being named Helena. The only use I've ever heard was as the capital of Montana and I've always heard it pronounced, HELL-eh-nuh.

EDIT: BTW, I think the 2nd pronunciation sounds much prettier for a girl's name.

 

[NikitaZee]

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.

 

[Imzadi]

~sigh~ I could do something nutty like spell it Hellena or Hellenna, but I refuse to do that!

Then we'd be talking about you on the other thread.

 

[descovy]

Fun fact, about the capitol of Montana... it was founded by manly man miners... I don't remember why they chose the name Helena, but they decided that they were going to pronounce it "Hel-in-a" because "Hel-leen-a" sounded too girly

That said, as one who grew up in the west, I would pronounce your daughter's name just like the capitol of Montana... "Hel-in-a" is how I've been raised to say that word.

Nothing wrong with that as a name, just be prepared for A LOT of people to say it wrong...

Another silly fact... I named my oldest Kellie. I liked the name, but after knowing boys in school named "Kelly" I decided that to spell it "Kellie" would make it more feminine.

EVERYONE (even Grandma) still mispells it... and she's 10!

So I named the next child "Sarah." Everyone mis-spelled Kellie, I figured I had learned my lesson... I will spell her name the traditional way... shoot, half the people (even the other Grandma) spells it "Sara"

My youngest is named Jessica. Coincidentaly, I wanted to honor my grandma Helen in her name, but I didn't have the gumption to pull it off. So I named her middle name (Catherine) the same as Grandma Helen's middle name... a more contemporary compromise. Until she was 4... Jessica didn't even know her name was "Jessica"... everyone called her "Jess" or "Jessie"... she would argue that "jessica" isn't her real name...

Just saying... prepare for EVERONE to get it wrong!

 

[Sparx]

hell-in-uhh.

i have a thick southern accent if that makes any difference.

 

[krcit]

I read it as the second pronunciation also. I used to work with a girl named Helene(pr. Helleen.) I think that'spretty too. BTW, my grandma was helen also!

 

[luvmy3]

I had a teacher Helena and she pronounced it like the second choice.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I'm Filipino... I would prononce it the way you want it heard.. Hell-lee-nuh.

 

[Golf4food]

HELL-eh-nuh. Or, more accurately, Hell-in-uh, as in - to be followed by "handbasket".

Oh! That gives me an idea! If you make her middle name Handbasket it will help people pronounce Helena properly!

Helena Handbasket <Lastname>

 

[englishteacha]

Hel-en-a...

Like in a handbasket.

Edit: beaten by a moment on that one. And I thought I was being so clever.