Which pronunciation to you prefer and why?
In my mind, [name]Elena[/name] should be [name]Elle[/name]-en-nah, and [name]Alena[/name]/[name]Elaina[/name]/[name]Alaina[/name] is Eh-lay-na. I have [name]Elena[/name] on a list for a daughter, but I noticed I flip-flop between both pronunciations. [name]Elle[/name]-en-nah seems to be more affectionate and endearing, and Eh-lay-na more day-to-day.
What are your thoughts?
With my accent I have trouble saying elle-en-nah it seems really forced. I’m much more into A-[name]Lay[/name]-Nah or E-lay-nah.
Maybe because I also speak Spanish, I cannot get behind saying [name]Elena[/name] as Eh-lay-nah. It’s just wrong to my ear. Eh-le-nah is how I say it.
[name]Alena[/name]: ah-[name]LEN[/name]-uh
[name]Elena[/name]: E-le-nah/uh-[name]LAY[/name]-nuh (Italian/English)
[name]Elena[/name] and [name]Elaina[/name] are eh-layn-uh.
[name]Alaina[/name] is uh-layn-uh.
[name]Alena[/name] is uh-leh-nuh.
[name]Elena[/name] is [name]El[/name]-AY-na
[name]Elaina[/name] is el-AY-na
[name]Alayna[/name] is uh-[name]LAY[/name]-na
I wouldn’t pronounce any spelling or variation [name]Elle[/name]-en-uh.
Same as OP. Saying [name]Elena[/name] with the “ay” sound is terrible and wrong.
I agree that the proper Spanish pronunciation Is [name]Ellen[/name]-ah, but you won’t find many Americans who don’t speak Spanish pronouncing it that way, [name]IMO[/name], and you’ll always be fighting it.
My dd is [name]Elena[/name] and I don’t have a problem with either pronunciation. The only thing that bothers me is when people pronounce it with a long E sound or an exaggerated “Uh” at the beginning rather than the lovely Eh that is proper.
For me, [name]Alena[/name] is ah-[name]LEN[/name]-uh and [name]Elena[/name] is Eh-lay-na.
I’ve only ever met people named [name]Elena[/name] who said el-en-uh, that’s how I’d say it.
[name]Elena[/name] is lovely! Honestly, when I’ve heard it spoken with any accent other than English, it’s never [name]Ellen[/name]-ah OR eh-[name]LAY[/name]-nah, although if an American’s saying it I much prefer eh-[name]LAY[/name]-nah for the [name]Elena[/name] spelling. I’ve been minorly crushing on how they say [name]Elinor[/name] Dashwood’s name on the BBC miniseries, though–I’m a bit minorly obsessed with [name]Eleanor[/name] said like ‘eh-leh-nah’ but I think it’d be pretty futile in trying to enforce it here in [name]America[/name] (and that’s why they call it a GP!).
With the [name]Elena[/name] spelling, though, I definitely prefer eh-[name]LAY[/name]-nah.
I don’t live in [name]America[/name], so I’m hoping the pronunciation establishment would be easier, but due to the popular The Vampire Diaries show, it might still be a challenge. 
I am in [name]Canada[/name] and I also say [name]ELLE[/name]-eh-na, similar to the Spanish pronunciation. I went to school with an [name]Elena[/name] and that’s how she said her name. I don’t remember her having any hassles or being called uh-[name]LAY[/name]-na.
[name]Just[/name] to clarify… this Pronunciations for Elena in Spanish (from Elena Anaya to Cuando yo me casé, Elena y tú ya habían roto.) is how you say [name]Elena[/name] in Spanish. The stress is on the second syllable.
Also wanted to say… it’s a beautiful name no matter how you say it. 
[name]EDIT[/name]: Click on the first “[name]Elena[/name]” for the pronunciation I meant.
Oh thanks for that. I realised that the pronunciation I’d had in mind was closer to the Italian one than the Spanish.
I have only known [name]Elena[/name]'s who pronounced their name “Eh-[name]LAY[/name]-nuh”/"[name]El[/name]-[name]LAY[/name]-nuh." So that’s how I’d pronounce it.
Interestingly, now that I think of it, I would pronounce [name]Helena[/name] “HEL-en-uh” to rhyme with “[name]ELLE[/name]-en-uh” most of the time (unless corrected). But yeah, I would say Eh-[name]LAY[/name]-nuh.
Same! [name]Ive[/name] only ever known eh-[name]LAY[/name]-nuh’s, but I do like the sound of EH-len-uh better. As far as [name]Helena[/name], I’m never sure how it’s pronounced! Is it HEL-en-uh or heh-[name]LAY[/name]-nuh??
I guess it’s the difference between adding an a to the end of [name]Helen[/name] or an h to the front of [name]Elena[/name] (prn el-[name]LAY[/name]-nuh). I guess it’s the first.
It’s not terrible and wrong, it’s a language that you don’t happen to speak.
[name]Elena[/name] is a classic name in Spanish, and it is pronounced eh-[name]LAY[/name]-na. In Italian, it is EH-lay-na, and in Portuguese it is ee-[name]LAY[/name]-na.
I pronounce it the Spanish way unless told otherwise, and most people in my area do as well (it’s not uncommon here, pronounced eh-[name]LAY[/name]-na.) I always thought other ways are mispronunciations.
No, in Portuguese and in Spanish is not [name]LAY[/name], for sure.
http://pt.forvo.com/search/elena/pt/
[name]Elena[/name] is NOT pronounced eh-lay-na in Spanish. The Spanish “e” makes an “eh” sound like the “e” in elephant. This pronunciation is like the link below. Click on the first “[name]Elena[/name]”
http://www.forvo.com/search/Elena/es/
Sorry, I realize I sound a bit harsh, but the “e” making an “ay” sound in Spanish is a [name]MAJOR[/name] pet peeve of mine. I’m really not trying to be mean.