DBF and I have been together over a year, and while we are no where close to having kids, we do like to discuss hypothetical baby names from time to time.
He is absolutely DESPERATE to name his daughter [name]Helen[/name], after [name]Helen[/name] of [name]Troy[/name] (face that launched a thousand ships and all of that). I’m having some serious trouble getting behind it…I just don’t love it…or really even like it. He’s also willing to go with [name]Helena[/name].
What do you guys think of [name]Helen[/name] and [name]Helena[/name]? [name]How[/name] would you pronounced [name]Helena[/name]? HELL-ehn-a? Hell-[name]AYN[/name]-a? Hell-EEN-a?
I’m not ready to put this name in the running for a future baby, but I don’t want to dash his hopes and dreams. Please help me like this name!!
I’m partial to [name]Helen[/name] myself, along with many variations. My favorite is probably [name]Helene[/name].
From your list I really like [name]Clara[/name] [name]Helene[/name] or [name]Helena[/name] [name]Sky[/name], but I can’t help wondering-- you like [name]Filomena[/name], but not [name]Helena[/name]? I would put them in a similar category and don’t see a very big jump from one to the other.
I like [name]Helen[/name], but [name]Helena[/name] is gorgeous. I found the story of St. [name]Helena[/name] particularly beautiful, and even if you’re not [name]Christian[/name] it’s certainly an interesting read. I’ll include the link below.
Prefer [name]Helena[/name]. You could chose any pn you like, but I prefer [name]Helen[/name]-a pn.
Also name of [name]Helen[/name] of [name]Troy[/name] was originally [name]Helene[/name] of [name]Troy[/name] (I think it’s not pn like [name]Helen[/name].)
Either choice is great, but I prefer [name]Helen[/name] since you don’t have the pronunciation problem with that one. I know many think [name]Helen[/name] is too outdated, but I like the name for its history and many namesakes.
I love [name]Helen[/name] and [name]Helena[/name]. If you want to be correct to [name]Helen[/name], only [name]Helen[/name]-ah is right in Greek for [name]Helena[/name]. It’s the only way in Greek to say it properly and keeps it closest to [name]Helen[/name]. I also like it the most.
And I [name]ADORE[/name] [name]Helena[/name]. [name]Helen[/name] seems unfinished and clipped, to me. But [name]Helena[/name] is beautiful. It has a fantastic meaning and history. I didn’t like it originally, but when I used it on a character and started thinking and saying it a lot I grew to love it.
Start saying it more. It flows so perfectly off the tongue, it doesn’t drop in your mouth when you say it like so many other names do. When you say it quickly it sounds like water, when you say it slowly it sounds romantic, like music. It evokes images of roses and fields, of oceans and sunshine. It’s lightly exotic with it’s roots in Greece, but so simple and subtle that it doesn’t surprise or shock you. It’s like an acquired taste or a chill pool, you start slowly and grow to love it as you spend time with it. It becomes more interesting, more beautiful every day, every time you hear or say it.
I’m legitimately sitting here whispering it to myself in my empty kitchen because it just sounds so nice. I might end up using it in spite of my character, because of how deeply I’ve fallen in love with this name.
[name]Filomena[/name] is my grandmother’s name…I think that’s the main reason why I love it as much as I do. [name]Clara[/name] [name]Helene[/name] is really pretty…thanks for that suggestion.
This advice is awesome…[name]Helena[/name] is definitely starting to appeal to me more.
[name]Helena[/name] is gorgeous! It’s not quite on my favourites list but pretty close. It’s elegant, beautiful and feminine while being strong and grounded at the same time. [name]Helen[/name] of [name]Troy[/name] is a great reference, as is [name]Queen[/name] [name]Victoria[/name]'s daughter [name]Helena[/name], and I believe it’s a character from [name]Shakespeare[/name] (can’t remember which play though, might be something I haven’t read). [name]Helen[/name] is nice also but doesn’t seem as feminine.
I prefer [name]Helen[/name] to [name]Helena[/name], and I’d pronounce the latter like [name]Helen[/name]-uh - I guess closest would be your first pronunciation. Hel-ay-nuh sounds really nasally to me, but it’s just as legitimate a pronunciation.
[name]Love[/name] both, prefer [name]Helena[/name] (I pronounce it Hell-[name]AYN[/name]-a, but the others are correct too). [name]Helena[/name] is on my personal list for middle name, so I’m biased here.
I’m with you on this. My husband loves [name]Helen[/name] after his mother, and I never liked it before, but [name]Helena[/name] has grown on me and now I love it. I prefer the HEL-eh-na pronunciation. I still don’t love [name]Helen[/name], but adore the French version, Hélène.
Would you and your BF go for [name]Eleni[/name], a Greek version of the name?
