I really love the name [name]Helena[/name]. It’s classy, elegant, feminine and strong- the main things I look for in a girl’s name. I pronounce it huh-len-ah (second syllable rhyming with “men”), but I haven’t seen very many people who pronounce it the same way. Is that an accepted pronunciation, or are only huh-lay-nah and helen-ah “legitimate”?
Thanks!
Interesting… sorry have only heard HEL-en-uh and Huh-[name]LAY[/name]-nuh pronunciations
Let me say this. I am Greek, I speak Greek, the only proper and legit way to say this in Greek is hel-en-ah. [name]Both[/name] E’s in the name are made of the same Greek letter, the epsilon, therefore they both make the same sound, therefore the name is pronounced hel-en-ah. I hope I don’t sound rude, I’m just trying to explain this for the millionth time on here 
Honestly, I have no idea where hel-lay-nah comes from. It’s not a proper Greek pronunciation. As for yours, I’ve never heard it pronounced that way, and I would suggest you just shift your pronunciation slightly to hel-len-ah as it’s the closest to what your going for and is the one that gets you the mythological “strong and beautiful” woman connection you want ^^ It’s a gorgeous name when pronounced correctly ^^
While [name]Helena[/name] - when pronounced huh-lay-nuh - is not the typical Greek pronunciation, it certainly wouldn’t be “wrong” for you to pronounce it like that. Names are pronounced differently in different parts of the globe. A Spanish girl named [name]Elena[/name] would never pronounce her name [name]EL[/name]-en-ah. A British woman named [name]Sara[/name] would pronounce it SAHR-uh, a French woman SAH-ruh whereas an American would say SER-uh. (I should know, seeing as that’s the name on my passport!) I know a Dutch [name]Helena[/name] and an American [name]Helena[/name], and they both say huh-lay-nuh. It’s all a matter of preference and background.
I knew of two and recently discovered a third: Heh-LEH-na, Heh-[name]LAY[/name]-na, Heh-[name]LEE[/name]-na.
My cousin is named [name]Helena[/name] pronounced as huh-lay-nah.
I also love this name and strongly prefer the way I pronounce it – I used to worry about it but I really think that it is pretty evenly mixed. I think that [name]Helena[/name] might have to explain to people how to pronounce it when she first met but not to the extent that it would be a big bother. I think that all ways to say it are correct, and you just kind of go with which one you like. That being said, I’ve only ever thought there were two ways to say it. I don’t really see the difference between how you say it, huh-len-ah, and helen-ah?
[name_f]My[/name_f] name is [name_f]Helena[/name_f] and I pronounce it huh-len-uh too. There is no right or wrong way to pronounce it, its more up to whatever you think sounds nice or are more comfortable with. Only a handful of people pronounce it the way I do but I don’t mind the other pronunciations. Except huh-lay-nuh, personally I can’t stand this pronunciation.