Helena Pronunciation

Girl Names
1

See the results of this poll: Helena pronunciation?

Respondents: 93 (This poll is closed)

  • he-LAY-nuh : 28 (30%)
  • he-LEE-nuh : 6 (6%)
  • Helen-uh : 59 (63%)
  • I don’t care/never heard this name in person: 0 (0%)
2

He-lay-nuh is the one I like best, [name_f]Helen[/name_f]-uh is probably the more instinctive because it’s the one I’ve met the most of, He-lee-nuh is sweet and I’ve only met one who always has to correct it

3

My favorite pronunciation, and the only one I’ve heard in-person, is [name_f]Helen[/name_f]-uh. While the other two are lovely, this seems the most intuitive, and I also love it with [name_f]Olive[/name_f].

4

[name_f]Helen[/name_f]-a is the way I’ve always pronounced it and only known people who say it this way

5

I know two people named He-lay-na and one [name_f]Helen[/name_f]-uh. My instinct is to say He-lay-na, and I think it’s the prettier pronunciation.

6

My middle name is [name_f]Helena[/name_f] and is what I go by internationally as my first name is difficult to pronounce in other languages.
I myself pronounce it [name_f]Helen[/name_f]-uh and think that is the pronunciation that sounds the nicest, but most people say and assume it’s He-lay-na in my experience

8

i pronounce it he-lee-nuh

9

Orphan black has me pronouncing it Heh-lay-nah but I used to instantly think [name_f]Helen[/name_f]-a. Any would work, it might just get pronounced wrong at first.

10

I pronounce it [name_f]Helen[/name_f]-uh. I’ve actually never met anyone named [name_f]Helena[/name_f], but that’s how [name_f]Helena[/name_f] Bonham [name_u]Carter[/name_u] pronounces it and she’s the main association I have with the name. It’s a gorgeous name; I love how strong and elegant and bold it is!

11

I pronounce it he-lay-nuh

12

I’ve heard both helen-uh and he-lay-nuh. I don’t think you can go wrong with either pronunciation.

13

My preference is [name_f]Helen[/name_f]-uh, but I know people who pronounce it both this way and as he-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh so I always defer to what the parents/name bearer say. My friend has a [name_f]Helena[/name_f] pronounced he-[name_m]Lay[/name_m]-nuh, but also has a daughter [name_f]Layla[/name_f] and her best friend’s daughter is [name_f]Elena[/name_f]. I do sometimes have a bit of trouble garbling their names up at birthday parties but that’s about the only real drawback to that pronunciation I can think of.

14

I’ve never met a [name_f]Helena[/name_f] but I’d say it [name_f]Helen[/name_f]-uh.

15

He-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh is the only way I like it pronounced, although I am familiar with [name_f]Helen[/name_f]-uh as well. I’d instinctively go for he-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh.

16

I automatically say [name_f]HELEN[/name_f]-uh (and voted that way), however, I also say heh-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh from time to time, too. I like both, however, with middle name [name_f]Olive[/name_f], the former does flow better.

17

I used to say helen-uh. I thought the heh-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh pronunciation sounded really weird. However, over time I started to say heh-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh and now I love it. Both are beautiful, but I do prefer the latter.

18

My son has a [name_f]Helena[/name_f] in his class pronounced He-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh. All pronunciations are pretty. It’s a beautiful name.

19

[name_f]Helen[/name_f]-uh is the only one I’ve heard, but I always pronounce it Hel-AY-nuh in my head.

20

I knew someone of Russian/Polish heritage who pronounced her name He-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-nuh. Since then, I’ve always thought it was such a beautiful name.

21

I only know Hel-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh’s. I like all the pronunciations — or maybe only the second in a Russian/eastern Euro context. It’s a gorgeous, elegant and evocative name.

I would think about which nickname you prefer, eg:

[name_f]Lainey[/name_f]
[name_u]Lee[/name_u]-[name_u]Lee[/name_u]
[name_f]Leni[/name_f]/ [name_m]Lenny[/name_m]