[name_m]Hi[/name_m] [name_f][/name_f]Need your help on deciding on middle name for a girl! [name_f][/name_f]First name is [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and need help choosing the middle name. [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Helene[/name_f] (pronounced Hel-lean) is an honor name. Last name is one syllable, strong sound with K. Close to cook/mack. So it will look like this:
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] has many pronunciation so not sure which one to use. For [name_f]Helene[/name_f], since we are in english speaking country, it will most likely be pronounced as Hel-lean. [name_f]French[/name_f] El-len sounds good too. [name_f]Lena[/name_f] has easy pronunciation either [name_f]Leena[/name_f] or Lehna and both are fine. [name_f]Helen[/name_f] is not in consideration btw.
[name_f][/name_f]
We prefer name with easy pronunciation (we grew up with names hard to pronounce… so) but since it’s middle name, maybe flow is more important? Deciding name is not easy haha and would appreciate any advices! Thank you!!
How strict you want to be about the honour name [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Helene[/name_f] would be the most direct/traditional way of doing it [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Helena[/name_f] would be closely connected with a little twist [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Lena[/name_f] (for me) is more indirect [name_f][/name_f]- still obviously an honour for [name_f]Helene[/name_f] but also her own name
[name_f][/name_f]
Which pronunciation you[name_f][/name_f] would use [name_f][/name_f]As it’s a middle, I don’t think it’s crucial that everyone will look at it and pronounce it the same way [name_f][/name_f]- my middle is pronounced differently to the intuitive one where I am, but as it’s in the middle, it’s never been an issue. However, I do think it would be good for you to have it set in your mind which you’d be using, and then maybe see what sounds best?
[name_f][/name_f][name_f][/name_f]
If I were to choose though, I’d go with [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- with the huh-LAYN-uh pronunciation as my first pick, followed by HEHL-uh-nuh
[name_f]Helene[/name_f] is my middle name, and I love it! [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Helene[/name_f] sounds wonderful! [name_f][/name_f]I also love the elegant, royalty feel of [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f]!
I think [name_f]Helena[/name_f] flows the best, and flows well with either Hu-LAYN-uh (how I’d say it) or the more [name_f]British[/name_f], HEL-len-uh. [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] is beautiful!
[name_f][/name_f]
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Helene[/name_f] is very tailored and chic, and also flows nicely [name_f][/name_f]- but I must admit, I would pronounce this Hu-LEN (a strong [name_m]Len[/name_m] sound) and maybe wouldn’t be surprised with a He-laine but I wouldn’t have considered He-leen/He-lean. So this would be my query name more than [name_f]Helena[/name_f].
[name_f][/name_f]
I don’t think [name_f]Lena[/name_f] is as pretty nor as balanced with a one syllable last name [name_f][/name_f]- top heavy.
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Overall, [name_f]Helena[/name_f] or [name_f]Helene[/name_f] and if they’re neck and neck for you, it’s as [name_f]Grace[/name_f] says above [name_f][/name_f]- do you want direct or indirect honour?
I think [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] is my favorite – I really like the 2-3-1 syllable pattern, and the honor name is still there while also having its own identity. I’d probably pronounce [name_f]Helena[/name_f] as heh-LAY-nuh, which I like the sound of paired with [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], but I could also be easily corrected to HEL-ehn-uh.
I think with it being a middle, you can opt for any pronunciation you want; it probably won’t be used too much outside of you and your partner/family!
[name_f][/name_f]
I think all 3 have a couple different pronunciations, so you definitely have options!
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[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Helene[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- if you are saying this like heh-LEEN, I do think it’s the one that flows least well with your surname [name_f][/name_f]- but I would assume it’s the most special! [name_f][/name_f] I do think the [name_m]Danish[/name_m] heh-LAY-neh flows wonderfully. [name_f][/name_f] The [name_f]French[/name_f] ay-LEN isn’t great with a 1-syllable surname but it may actually be my favorite because I’m such a sucker for ay-len!
[name_f][/name_f]
[name_f]Helena[/name_f] probably flows the most seamlessly [name_f][/name_f]- the 2-3-1 syllable flow is nice and the emphasis with heh-LAY-nah is especially nice. [name_f][/name_f] Simple [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Lena[/name_f] is beautiful too.
[name_f][/name_f]
I think I’ve talked myself into [name_f]Helene[/name_f] with the [name_f]French[/name_f] pronunciation, but all of these are lovely and there are pros and cons to each!
I do think [name_f]Helena[/name_f], any pronunciation, flows best. [name_f]Lena[/name_f] is also very cute as a middle name and I think still makes sense as an honour.
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[name_f]Helene[/name_f] is the least flow-y but if the importance of the honour name being literal outweighs flow then I think that’s valid!
I really like the sound and flow of [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f]. I usually go for the Heh-lay-na pronunciation, but the Hel-ah-na pronuncaiation works just as well!
[name_f][/name_f]
[name_f]Helene[/name_f] is really pretty too and I love that it’s a direct honor, so it’d be my second choice!
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[name_f]Lena[/name_f] feels too short and nickname-y to me. I’d pass on [name_f]Lena[/name_f].
[name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Helena[/name_f] is my favorite, but [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] [name_f]Helene[/name_f] is gorgeous as well. I pronounce [name_f]Helena[/name_f] as he-leh-nuh. [name_f][/name_f]I believe you need to decide the pronunciations you want to use in order to understand which option has the prettiest flow.