I really love the name [name]Helena[/name], pronounced as Huh-lay-nuh [hope that makes sense, I’m really bad at explaining pronunciations!] I’m worried though that it will get said wrong a lot. I’ve tossed around spelling it as Helaina, but I am really not a fan of creative spellings, but may it’s worth it, I don’t know. I’m looking for some opinions on what you all think would be a good idea. I know most people here will probably say to go for the original spelling, but that spelling just really worries me. I’ve also tossed around using it as a middle name, but I also don’t want to regret putting a name that I love as a middle name. Thoughts and opinions please!
Hm, I think it’s pretty but it work better as mn. You could also try Helana.
I love the name but I think you will get [name]Helen[/name] with an A at the end a lot instead of the pronunciation to want. Not a huge fan of the different spelling although I think it would be pronounced the way you want.
That should say you not to. Darn autocorrect.
Pretty! I think as long as she is introduced as Huh-[name]LAY[/name]-nuh it should be pronounced Huh-[name]LAY[/name]-nuh (take it from me, people mispronounce my name all the time if they are just reading it off a nametag). Helaina isn’t a very bad kree8tiv spelling at all, and it freshens the name up a little bit- Hulaynah, however, would be a different story.
I also love [name]Helena[/name], but pronounced as [name]Helen[/name] with an “a” on the end. I think as long as you introduce her as “huh-[name]LAY[/name]-nuh”, it won’t so much be an issue. Honestly I think you could spell it Huhlaynuh, and people would still get it wrong.
When I saw the title of this thread I read it as Hel-ay-na, if that inspires any peace of mind. Ultimately, most peoples’ names get misspelled and mispronounced. [name]Even[/name] mine, and my name is in the dictionary lol! So I wouldn’t fret over it.
I think keeping it the original spelling would be fine - only on the first day of school would this be a problem. [name]Helena[/name] anyway is a name where it is probably 50/50 between the two pronunciations. So shouldn’t cause too many issues - people can always find ways of pronouncing names wrong.
Thanks everyone! I’m leaning towards keeping it as [name]Helena[/name].
I’m in high school and I have a friend named [name]Helena[/name] (usually pronounced [name]Helen[/name]-ah). On the first day of school in the classes I have with her, most teachers used the Huh-lay-nuh pronunciation. Sometimes they use both and ask her which one she goes by. She always replies that she goes by both. 
Also, during awards assemblies and promotions/graduations from previous years, the principal has always used Huh-lay-nuh.
I don’t think there would be too many issues, since, like emilylou said, it’s 50/50 between the two. I think as long as she is introduced as Huh-lay-nuh, there shouldn’t be any issues. But definitely keep [name]Helena[/name] as [name]Helena[/name]! I think it’s so pretty spelled that way.
I def like the [name]Helena[/name] spelling best, and agree most people will make the effort to pronounce it your way when told.
[name]Helena[/name] is commonly known as Hel-lay-nah where I’m from. I know a [name]Helena[/name] and I don’t think she has had another problems with her name. [name]Elena[/name] is becoming increasingly popular and people understand how it is pronounced too. I don’t think you will have too many problems. Keep the original spelling.
I’d keep it as [name]Helena[/name]. If you correct someone on the pn I’m sure they won’t make the mistake again. I love [name]Helena[/name], but I like [name]Elena[/name] slightly more.
Where we live (in north New [name]Jersey[/name]) people always say Huh-[name]LAY[/name]-nuh. Our two-year-old is named [name]Helena[/name] and we say it [name]Helen[/name]-uh but other people always use the Huh-lay-nuh pronunciation. I agree with niteowl13 that it’s probably affected by [name]Elena[/name] becoming more popular–where we live there are lots of Elenas.
Don’t put it in the middle if you love it–it’s a great name and we haven’t regretted using it!
I’ve encountered both pronunciations. I think it’s often a cultural thing, but that you should still stick with the original spelling. Yes, you might have to correct people the first time around, but I think it’s easy for people to pick up on it once you say it.
I happen to have a very difficult name for English-speakers to say, but even I can get people to learn it pretty quickly. It’s really not as bad as parents worry about…and it’s much easier with [name]Helena[/name] then my name! Also, it’s gorgeous so you must use it!
Keep the spelling, just add a couple of accent marks .
My name is Helana pronounced Huh-lay-nuh. haha, but i get [name]Helena[/name], totally not right and it is so darn annoying, every class i walk into i am called [name]Helena[/name]. grr but i think it is a really pretty name and a unique name, my parents spelt it Helana so i wouldn’t get my name a different pronunciation but i do, oh well!!!
I think [name]Helena[/name] is the only way to go. It’s one of those names, like [name]Andrea[/name], that has several accepted pronunciations, so you just have to explain it.
I love [name]Helena[/name]! I say it more like [name]Helen[/name]-ah but I think no matter how you say it, people will always say it wrong. [name]Helena[/name] said with the [name]Lane[/name] sound in the middle is lovely, and completely legitimate, so I would stick to it if you love it. A former friend of mine has a little girl named [name]Helena[/name], said heh-[name]LEE[/name]-nah, and they would just politely correct people until they got it right. Most people just picked up on it pretty easy, though, and it wasn’t a problem. And heh-[name]LEE[/name]-nah is even less accepted than heh-[name]LAY[/name]-nah, so I would think you’d be okay.
Good luck!
My mom is OBSESSED with [name]Helena[/name]. She pronounces it Heh-[name]LEE[/name]-nah…I pronounce it Heh-[name]LAY[/name]-Nah. Thank goodness my siblings are both boys.
I know most people pronounce it He-[name]Lay[/name]-ah, so I think you’d be ok.
~[name]Jasmine[/name]