Help with pronunciation, please! :o)

General Name Discussion
1

My husband and I are not expecting yet, but we would like to use family names for our future kids in some form or fashion (either as a first or middle).

For a boy we were thinking of using [name]Oscar[/name] (honoring his grandfather), or [name]David[/name] (which would honor both our fathers). For a girl, we were thinking of using [name]Hazel[/name] (which would honor a great aunt) or [name]Helen[/name] (which honors my beloved great grandmother).

If we were to use [name]Helen[/name], we would probably change it to [name]Helena[/name]. Problem is… and this may sound completely stupid… I have heard this name pronounced two ways. [name]Helen[/name]-uh, and H-lay-nuh.

Which is the more common form of the name? I like both ways, really. But I was wondering how all you berries pronounce it, as I am getting mixed answers from my friends/family!

:o) Thanks for your help!

2

I really like [name]Oscar[/name], [name]David[/name], [name]Hazel[/name] and [name]Helen[/name]/[name]Helena[/name]. As far as I know, there are two established pronunciations (both correct) of [name]Helena[/name], helen-a or he-lay-na. I personally prefer he-lay-na, which I think is slightly more common.

3

I pronounce it Huh-[name]LAY[/name]-nah but it can be, and is, pronounced either way. Once you’ve decided which one you prefer just inform people and enforce it.

  • Anon.
4

I’d default to [name]Helen[/name]-uh, but that might be an Australian thing.

Either way it’s a really pretty name.