Is using an accented name okay if you’re born and raised in an American, English speaking household? I’ve always steered clear from accents in fear of sounding a bit… pretentious? If that’s the right word? But now I’ve stumbled across a beautiful name, and I can’t decide if it’s totally PC.
Heléna (pronounced like [name_f]Elena[/name_f] with an H in front). Thoughts?
I’m not opposed to native English speakers using accents on principle, but only on names that have them in the first place. First of all, the é would make the pronunciation huh-lay-nah or ay-lay-nah (the é makes an “ay” sound, like the letter A)- Hs at the beginning of words are not pronounced in [name_m]French[/name_m]. The proper [name_m]French[/name_m] version would be Hélène (ay-lenn) and originally had the accents; it would make sense to use them there. [name_f]Helena[/name_f] does not have accents and never did as far as I know. [name_f]Helena[/name_f], without the accent, can be either hell-in-ah or huh-lay-nah.
Thank you very much! I was not sure, and I’m certainly not [name_m]French[/name_m]. I feel a bit embarrassed now, but better to hear now then later. I know of a person who spells it like that, but there’s always the unnecessary need for false -or incorrect - culture in teens. Thank you so much for letting me know 
I think that if it is a name that needs an accent in order for the pronunciation make sense then I say, do it. [name_f]My[/name_f] name has an accent (it’s Irish, so a fada) and when people see the accent it makes it more obvious that the name isn’t pronounced how it seems. However, it is missed off pretty much all official documents which is a pain and it’s too much effort to include it when typing my name.