Lena vs Lina?

Girl Names
1

To be pronounced “lee-na”. Which spelling would be better? I’m concerned that [name_f]Lina[/name_f] might be pronounced “line-a”. Thoughts?

2

I personally prefer [name_f]Lina[/name_f]! [name_f]Lena[/name_f] could have pronunciation problems too (being leh-nah instead, like in Elena/Helena), so I’d just go for the one that looks best to you!

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3

Definitely wouldn’t occur to me to pronounce [name_f]Lina[/name_f] as line-a. It would be leen-a for sure.

[name_f]Lena[/name_f] would instinctively be leen-a but I also wouldn’t be surprised by lay-na as in [name_f]Elena[/name_f] or [name_f]Leda[/name_f].

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4

I always thought [name_f]Elena[/name_f] was pronounced El-ay-na but [name_f]Helena[/name_f] was pronounced either Helen-a or Hel-eh-na

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5

For that pronunciation, I would say [name_f]Lina[/name_f] is more intuitive. I think [name_f]Lena[/name_f] would get confused with Leh-nuh or Lay-nuh.

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6

I think [name_f]Lina[/name_f] is most intuitive!

For me, [name_f]Lena[/name_f] is LAY-nuh, not LEE-na

How about [name_f]Leena[/name_f]?

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7

[name_f]Lina[/name_f]! I like the look of the i better and even though I know [name_f]Lena[/name_f] is usually supposed to be lee-nuh my brain always reads lenn-uh first.

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8

I’ve thought about [name_f]Leena[/name_f] but I just don’t love the double e! It would solve any confusion whatsoever though :joy:

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9

I like [name_f]Lena[/name_f]! In [name_m]Dutch[/name_m] we pronounce [name_f]Lena[/name_f] like lay-nah and [name_f]Lina[/name_f] like lee-na.

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10

I like [name_f]Lina[/name_f] a lot better because it’s way more intuitive, I know [name_f]Lena[/name_f] is the more popular spelling but it’s never looked natural to me with that pronunciation. I doubt very many would pronounce it line-a, though it might happen occasionally.

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11

I don’t know why people see these names as the same spelling and pronounciation wise when I’ve always deemed them as different [name_f]Lina[/name_f] is the more intuitive version of the pronounciation you like and [name_f]Lena[/name_f] more like Lay-na (where I’m from) or sometimes Leh-na but personally I like both maybe [name_f]Lena[/name_f] slightly more

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12

I’d definitely pronounce it this way, but I could be corrected! I like the look of both names. The “LEE-nuh” I was friends with in middle school spelt her name Lena!

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13

I really like both but I prefer [name_f]Lina[/name_f] by far.

I also agree [name_f]Lena[/name_f] is easier to mispronounce imo

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14

I prefer the look of [name_f]Lena[/name_f] so would go with that one; I think both could cause pronunciation issues, though.

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15

[name_f]Lina[/name_f] for me - it’s the one that I’d pronounce Lee-nuh immediately. [name_f]Lena[/name_f] would be Leh-nuh or Lay-nuh first, then Lee-nuh last for me :person_shrugging:

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16

I’m gonna go against the grain here and say [name_f]Lina[/name_f] seems more prone to pronunciation issues, at least where I live… it would likely get line-uh. Whereas [name_f]Lena[/name_f] has always been lee-nuh. This is obviously location-dependent though (I’m in the American South)

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17

This was my concern because we are in the Midwest. So, not the south but we are right on the border really.

18

Yes, we both like the look of [name_f]Lena[/name_f] more

19

Where I live [name_f]Lina[/name_f] would probably get Line-uh and [name_f]Lena[/name_f] is the more familiar spelling for your pronunciation…

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20

I would say [name_f]Lena[/name_f] as Leh-Nuh and [name_f]Lina[/name_f] as Lee-nuh, for line-a I would do [name_f]Lyna[/name_f]

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