Pronunciation of Helena

See the results of this poll: How do you say Helena?

Respondents: 84 (This poll is closed)

  • Hel-EN-uh : 15 (18%)
  • Hel-AY-nuh : 36 (43%)
  • Hel-en-UH: 33 (39%)

Mostly like the last one but it’s more ‘HEH-leh-na’ with my cousin’s name.

HellEHnuh

I didn’t master pronunciation guide well. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] I’m right.

HEH-leh-nuh, I think, is how I would say it.

None–the emphasis is on the 1st syllable. HEH-leh-nuh. Is that what you meant by option #3?

HEH-len-nuh as in [name_f]Helena[/name_f] Bonham [name_u]Carter[/name_u] is how I prn it.

This was my #1 for a long time, with my ex.

Yep. I’ve only heard the Heh-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nah pn on Nameberry. Maybe an American thing?

I’ve seen it pronounced both He-lay-na and Heh-len-nuh, but would more likely pronounce it the second way

I say Heh-lay-nuh. Probably because I have a friend named [name_f]Helena[/name_f] and that’s the pronunciation she uses.

I pronounce it [name_f]Helen[/name_f]-uh.

I pronounce it as both hell-en-uh & hell-ay-nuh. I prefer the second pronunciation, but either are correct.

It is DEFINITELY Hel-AY-nuh. that is the correct pronunciation, and also everyone i have met with the name pronounces it this way. I also think it is the prettiest of the pronunciations.

HEH-leh-nuh or Heh-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh

None. I pronounce it somewhat like renrose HEH-leh-na…

I say HEH-len-uh with the stress on the first syllable, like [name_f]Helen[/name_f] with an A on the end!

Like others have said- none. I’ve always heard/said it HEH-leh-nuh. Never heard it pronounced heh-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh.

I also say HEH-len-uh, like [name_f]Helena[/name_f] Bonham [name_u]Carter[/name_u]. If I were to use this name, that’s how I’d pronounce it.

Heh-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh is a legit pronunciation, but not the only correct one. I also know someone who says Heh-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-nuh, but I don’t like that one.

If you go to Forvo, it seems the Americans said Heh-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nuh, while Brits and Aussies said HEH-leh-nuh. (How to pronounce Helena in English - Definition of Helena in English)

This American says HEL-en-uh.

Heh-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-na

I say it like [name_f]Helen[/name_f]-uh. According to BehindtheName [name_f]Helena[/name_f] has two pronunciations.

he-[name_m]LE[/name_m]-nah ([name_m]German[/name_m], Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish), hay-[name_m]LAY[/name_m]-nah (Dutch)