See the results of this poll: Does Laena work? Let us know your favorite!
Respondents: 102 (This poll is closed)
- Laena : 14 (14%)
- Layna : 22 (22%)
- Laina: 66 (65%)
[name]Laina[/name] [name]Cate[/name] is absolutely adorable. 
[name]Laina[/name] got my vote, but I think [name]Layna[/name] would be my second pick. Although that might actually cause some confusion, straightforward as it is–I went to school with a Brazilian named [name]Layna[/name], and her name was pronounced like the end of South [name]Carolina[/name]. If you don’t live in a heavy Portuguese-speaking area, though, I wouldn’t think it’d be a problem.
My favorite spelling for the pronunciation you want is [name]Lena[/name], and I think [name]Lena[/name] [name]Cate[/name] looks the most clean-cut and pretty, but ironically, I think you’d have the most problems with it. I think a lot of people would say [name]LEE[/name]-nah or even [name]LEN[/name]-ah. I do love [name]Lena[/name] said like [name]LAY[/name]-nah though.
I think Laena is so beautiful. I’m guessing I’ll be in the minority, because the AE is definitely the idiosyncratic spelling. I just think your mouth kind of does something different with Laena- you say it more delicately, almost with a hint of an Irish accent. With [name]Layna[/name], you kind of dig into the Y, and [name]Laina[/name] is also flatter, less feminine, to me. Also, I very much approve of [name]Cate[/name] with a C. Laena [name]Cate[/name]!
Although I like all of the spellings, Laena and, in particular, [name]Layna[/name] seem overly modern and have a slightly made-up feel to them. I know that they are not made-up, but I would go with [name]Laina[/name] so as to ward off the impression. I really like [name]Laina[/name] [name]Cate[/name].
I think [name]Laina[/name] is the most intuitive - and I like to avoid “[name]Lay[/name]” in names!
Good point with the [name]Lay[/name]
My favourite spelling is [name]Lena[/name], but as ashthedreamer pointed out, most people say [name]Lena[/name] like lee-na. So my next favourite is Laena. Perhaps it seems a little made up, but I think it would transition better into adulthood than [name]Laina[/name] would. There’s just something about the way it looks written that seems more grown up.
I would vote for [name]Lena[/name] for the reasons listed above-- but otherwise [name]Laina[/name]. It’s closest to ‘[name]Laine[/name],’ and avoids [name]LAY[/name]. Laena looks like a scientific genus name, not a given first name.
I think Laena looks awkward.
I would either use [name]Lena[/name], [name]Laina[/name], or [name]Layna[/name] (the latter reminds me of [name]Layla[/name]).
[name]How[/name] about just [name]Lena[/name]? I love [name]Lena[/name]. It’s one of my all time favourites.
I VOTE [name]Lena[/name]
[name]Laina[/name]. If most people recognise and know how to say [name]Elaine[/name], then they’ll know how to say [name]Laina[/name].
I think that the [name]Lena[/name] spelling is so beautiful. It is simple sweet and straight forward.
1 [name]Laina[/name]
2 Laena
3 [name]Layna[/name]
I think everyone would pronounce it [name]Len[/name] Uh
I think people would pronounce it [name]Len[/name] Uh
I vote for [name]Layna[/name].
Laena would be a little trickier for people, they might mispronounce it as [name]Lee[/name]-ana or [name]Lee[/name]-na. [name]Layna[/name] is not my cup of tea because I find that the letter Y is a little overused these days. [name]Laina[/name] is beautiful and seems more traditional.
(We are considering Allaina for a girl, so I am partial to the [name]Laina[/name] spelling. [name]Love[/name] the name!)
[name]Laina[/name] and [name]Raina[/name] are almost identical and I think that is the best spelling by far. So my vote is for [name]Laina[/name]. I cannot understand people getting [name]Lena[/name] out of [name]Laina[/name], they are totally different.
I completely agree! I also think that Laena looks more botanical and I like that. [name]Layna[/name] is sort of clunkier to me, and [name]Laina[/name] isn’t as pretty. I would go for Laena! It’s very pretty and I like Laena [name]Cate[/name]!