I pronounce it heh-LAY-nah. Well, not exactly like that, but it's close. The HEL-en-a pronounciation makes no sense to me, and I find it ugly as well.
I don't know about
Helena, I've always felt I should like it but somehow I don't. It has a nice look and sound, but it doesn't do it for me.
Mommy to
Myrtle Nola (22-10-2012) and
Vance Paul Conrad (16-04-2015)