Helen or Helena?
Which do you prefer?
Also, how do you prefer to pronounce Helena?
Also, how do you prefer to pronounce Helena?
Replies
Helen
Helena!
Helen, all the way. Mostly because I really like its stripped-down elegance, but also because of the pronunciation issues with Helena.
In South Africa, Helena gets used by Afrikaans families and is pronounced heLEEAna. The centre syllable is like the word 'leer' if the R isn't sounded: long e and a schwa. Not good, except in its home language. Which is surely the point.
Myself, I expect it to be pronounced HElena, like Helen with an a. No doubt in a country with a tradition of Spanish naming, there would be good reasons for doing it differently.
In South Africa, Helena gets used by Afrikaans families and is pronounced heLEEAna. The centre syllable is like the word 'leer' if the R isn't sounded: long e and a schwa. Not good, except in its home language. Which is surely the point.
Myself, I expect it to be pronounced HElena, like Helen with an a. No doubt in a country with a tradition of Spanish naming, there would be good reasons for doing it differently.
Helena prn "heh-lay-nah"
I prefer Helen.
I prefer "heh-LAY-nuh" for Helena.
(I really prefer Helene "heh-LAYN," though. :) )
I prefer "heh-LAY-nuh" for Helena.
(I really prefer Helene "heh-LAYN," though. :) )
Helen.
I'm biased, though, seeing as it's my name. :)
I pronounce Helena like heh-LEH-nah
I'm biased, though, seeing as it's my name. :)
I pronounce Helena like heh-LEH-nah
Helena. hel-ay-nuh
Helena for sure! I can't stand Helen.
:)
:)
Helena.
Just prettier, IMO. (:
Just prettier, IMO. (:
Helena...
I prounounce Helena as HEL-en-uh. Like Helen with uh at the end.
I prounounce Helena as HEL-en-uh. Like Helen with uh at the end.
This message was edited 6/30/2010, 4:17 PM
Helen
Helena, pron. 'heh-LEH-nuh'
To me Helena is 'heh-LEH-nuh' and Elena is 'EH-leh-na'
To me Helena is 'heh-LEH-nuh' and Elena is 'EH-leh-na'
Helen
I pronounce Helena like the Montana city. (HEH-leh-nah)
I pronounce Helena like the Montana city. (HEH-leh-nah)
Both are pretty, but I prefer Helena. I tend to pronounce it HEH-leh-na, but I think I like heh-LEH-na the best out of the different pronuciations. I like heh-LAY-na and heh-LEE-na too.
Helena
I pronounce it heh-LAYN-nah.
I love it. (My high school years were heavily influenced by My Chemical Romance.)
I find Helena a lot classier and less dated than Helen.
I love it. (My high school years were heavily influenced by My Chemical Romance.)
I find Helena a lot classier and less dated than Helen.
This message was edited 6/30/2010, 2:38 PM
Helen.
Helena pron. HEH leh nuh nt x
I prefer Helena, pronounced 'heh-LEH-nah'.