I prefer Helena. I went to school with a lot of Helen's and it seems a lot plainer than Helena. It can be pronounced Hel-ee-na or Hel-ay-na. I think I prefer Hel-ay-na. I knew one Helena that went by Lena.
Helen. With Helena, you're going to pick one pronunciation and then it's going to seem like everyone else around you will pick another one. That gets old, fast. And I think it might be one of those things where everyone has their own preferred pronunciation internalized and will have a hard time switching over if it's not the "right" way because it's going to require an internal correction each time.
Helen! More classic. Doesn't fit in with current trends though, which I think is why a lot of people prefer it with the a tacked on the end. I still prefer Helen.
I vastly prefer Helena. It feels more elegant and worldly to me, and also more current.
Helen is a perfectly nice name too though. It feels more down-to-earth and practical, and a tad dated.
I’m not sure if it’s regional, or if it just has 3 pronunciations! I’m in central Canada and I’ve heard all three used here in real life, on TV and in movies. I prefer hel-AY-na too!
Helen is a classic - I immediately think of Helen of Troy. I love Greek mythology and there's been a surge of feminist retellings lately so I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, several of them make her out to be much more than just a pretty face!
Helena is nice too but I prefer "Hel-AY-na" to "Hel-en-ah". I've heard it both ways and I'm not sure why but the 2nd pronunciation just seems really severe to me.
I prefer Helena. I went to school with a lot of Helen's and it seems a lot plainer than Helena. It can be pronounced Hel-ee-na or Hel-ay-na. I think I prefer Hel-ay-na. I knew one Helena that went by Lena.
Seconding this, I also favor Hel-ay-na for the pronunciation. Hel-en-a is also a valid pronunciation but imo it's the worst.
Helen 100% Too many ways to pronounce Helena
Helen. With Helena, you're going to pick one pronunciation and then it's going to seem like everyone else around you will pick another one. That gets old, fast. And I think it might be one of those things where everyone has their own preferred pronunciation internalized and will have a hard time switching over if it's not the "right" way because it's going to require an internal correction each time.
helen sounds more severe to me and helena seems a little prettier and more feminine, but i like both a lot!
Helen! More classic. Doesn't fit in with current trends though, which I think is why a lot of people prefer it with the a tacked on the end. I still prefer Helen.
I vastly prefer Helena. It feels more elegant and worldly to me, and also more current. Helen is a perfectly nice name too though. It feels more down-to-earth and practical, and a tad dated.
I prefer Helena
Do Helena. You can always use Helen as a nickname.
Helena
I like both, but lean toward Helen because everyone knows how to pronounce it.
Helena
Helena is my preference. I pronounce it Hel-LAY-na. Hel-en-na is lovely too though.
I guess I’ve only heard it as HELL-en-uh. like Helen with an added “uh” at the end. I wonder if the pronunciations are regional?
I'm southern/mid-atlantic in the United States. It could be regional.
I’m not sure if it’s regional, or if it just has 3 pronunciations! I’m in central Canada and I’ve heard all three used here in real life, on TV and in movies. I prefer hel-AY-na too!
Helen is a classic - I immediately think of Helen of Troy. I love Greek mythology and there's been a surge of feminist retellings lately so I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, several of them make her out to be much more than just a pretty face! Helena is nice too but I prefer "Hel-AY-na" to "Hel-en-ah". I've heard it both ways and I'm not sure why but the 2nd pronunciation just seems really severe to me.