Message: "Lena/Helena/Elena"

Lena/Helena/Elena

by LeahFaith35

6/30/2005, 1:17 PM

I love the name Lena. The only problem I have with it is the pronunciation concern. I like it pronounced Lay-nuh. Is that how it's generally said? I know it's very popular name in Germany and I was wondering how it is pronounced there. Im also interested in it as a nn for Helena or Elena. How are those names most commonly pronounced? I'm just worried that if I named my daughter Lena she would constanly be correcting people. Any information on the history of these names would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks.

#Elena #Helena #Lena

Replies

- Andy ;—) (guest)

6/30/2005, 1:34 PM

In Germany we say LEH-nah. The closest most English speaking people can get is LAY-nuh. A lot of people here understand it as a short form of Magdalena (Mahg-dah-LEH-nah), others of Helena (HE-leh-nah).
For information on the history of these names click on them.

- Eirena

6/30/2005, 4:08 PM

Elena is usually prn ee-LAY-nuh, I believe. Most people would probably pronounce Lena LEE-nuh, instead of LAY-nuh. If you want it prn like that, your best bet is to spell it Layna, or Laina. :(

~♥Eirena♥~
Playing battleship.
Two-Face: "B12."
Riddler: "A hit! And also my favorite vitamin."
~Batman Forever

- Miss Claire

6/30/2005, 4:23 PM

I know that in non English (= German, French...) languages it is leh-nah.

~~ Claire ~~

My ! are Alia, Eidel, Enola, Israel, Dudel, Yuri, Lina, Lorelei, Leilani, Owen, Julian, Glorinda, Mirinda
My ? are Hillel, Meshullam, Johnny, Ginny, Cordelia, Fiammetta, Yocheved
My ~ are Tehila, Tilda, Hailey, Gillian, Huldah
My / are Aglaia and July

- Urania (guest)

7/1/2005, 8:18 AM

My grandmother's name was pronounced LEE-nuh.

- Jen (guest) +1

7/2/2005, 6:06 PM

I believe the actress Lena Olin pronounces it LEE-nah.

I'm in the US and here I've heard the other two names only as: huh-LAY-nah and uh-LAY-nah (or EE-LAY-nah)

HEH-lin-ah is so pretty, though, as the poster in Germany wrote it. Similarly, I knew an Elinore from France who pronounced it EL-in-er, whereas here we say EL-in-ORE

- Jen (guest)

7/2/2005, 6:08 PM

Sorry, the spelling of the sounds is difficult. I should have written: heh-LAY-nah and eh-LAY-nah rather than uh- for each.

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