I just think it's a beautiful name! I like the meaning of it, the sound and overall, I just think it's a very pretty name that fits well in any type of context.
Better than Helen and Ellen, I pronounce this Eh-leh-nah.
― Anonymous User 5/15/2019
1
There have been two singers named Elena. Elena Risteska is a Macedonian singer who represented her country in 2006 Eurovision with "Ninanajna". She qualified from the semi final but did not crack the Top 10. Elena Gheorghe is a Romanian singer who represented her country in 2009 Eurovision with "The Balkan Girls". She qualified and like Risteska, did not crack the Top 10.
My grandmother's name is Elena. I think it's pretty.
― Anonymous User 12/29/2018
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In 2018, 4 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Elena who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 823rd most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.
― Anonymous User 10/15/2018
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This is the name of Miguel’s grandmother in the Pixar film “Coco.”.
― Anonymous User 9/10/2018
6
Elena is such a classy and beautiful name. I love it!
My name is Elena and I’ve spent what seems like half of my life correcting people on its pronunciation! I am Welsh and my name is pronounced El- eh- na, I love it pronounced that way. It’s always bothered me when most people say El- ay- ner, usually English or American accents. I much prefer the European way! It’s not a very common name where I live, which I like, and I find it strange when watching gymnastics on tv - almost all the Russian gymnasts are called Elena! : )
I had to look up this name after I couldn't find a name I wanted to look up, Eleana. No it is not pronounced Elena it is pronounced eh-lee-ah-nah, yes I like the name Elena, I think it's a beautiful name, and I know that Eleana is not a very common name. Still, I wish some people would recognize the name Eleana.
I love this name. A lot. Elena in comparison to Helen or Ellen is just so much prettier, sounds a lot more modern and new to me, and has a beautiful Latin touch to it that Helen and Ellen don't bring to the table. It sounds like a sweet name to me to a beautiful young name, like Laura or Isabella, not a grandma's name like Gertrude or Angela. This is a name that will age well and I wish was more popular, though people will choose terrible names like Damian or even another Spanish name, Dolores, with painful and sad meanings. Good choice for parents who are considering this name.
It’s not “American laziness” with the pronunciation “uh-lay-nuh, ” but rather simply the way it’s pronounced among most English speakers, at least in the U.S. Names are pronounced differently in different languages, accents, and dialects. Of course, there are simply incorrect ways to pronounce things; but to say Americans are ignorant or lazy when pronouncing something differently, not from ignorance, but rather from different regional accents and simply different ways of pronouncing things, isn’t very fair. I’ve heard English speakers from different English-speaking countries pronounce this name (and other names that Americans are given a hard time about for the way they say them) the “lazy American way,” yet it’s only the Americans who are given a hard time for it. Sorry for the rant, but apparently the fact that people pronounce things differently based on where they come from needed to be brought back to people’s memory. Now, again, there certainly are incorrect and simply ignorant ways of pronouncing things; but when a significant number of people are pronouncing something the way they do simply because that’s how they speak does not indicate that they are lazy or ignorant.
I like this name a lot. I think that if I'd have children and if it wouldn't be too popular then, as it seems to rise in my area, I'd consider it as a name for my baby. I love Helena, it's my gramma's name, so I'd love to honour her this way, though I'd be afraid that she'd be called Lena, there are so many little Lenas over here right now. I liked Lena as well some time ago, but now it's just boring and insipid in my opinion. But not Elena. Elena differs with just one letter, but not being so popular in my country, it seems fresh, original, or at least more original than Lena or even than beautiful and classic Helena, it's easy to diminish and use in Poland. It reminds me of a princess, the one who's very royal, likes to be in charge, but is also a bit tomboyish. She can be very girly though if only she wants. She likes horseback riding. It works for a very lively girl in my opinion, but also fits a woman, I think in any age... Well, it's a bit hard for me to imagine Elena in her 30's-40's, but it's probably just me. I regret that I don't know any Elenas personally.
Elena is usable in Poland. It isn't traditional here at all, we have Helena as a traditional form and Elena is very rare, but because of the fact that Lena is so horrifically popular at the moment, Elena seems to be slowly rising in popularity as well. It's likeable, easy to make nicknames of it etc. And here it's pronounced e-LE-na. And I pronounce it this way as well.
― Anonymous User 10/14/2017
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As is evident by the comments, this name has numerous regional variant pronunciations depending on the linguistic influences in that region. For those arguing the 'correct' Spanish pronunciation; there are notable differences in Spanish dialects from Spain to Mexico to Bolivia, etc. And the pronunciations may vary even in Spanish. Spanish dialects often have the regional indigenous population native to that region influence words in that particular dialect. So, you all have valid points.
― Anonymous User 8/29/2017
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Elena Chiritescu, a Romanian Romani girl, gave birth to a 6.4 lb (2.9 kg) girl named Nicoletta Narcissa at a hospital in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Chiritescu was already pregnant when she moved to Spain and was seen selling flowers with her family during a local celebration in Lebrija, when she was in the latest stages of pregnancy. Mecic remained in Romania.
Elena Donaldson-Akhmilovskaya was a Woman Grandmaster of chess. She was one of the strongest women players in the world. She won the Women Candidates' tournament and in 1986 played a match against Maia Chiburdanidze in Sofia for the Women's World Chess Championship 1986, but lost by 8½–5½.
This is my name, and to be honest, I really hate it. Everyone tells me it's pretty, but all I hear when people say my name is a nag. People always tease me, calling me the gross name 'Eleanor' and I hate it :P. In high school my name is Lin because I changed it, and I'm glad I did.
― Anonymous User 6/18/2017
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Elena Radionova is a famous Russian figure skater.
Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo is the first child and elder daughter of Juan Carlos I of Spain and Queen Sofía of Spain, and third in the line of succession to the Spanish throne. She has a younger sister, Infanta Cristina, and a younger brother, King Felipe VI. Infanta Elena has participated in many official events, having traveled to Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Argentina, Japan, Peru, and the Philippines representing the Royal Family
My name is spelled Eleena and pronounced eh-li-na. My parents named me after the princess of one of the states in my country.
― Anonymous User 7/2/2016
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Elena Risteska is a Macedonian singer and song-writer. She represented Macedonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 in Athens with the song "Ninanajna", and finished in 12th place, the highest ever finish for Macedonia.
Nice to see my middle name making its way up the charts in the States. This was my maternal great grandmother's name and I, sadly, only have one memory of her. But everyone always said she was a true steel magnolia and spunky, so I try to embody her spirit. Another user said Uh-Lay-na was incorrect, but that's not true. This is a Romanization of a Greek name that spread across Europe and is pronounced many different ways because of language. People forget HOW big the U.S. and how each region formed its own culture and way to pronounce everything, including names, based off of their own descent and the "bastardization" of their mother tongue. Europe has had over 2,000 years of bloodshed to get to where it is today, so while they are the model of most societies now, they still had their growing pains. The USA is going thru it's know-it-all 20's phase, so give us time and we'll shape up!That turned into quite the rant! I, personally, prefer Eh-lay-na.
Elena Marié Satine (Born: November 24, 1987) is a Georgian-American actress and singer.
― Anonymous User 10/26/2014
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The name Elena is really beautiful, brilliant and sophisticated. ٩(͡๏̮͡๏)۶ I use the English pronunciation "eh-lay-nah". ~(^з^)- Can you magine meeting twins called Alina and Elena? ツ Aww! ᵔᴥᵔ.
― Anonymous User 10/26/2014
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Elena Fisher is a fictional character in the Uncharted video game series. Her name is pronounced "eh-lay-nah".
― Anonymous User 7/14/2014
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This is my name. Most people say it eh-LAY-na, but usually American laziness makes it uh-LAY-na. I've always thought that the correct pronunciation was more like ee-lay-na, but I'd also heard the Spanish eh-leh-na and Russia ye-leh-na. I don't mind the "lay", but the "uh" bothers me, and it's always annoyed me to death when my grandma calls me "Elener." But I guess it's just her accent. My sister used to call me Miss Elenious.
So pretty! It seems like it's seen as mostly a Hispanic name in the US, but I think it would sound good on anyone. However, any other spelling like Alaina or Alayna are just "kre8tiv" and ruin such a beautiful, classic name. Stick to Elena!
My name is Elena, and it's pernounced El-En-na, or el-eh-na. Not elaiina. And I hate when old people call me Elener. My name does not have an R in it. I love my name but only if it's pronounced the right way.
I love the name Elena and find it to be very beautiful. I am surprised to find out that so many people pronounce it like 'Eleanor.' It would never occur to me to pronounce these two names the same way.
Elena Capwell was a murderess on the daytime soap opera Santa Barbara in the 1980s.I don't understand people who want to pronounce this name the same as Eleanor. They don't even sound alike. There's no "o" or "r" in Elena.
It really annoys me when English people pronounce my name like Eleanor, the Spanish version of the name Elena is pronounced E-ley-na. I think if people did their research they would see that the names Elena and Eleanor and not connected at all they are completely different names with completely different meanings and origins. The Spanish version of the name Eleanor is Leonor.
While yes, I agree that it is a decently beautiful name... I find it quite overrated. With the surge of Alaina/Elayna/Elana/etc, this title gets seemingly lost and dulled. The best thing would be for all variation to receive a bit of rest, rekindle beauty.Unless, of course, you have decided upon this name for ethnic reasons and have a surname to match.
My name is Elena and I pronounce it as ah-LEEN-nah (Aleena). I hate when people mispronounce it as Ah-lay-na or Eh-ley-na (Spanish). I'm African American and my ancestors are Native American descent as well as African American. My name is beautiful and it means shinning light, light of God and Bright.
It's not so common in Croatia, but I know one girl with this beautiful name. I also know a girl from Macedonia with this name. Too bad it rhymes with my name (like most of the names I like: Elena pronounced EL-len-ah or el-LENN-ah, Lena LENN-ah, Helena hell-EN-ah, Alena AH-lenn-ah) so I can't give it to my child.
Well, my name is Elena and I am Serbian so I was named after my great grandmother, Jelena (Ye-LEH-na) I pronounce my name E-LAY-nuh or just uh-LAY-nuh I find this the prettiest way to pronounce the name. I am frequently called Eh-LEH-na which I hate because personally I think it sounds kind of ugly.
I'm not sure why anyone would look at the name Elena and pronounce the le as "lay". I've always heard it as "leh", and that makes sense to me. When I named one of my daughters my own variation of this name, I wanted it pronounced "ee-LAY-nah", so I spelled it Elaina.
In Italy Elena is an ageless name since at least the second half of the 19th century. It was the most popular in Rome in 1901, but since then it was always rather common without becoming really overused nor underused. It is equally common among old ladies, middle-aged women, girls and babies. Still nowadays, it ranks 16th in the most popular names in Italy in 2004 and 15th in 2006. Almost a miracle.
Part of my mom's name is Elena. Her full name is Maria Elena. I think that's a pretty name, and some people call her Maria and some call her Lena. I think it's pretty cool to have two names. =]
Elena, is the deceased grandmother of Gerard & Mikey Way, current band members of the awesome band My Chemical Romance. She is best known for the song they deticated to her, Helena.
This is my name and everyone always pronounces it UH-lay-na, which I hate. Personally I think it should be pronounced the way it was meant, Eh-leh-na.
― Anonymous User 10/9/2007
0
My name is really spelt 'Eleanor' but I like this spelling much more because it just looks so much nicer when you write it and it doesn't look as old fashioned as 'Eleanor'. Also, it bugs me when people say my name like El-eh-nor because it sounds way too formal. Pronouncing it El-eh-na or El-eh-nuh just sounds so much better!
This is the real name of the Russian model Vlada Roslyakova. She changed her name when she began modeling to avoid being confused with Elena Rosenkova, another model. "Vlada" comes from her father's name, Vladimir. She is signed with Women management and has appeared in many prominent high fashions ads and shows.
Elena is not Eleanor but the Spanish for Ellen. Leonor is Spanish for Eleanor. And please people get it: the Spanish pronunciation is eh-LEH-nah.
― Anonymous User 9/21/2007
1
My little sister has this name. I really love it, and think it's so cute and fits her perfectly. We say it e-LAY-na. Her nicknames are Lanes, Lainza, Lainzy Banes, Banes and Bainzy Boo. (I tried to spell them like we say them)
In Spanish, this name would be pronounced ay-LAY-nah.
― Anonymous User 5/5/2006
1
In Spanish this name is NOT pronunced ay-Lay-nuh but eh-leh-nah. It really bugs me when Americans pronounced this name ay-Lay-nuh and INSIST that it's the correct pronunciation. If this name where to be pronounced ay-LAY-nuh in Spanish then it would be spelled Eileina, so please pronounce it the right way!
The Spanish pronunciation is not e-LAY-na. It is eh-LEH-na. Only in English is the name pronounced e-LAY-na, though where the long 'a' sound comes from really escapes me.
Actually, it IS pronounced ay-LAY-na in Spanish. "E" is pronounced "ay," not "eh" in Spanish, so that's where the "ay" sound comes from in the English pronunciation, as well. This is my (non-Spanish) niece's name, but is also a fairly common name in the area where I live for girls of Mexican heritage, and they do NOT pronounce it ay-LEH-na.
It is funny when non native speakers of Spanish try to teach us natives lessons on how to pronounce our language. I'm not a Mexican living in the US but a Spaniard living in Spain so I have a "slight" idea of how to speak Spanish.
― Anonymous User 9/21/2007
1
I have a little Russian sister named Elena (pronounced the Russian way, yes) and I think her name is so cute!