Name spelling help, please!

[strawberryprincess]

Hi ladies, I have a name question, and would like some outside input, dh is absolutely no help when it come to this kind of thing.

I have settled on the name Elena Kathryn for our baby, if it's a girl (still have no idea about a boy name yet).

I love this name, and the origin is Italian, but when I hear this name I also think of a beautiful dark haired/dark eyed Latina woman. My kids and I are blond, blue eyes, and very light skin, and I would presume this baby will share these characteristics (dh has dark hair and tans easily, so s/he may take after dad)
do you think "Elena" spelled this way looks/sounds too "ethnic" for my very white family. Should I consider spelling it "Elaina" or "Alaina"? Am i stereotyping or just being stupid about wondering about this?

I would appreciate any ideas or thoughts you might have! thanks

[craft_media_hero]

I don't think it's an inappropriate spelling for a Caucasian baby. It's lovely! Go for it!

I have been thinking of more Greek names, and we are all very Caucasian in my family as well. All I can think of is Cezar, Andros, Leona, Arcadia, Ceres . . . and my dp doesn't like any of them! We have lots of time to decide, still. I hope that we come along the perfect name that we can all agree upon. We might let dd name her/him. She likes Linen and Lavendar so far. As well as Slap Top and Hawk Talk, lol. So we'll see. We're still very much in the silly name ideas stage.

[Kuba'sMama]

Hi!
The only Elenas I know are Eastern European (Russian)! Very blond and fair. So I think it's a pretty multi-cultural name. I don't think a name can be too "ethnic" for your family. If you like it, you will associate it with your child, IMO.

[To-Fu]

I have met people of all skin tones with that name, and I think it's lovely just as you have it spelled. In fact, I like it best that way; it's all round and open and pretty. No need to go dressing it up. It's great the way it is!

[MissMommyNiceNice]

IMO the plainer the spelling, the better. I never understood all those extra vowels & alternative letters.

[sanguine_speed]

As others have said, there are lots of fair-haired, fair-skinned Elenas around .

However, it seems based on your question about alternate spellings, that you would pronounce the name El-ay-na. This is great, but when I see "Elena", I would think "Ellen-a". Perhaps this is just because I am otherwise unfamiliar with the name.

[staceychev]

Originally Posted by MissMommyNiceNice

IMO the plainer the spelling, the better. I never understood all those extra vowels & alternative letters.

As a teacher who has to deal with all those extra vowels and alternative letters, I wholeheartedly agree!

Anyway, I agree. I don't think Elena is too ethnic. I don't have the same connotations for it, I guess.

[megviolet]

Originally Posted by sanguine_speed

However, it seems based on your question about alternate spellings, that you would pronounce the name El-ay-na. This is great, but when I see "Elena", I would think "Ellen-a". Perhaps this is just because I am otherwise unfamiliar with the name.

that's what i was wondering.... but i totally prefer the spelling ELENA. Beautiful name choice

[KaylaBeanie]

In the Vampire Diaries books, Elena has super blonde hair, blue eyes and is really pale, so I think you're fine!

I adore the name Elena, in fact it's on my list of good names. I think it's beautiful.

[JorgieGirl]

The only 'Elena's I know are French and they spell it Helena. But I think it looks nice either way!

[strawberryprincess]

Thank you so much ladies. I prefer the simpler spelling, and would like to go with that. It being used as an Eastern European name makes total sense to me too.
I thought I was just being silly to worry about this, so thank you for confirming that

[Momily]

We have a little blond haired blue eyed French speaking Elena in our school -- it suits her well. I love the name!

I'd respell Kathryn as Katherine or Catherine, but I'm a traditionalist. I think Elena Kathryn (with any of those spellings) is absolutely gorgeous and will work well with any age.

[turnquia]

I work with an "Allena" and she is bright blonde hair and blue eyes

[gorgorita]

I am Russian myself and have many friends named Elena. Yes, the name is of Creek origin but it's widely used in Eastern Europe. I like this spelling the most. My mom named me Margarita which a Latin name meaning "a pearl". Here, everyone believes that it's a Latino name

[oceane]

Elena is the only spelling I see as "correct", the others look creative to me.

[matthia]

The name "Helen" (the root name for Elena), at least from a literary history perspective, comes from THE Helen, the one that launched a thousand ships and started a 10 year war with Troy. And since Romans liked to base their geneology back to Aneas, who escaped from Troy, and Romans were a presence in EVERY region of Europe at some point in their history, the story has also been a presence. There has also historically been an inclination in Europeans towards the glory days of the Ancients, be they roman or greek, so Homer is always a popular poet and thus Helen remains incarnate.
I would be incredibly surprised if there was a nationality within the European continent that didn't have a variation of this name.

That being said, I LOVE it. It's one of my favorite names Ever.