Okay, now please help me spell this name

[RedOakMomma]

"Ellen-uh"/"El-eh-nuh" is the desired effect...but if I'm going to "create" a name, I want it to be effective AND look good.

"Elena" is obviously out , since 80% of the folks here would pronounce it "Eh-LAY-na."

"Elinor," but pronouncing it "Ellen-ah" is also out, because I don't want to sound like a person trying to be British.

I know she'll be spelling it for the rest of her life, but that's okay with me as long as she isn't both spelling it AND telling everyone how to pronounce it.

[tamagotchi]

What about Helena?

[Marieke]

Originally Posted by RedOakMomma

I know she'll be spelling it for the rest of her life, but that's okay with me as long as she isn't both spelling it AND telling everyone how to pronounce it.

Never underestimate the stupidity of people

She may yet be both spelling it and telling people, no matter what you do.




Marieke

[Smokering]

Nothing useful to add, except that Elenna reminds me of B'Elanna Torres from Star Trek: Voyager, for some reason. Which... you know, she was cool and all, but.

I also love 'Elanor' from LOTR (Sam's daughter), but I've always pronounced that as e-LAY-nor in my head, so also not helpful. Sorry.

Of the options presented... I dunno, maybe Ellena? It looks more 'Ellen'-ish, which brings the emphasis to the first syllable. I don't suppose you like the name Ellen, by any chance? It'd simplify life. Great, now I've stared at the names for too long and they all look weird. Good luck deciding! I like 'Ellen-uh' (the pronounciation), btw--I think it's a very pretty, feminine, old-fashioned-in-a-good way name. Hope you find a spelling that suits!

[RedOakMomma]

Well, I've gone youtubing/googling for "Ellena"... turns out "Ellena" is an actual name, not a made up one. It's a form of Helene, and Greek in origin.

On youtube, I found that there's a Greek popstar that has the first name "Ellena." She pronounces it the way I'd like.

Of all the baby videos on youtube, it looks like 2/3rds or more pronounce it the way I'd like. The others say "Eh-LAY-na." Of the teenagers, the percentage also seems to be much higher for "Ellen-ah." (And a resounding thumbs DOWN for the number of videos on youtube of drunk girls )

Ellena is also a last name (French/Greek, it seems), and there's a Jean-Claude Ellena who's a famous perfumer for Hermes. Any French folks here who could explain how the French would pronounce it?

Thanks for the help and opinions on this! It's helping a lot!

And about Helena~ I think it would be a way to get the "ellen-ah" pronounciation, but I just don't like the "H" sound in front of it. Can you tell I'm a wee bit picky?

[Ilaria]

Elena. I'm Italian and we pronounceit more or less like yousaid, stress on first E.

[bri276]

I chose Ellenna because I honestly think it gives her the best bet of people pronouncing it correctly from the get-go (I'm Liliana and get called Lillian all the time, or Lily-Ann-ah instead of Lily-ahn-a).

Ellinah is pretty too.

[RedOakMomma]

This thread is so helpful! Dh read over the thread (and the other one) and he's starting to come around to the name. Thank you!

One question...how would Ellena be pronounced in Spanish? Eh-yeh-na? We don't live in an area with much of a Hispanic population, but I wonder if that LL looks like a Spanish name?

[peekaboom]

just for giggles...what about ellynah? or ellyna?
peekaboom

[funnygrace]

Just a note about "Helena"—it is also pronounced he-Lay-nah. In fact, the two people I know named "Helena" pronounce it that way. I only know the city as helen-Ah. I think "Ellena" is good for your pronunciation. I also don't think it's such a big deal for her to correct people sometimes. Once people know you, they won't get your name wrong. This is an issue for all Karas, Annas, etc.

[Marieke]

Originally Posted by funnygrace

Just a note about "Helena"—it is also pronounced he-Lay-nah. In fact, the two people I know named "Helena" pronounce it that way. I only know the city as helen-Ah.

And yet I've heard Helena Bonham-Carter only ever referred to as Helen-ah, not He-lay-nah.

Can't win



Marieke

[truelife]

I think it is a beautiful name!

I voted Elenah. I also like the way Elinah looks. Without the second "e" it makes you stop and actually question the pronunciation.

[Ilaria]

Originally Posted by RedOakMomma

This thread is so helpful! Dh read over the thread (and the other one) and he's starting to come around to the name. Thank you!

One question...how would Ellena be pronounced in Spanish? Eh-yeh-na? We don't live in an area with much of a Hispanic population, but I wonder if that LL looks like a Spanish name?

Depends whee the Spanish speaker is from, in Spain, yes it would be a Y.

Replying to your PM now!

[katheek77]

Not one of the choices you gave, but...

Ellynna? Nothing tricky...El-lynn-a.

If you've already considered this and decided against it, I apologize. It's just what popped into my head when I said "Ellen-uh" out loud.

[Flor]

I'm not fond of double consonants for some reason, but I agree that Elena would be often pronounced "E-lay-na." However, I'm going to bet that half the people mispronounce it anyway, so spell it however you like.

Now that I look again, "Ellena" does look alittle Spanish. "Llena" means "full" in Spanish and is pronounced with a /y/ sound.

[Mamatolea]

Originally Posted by funnygrace

Just a note about "Helena"—it is also pronounced he-Lay-nah. In fact, the two people I know named "Helena" pronounce it that way. I only know the city as helen-Ah. I think "Ellena" is good for your pronunciation. I also don't think it's such a big deal for her to correct people sometimes. Once people know you, they won't get your name wrong. This is an issue for all Karas, Annas, etc.

that

My name is Kara (like care-ah) and I get CAR-ah ALLLLL the time..drives me nuts! I would have thought that CAR-ah would be with a C, but who am I to know..lol

My daughter is Lea(with no h-my grandmother's spelling) and EVERYONE spells it with an h..again with the driving me NUTS! And that is my middle name and I can't tell you how many times I was called Car-ah LEE.

Um, there is an A at the end of the name, not an E!

Pshaw!!

And sorry to hijack OP! LOL

I would go with Ellanah because even the most name challenged people can see clearly that is Ellen-AH! LOL