How do you pronounce Elena?

lifeonthehill

nameberry says ee-lay-na

BTN say e-le-nah

I think we are looking for it to sound like uh-len-ah  eh-LEN-uh with the len sounding like the world lend. I know I have heard it said this way but that doesn't mean it is correct. 

ETA: a better example of pronunciation. 

chicagojackie

I think it's a pretty name but I would not pick it because of this exact issue. Same with:

Alana

Alayna

Lena

etc.

 

 

firsttimeauntie

I say eh-LEN-uh

lifeonthehill

firsttimeauntie said:

I say eh-LEN-uh

this is what I meant in my OP. With three syllables. 

ladyteach0505

This is on our list as a full name for Ellie but same issue! I say Uh lay nuh. As a teacher, I've never seen it the other way.

BananaLettuce

I found this site when we discussed using Elena:
https://www.pronouncenames.com/search?name=Elena

They say the Swedish pronunciation is Eh-LEN-uh

marisa00

I would say eh-lay-nuh

4N6s

I met one and she pronounced it uh-lean-uh. No one ever got it "right".

nightdreamer98

Just reading it I would probably pronounce it el-lay-nuh. I have a similar name and it gets mispronounced all the time. At this point if it's close I often don't even bother correcting people. I love Elena but I agree with the PP that it might be hard for people.

NicoleWI

I say Ay-lay-nah.

le bebe xo

Eh-leh-na

lifeonthehill

The pronunciation is actually coming from an international student from France. Maybe it is his accent that is throwing me from the pronunciation. He talks about his sister often and says her name this way.

Moving on to another name! Thanks everyone!

IrishTraveler

I say /uh-LAY-nuh.

sasq09

2013mommy said:

I would say it uh-lay-nuh.

This

DawnJM25

Another vote for uh-lay-nuh.  This is why I'm not crazy about this name.  Too many spellings and pronunciations.

leahmary82

I would be in between. I would pronounce Ell-ayna.

Dr.Loretta

I pronounce it eh-LAY-nah. I love it

crason

It depends on if I'm reading the name with an English or Spanish last name. English would be E-lane-uh, Spanish would be E-len-a with the le like leg.

Coconuthead

I would pronounce it Eh-lay-na.

brose1117

I pronounce it EE-Lay-nuh. I grew up with a girl with the Elena spelling and that's how she pronounced it.

jennypolkadots

My automatic pronunciation is E-le-nah, like Ellen with an a on the end. 

The "lay" pronunciation is also correct, but where I live I have only met Alaina, Elaine, etc. with that pronunciation. I think this is just one of those names that requires you to spell/correct much more often. Not a big deal, as any Madeline will tell you  

ErinGoBragh77

This is my daughter's name.  We pronounce it Eh-lay-nuh.  We've never had a problem with people pronouncing it correctly.

 

magsugar13

EEE lay nuh

sara&jason2012

This is my SIL's name and we all pronounce it ee-lay-na. I love the name and think its very pretty.

Ladymouse

Eh-LAY-nuh.  My favorite name, except one of my best friends' name is Alana, basically the same pronunciation.