Noticing a different spelling for our girl name

krogers0905

If this baby is a girl her name will be Elaina Gabrielle. I've noticed that an alternative spelling for the first name is Elena. To me this would be pronounced Elen-ah. Not E-lane-ah. Just my oppinion.

MrsFinn810

I have a friend with this name, spelled Elena. She is of Hispanic descent and that's how the name is pronounced in Spanish...but I'm not sure if the origin of that spelling is Spanish or not.

mcmann05

Funny you should mention this name....I just saw on a friend's FB that they have a little girl named Elainie.....I would assume it's pronounced like Delaney without the D.

 I like your spelling better btw. I have seen it spelled the other way but I wouldn't pronouce it any different than yours.

lovemytwoboys

I've always pronounced Elena with the 'lane' sound as well. I think there are actually 3 common spellings of this name: Alaina, Elaina and Elena. The spelling you are going with is actually the least common of them all according to the SSA Name List.

strangebird

Elena is a Spanish name, pronounced essentially the same as your spelling: Elaina. The name/spelling you've chosen is really just a derivative. The names Alaina and Elena are much older and more historically correct than Elaina, which is a modern derivative. And, your daughter will be the one who has to correct the spelling of her name for everyone, not girls named Elena or Alaina. FYI, I have no objection to your spelling, just thought I'd share, since you brought it up.

*MMEJ*

Hmmm, I've always thought that Elena was the more common way to spell it and I've always pronounced it E-lane-ah, not Elen-ah.  Elena is higher up on the SS name list (195) as opposed to Elaina (462 or something), which makes me think Elaina is actually the "alternative" spelling.  Also just my opinion

meplusone

I have always seen it spelled Elena not Elaina. As PPs have said, your daughter will be correcting people's spelling b/c Elena is the more well known spelling of that name. They are pronounced the same....at least from what I have seen.

anna7602

I think the "correct" Spanish pronunciation of Elena in English sounds pretentious and I've never met anyone who has insisted on it. It would be something like el-lehn-uh, which sounds terrible. All the Elenas I know, Hispanic and non-Hispanic alike pronounce it E-lane-uh. And these are all women ranging in age from 20s to 50s, so this isn't some "new" thing.

SarahZ05

Elena is the common spelling in Latin culture and - I suspect - throughout the U.S. When your daughter tells people her name, people will almost always default to "Elena." "Elaina" would be considered an alternate spelling and she'll have to correct it all the time.

That said, I have no problem whatsoever with your choice of "Elaina" for your girl. It's pretty, it's not debilitating in the long-term, and people will be able to read it off a list without tripping up.

sunnyday016

I prefer Elena, but your spelling is pretty too (I'm just not a fan of the A variation). I love that name.

Quizzle

Elena is the most common spelling and I've always heard it pronounced E-Lane-ah

The biggest problem you'll have with your spelling is people will either spell it Elena or think it is Elaine. It's a pretty spelling and pronunciation won't be a problem, but I personally much prefer the Elena form.

J+R

I like Elaina the best.

LadyB09

I like your spelling best.

Elena reminds me of Melena which means black, tarry stool....