Are these (girl) names too similar for cousins?

keado

My sister is having a baby in January and they have decided on the name Lena.  We are due in April (team green) and one of our two finalists is Helena (pronounced He-Layna).  Are those two names too similar for cousins?   

If I need to default to our other name choice I definitely will, but I love this name and can't shake it.  Honest opinions needed, please. 

Edit - She is pronouncing baby Leena.

Also, our other girl name is Alexandra (Alex or Ali as a family nickname but mostly Alexandra I think) and we live two hours from each other.  

+lisamarie+

I think the pronunciation is different enough to not be worried. If you were wanting Hel ina or He lina I think there may be a problem being too close.

kaylynne

Is she pronouncing it lee-na or lay-na?  If it's Lee-na and yours is he-layna, I think it's fine.  If it's lay-na and he-layna, I think they're too close.

keado

She is pronouncing it Leena. I'll edit.

WashingtonQueen

Honestly, I don't care about how close two names sound unless they are siblings.

MrsI

I don't think they are two close but this coming from the girl with nephew Alijah and daughter Eliana considered girl form of Elijah on some name sites

ap142193

kaylynne:

Is she pronouncing it lee-na or lay-na?  If it's Lee-na and yours is he-layna, I think it's fine.  If it's lay-na and he-layna, I think they're too close.

 

i agree with this 

magnoliablossom00

kaylynne:

Is she pronouncing it lee-na or lay-na?  If it's Lee-na and yours is he-layna, I think it's fine.  If it's lay-na and he-layna, I think they're too close.

  I think it's OK since her name will be Lee-na and yours will be Hell-aye-nah.

Laurakat81

WashingtonQueen:

Honestly, I don't care about how close two names sound unless they are siblings.

This. If you like it the most then it's what you should go with. They don't really even sound similar to me.

anvloveskme

I think they are fine

stkmw02

I personally would try to be a bit different, just because of my friend's experience.

My friend, Erin, was born a few months after her cousin Aaron.  She hates her name and only uses her middle name, Marie.  When we were younger, her mom tried so hard to get her to like her name... and I remember when Marie started to cry and said, "Mom, I hate my name! Why did you name me after Aaron?"  She still feels like her mom should have picked a different name, but her mom always says that she liked Erin before her sister picked Aaron so she stubbornly felt the need to follow through with it.

Marie's grandmother agrees with her... she said it was always confusing when she shared stories about her grandchildren, so close in age with such similar names.

 

FirstBabyMomma

My dad's two sisters both have baby boys (born three weeks apart) named Christopher. Having two cousins named Chris never caused (much) confusion. People will figure it out. So no, I don't think it's too close.

LaurelBee

I think they are fine! I honestly wouldn't even ask your sisters opinion unless you're willing to let the name go for her sake. I love Helena, but I would actually pronounce it Hell in a (like the capitol of MT). Sharing just in case that mispronouncuation would bother you. I also love Helene! 

bsinno

WashingtonQueen:

Honestly, I don't care about how close two names sound unless they are siblings.

i agree this. and btw, i ADORE both Lena and Helena!!!!! they were on our shortlist but the universe had another plan!

Pas1224

I think it's a little too similar for 1st cousins that will see each other a lot.  I love Alexandra with NN Alex or Ali!  I would totally use that

jiffy-pop

I don't think they are too close since you are pronouncing it with a long "a" sound. BTW, I would have pronounced your name with the ee sound if you hadn't provided the pronunciation.

wisp1422

A friend of mine had her Daughter Mollie and she had a cousin that had her Daughter a few months before named Madeline I think but called her Maddy. I think its enough a difference to still use it =D Pretty name too

Helenahhandbasket

I think you are fine.  Pretty name (if I do say so myself!!)

 Also, I will share that my first cousin and I DO actually have the same exact first name.  We are two years apart in age and our moms (who were sisters) worked together.  It was a little weird, but honestly it was fine.

kali55

kaylynne:

Is she pronouncing it lee-na or lay-na?  If it's Lee-na and yours is he-layna, I think it's fine.  If it's lay-na and he-layna, I think they're too close.

this 

kim1989

+lisamarie+:

I think the pronunciation is different enough to not be worried. If you were wanting Hel ina or He lina I think there may be a problem being too close.

this 

MrsTBird

They're two different pronunciations. I don't see it as a big deal. Go for it!

Fianschneid

+lisamarie+:

I think the pronunciation is different enough to not be worried. If you were wanting Hel ina or He lina I think there may be a problem being too close.

This. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Deleted User]

I think it's fine, and the name Helena is very pretty!

doremi29

I think they're fine together.  Though, this is coming from someone who is naming her DD Piper and if SIL has a girl this time around (3 months behind me) they're naming her Peyton, so we're obviously not overly concerned   We're very close, so the cousins are growing up more like siblings.