Elena vs. Elaina

LJR 84 · February 2011

Which spelling do you prefer? I want to say I prefer Elena, but I don't necessarily mind Elaina.

Thanks!

iteachk · February 2011

DH's grandma's name was Elena, pronounced Ah-Len-Ah, so that may be a potential problem. I def. prefer the way you pronounce it though.

MrsW801 · February 2011

I like Elena better.

anna7602 · February 2011

Elaina looks made up. I would go with Elena, which is the spelling across many languages, and use the pronunciation of "Elaina" since it's commonly accepted.

LemonBlush · February 2011

I feel they have different pronounciations. Elena is "a-leen-a" where Elaina is "a-lane-a".

SarahPLiz · February 2011

They aren't pronounced the same. el N ah and ee LAY nah are different names, not different spellings of the same name.

MelodyKate · February 2011

Elena. I have known several girls with this name and they all pronounce it Uh-Lay-nuh. I think it is very pretty!

anna7602 · February 2011

SarahPLiz:
They aren't pronounced the same. el N ah and ee LAY nah are different names, not different spellings of the same name.

Hmmm, interesting. I feel like the Spanish-speaking Elenas I know pronounce it Eh-leh-nuh and the American Elenas I know usually pronounce it E-lane-uh, unless their parents are foreign-born.

krissyh21 · February 2011

LJB455:
I feel they have different pronounciations. Elena is "a-leen-a" where Elaina is "a-lane-a".

This. Not that there is a different pronunciation, but I want to pronounce it Ell-eh-na

LJR 84 · February 2011

SarahPLiz:
They aren't pronounced the same. el N ah and ee LAY nah are different names, not different spellings of the same name.

Anyone I've ever known that spelled it Elena pronounced it "a lay nah"

I even went to the Vampire Diaries website to see how they spelled the main character's name because it's pronounced that way on the show, and it's Elena.

damabo80 · February 2011

I've seen elena tons of times, but never elaina (looks too yooneekly made up spelling for me)

krissyh21 · February 2011

I know an older woman who is in her 60's and she spells it Elaina. So... here we go again with the "what is the right spelling" debate. The more common spelling or not. Neither is right or wrong though.

MrsThompson910 · February 2011

What about Alanna? If not I like Elaina.

evaazalea · February 2011

The spelling Elena confuses me as to what the proper pronunciation should be. I like Elaina better and understand it, I should add I am somewhat bias though, as this is my best friend's name and how she spells it.

SarahPLiz · February 2011

Elena is a cognate of Helen (https://www.behindthename.com/name/elena). Even though I know people who pronounce it with the long A, it is not generally accepted in its countries of origin. Elaina comes from Elaine, I would guess. Its not listed on Behind the Name. I guess the difference is also how you would pronounce Helena. Helen- ah or Heh LAY na. It may come down to an accent thing.

I don't say Helen is Hel Ayn, so I say Elena is ehl N a. Makes sense to me. If you want it to be Ee lay na, then spell it Elaina or Alaina.

clee2009 · February 2011

TysMomPlusOne:
The spelling Elena confuses me as to what the proper pronunciation should be. I like Elaina better and understand it, I should add I am somewhat bias though, as this is my best friend's name and how she spells it.

I agree with this PP. I for the longest time thought Elena was pronounced "Elen-a". I totally understand why you would want to spell it Elaina. I think that spelling is how it sounds and would help solve a lot of pronunciation corrections in the future.

BRUGGS10 · February 2011

I had a friend growing up name who spelled it Elena and pronounced E-lay-na. But we had a friend that liked the eh-lay-na So they spelled it Alayna and it seems to help people with prononunciation but i know people on here aren't fans of alternative spellings.

COMomma81 · February 2011

I think it depends on how you want it to be pronounced. To me, Elena = E-leh-na or Eh-lee-na whereas Elaina = E-lay-na

I prefer Elaina myself. It's more straightforward and I think the nn Laina or Lainey is cute. I'd say Lena = Lee-na.

FemmeNat01 · February 2011

anna7602:

SarahPLiz:
They aren't pronounced the same. el N ah and ee LAY nah are different names, not different spellings of the same name.

Hmmm, interesting. I feel like the Spanish-speaking Elenas I know pronounce it Eh-leh-nuh and the American Elenas I know usually pronounce it E-lane-uh, unless their parents are foreign-born.

Yep, I agree with Anna (as usual).

Obviously, I prefer Elena. But we do not pronounce it like Elaina. It's eh-leh-nuh.

flows912 · February 2011

damabo80:
I've seen elena tons of times, but never elaina (looks too yooneekly made up spelling for me)

This!

LJR 84 · February 2011

COMomma81:

I think it depends on how you want it to be pronounced. To me, Elena = E-leh-na or Eh-lee-na whereas Elaina = E-lay-na

I prefer Elaina myself. It's more straightforward and I think the nn Laina or Lainey is cute. I'd say Lena = Lee-na.

Good point...lainey is such a cute nn! I hadn't even thought of that. Now I'm kind of torn.

Maybe we'll find out we're having a boy and it won't even be an issue! Stick out tongue I really do love the name, though.

brookelynpaisley · February 2011

I think it depends on pronunciation. Someone posted yesterday about using Elena and she was saying it "El-en-uh." I personally prefer "El-ay-nuh." As I'm big on making prounciation as easy as possible, I would therefore go with Elaina.

brookelynpaisley · February 2011

anna7602:

SarahPLiz:
They aren't pronounced the same. el N ah and ee LAY nah are different names, not different spellings of the same name.

Hmmm, interesting. I feel like the Spanish-speaking Elenas I know pronounce it Eh-leh-nuh and the American Elenas I know usually pronounce it E-lane-uh, unless their parents are foreign-born.

This. I live in Arizona, where everyone seems to try to pronounce things the Spanish way. If I were to use Elena, it would undoubtedly be pronouned "El-en-uh." I've also never seen "Eh-lane-uh" spelled Elena.

Athena0809 · February 2011

sorry if my answer is repeated by I didn't real all replies. Elena to me is pronounced Eh-leh-nah, which is the Spanish pronunciation to what is a mainly Spanish name but I know people pronounce it Eh-lay-nah, Elaina to me sounds "Uh-lay-nah" so very similar so i think they will be pronounced the same.

JessandJeremy · February 2011

LJB455:
I feel they have different pronounciations. Elena is "a-leen-a" where Elaina is "a-lane-a".

This. I work in a preschool and the above is true for three of our little girls.

LauranBilly · February 2011

I like the Elaina spelling better.

MarxieVonTrapp · February 2011

I love the name Elena. It's so beautiful and it works in many, many languages.

I agree with the poster who said Elaina looks like a made-up name/spelling.

If you like the nickname Lainey/Lanie, try Melanie or just Lane. I went to school with a girl named Lane Elizabeth and everyone called her Lanie.

jennsadye1979 · February 2011

Elena.

vilaro · February 2011

Elena, definitely. Elaina looks made up for people who don't know how to pronounce Elena.

KarlsSweetie05 · February 2011

Have only seen Elena spelling and like this name.

sunnyday016 · February 2011

I used to LOVE Elena, but now I'm leaning more toward Elaina because I love the nn Lainey.

MamaMandaW · February 2011

MarxieVonTrapp:

I love the name Elena. It's so beautiful and it works in many, many languages.

I agree with the poster who said Elaina looks like a made-up name/spelling.

If you like the nickname Lainey/Lanie, try Melanie or just Lane. I went to school with a girl named Lane Elizabeth and everyone called her Lanie.

Or Delaney nn Laney if thats what you like about the name, it's always been a favorite and if we have another DD someday it's on our short list!

eouellet · February 2011

I prefer Elena.

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