How would you pronounce Helene?

NellaJ · February 2011

Helene was my DH's Grandmother's name. When I initially saw it I pronounced it HU-leen, but DH is German and when I was speaking to my MIL yesterday she pronounced it he-LAY-na. I love both pronounciations but have a feeling most people here would say HU-leen. All of DH's family (besides his parents and sisters) live in Germany still and would pronounce it he-LAY-na.

If we were to use the name would you go with the more North American pronounciation, or go with the German pronounciation and correct people and hope they learn? If you saw it on paper how would you say it? Which do you like better?

Manderlin923 · February 2011

This is how I would pronounce them:

Helene = Huh-leen

Helena = Hell-ay-nuh OR Hell-enna

alliejo725 · February 2011

I would intuitively pronounce it heh-leen, and I think most English-speakers would, too.

I think using the English pronunciation would save your daughter a lifetime of correcting others.

forensicmama · February 2011

I would say Hu-leen. Helena is pronounced Huh-lay-nuh in my head.

jmb527 · February 2011

mj.reilly:
Manderlin923:
This is how I would pronounce them:
Helene = Huh-leen
Helena = Hell-ay-nuh OR Hell-enna
This

Ditto.

fraglette · February 2011

alliejo725:

I would intuitively pronounce it heh-leen, and I think most English-speakers would, too.

I also pronounce it with the soft e, as opposed to "huh"

ambs21 · February 2011

fraglette:
alliejo725:

I would intuitively pronounce it heh-leen, and I think most English-speakers would, too.

I also pronounce it with the soft e, as opposed to "huh"

This. I love the name, but spelling it Helena would save you a lot of correcting.

starlight8323 · February 2011

For me, Helene is pronounced hell-EEN.

If you want the hel-LAY-nuh pronunciation, I would go with Helena, although it will probably also get pronounced HELL-en-nuh.

melody921 · February 2011

I would say "Hell-ayne"

krissyh21 · February 2011

I know 2 people with this name and they both pronounce it differently, 1 is Huh-leen the other is Huh-Lay-na.

Personally, when I see it, I want to say Huh-Leen.

BethPSU · February 2011

I would say the first pronunciation. I know someone with a little girl named Helene pronounced Huh Leen.

PiRSquared330 · February 2011

Just like Helen.

Helena = hell-in-a

katcarls · February 2011

Manderlin923:
This is how I would pronounce them:

Helene = Huh-leen

Helena = Hell-ay-nuh OR Hell-enna

Same here.

NellaJ · February 2011

I figured that was how most English speaking people would pronounce it. My question now is:

Would calling a daughter Helene but using the english pronounciation still honor his Oma? How about calling her Helena (right pronounciation) even though that wasn't his Oma's name?

Kitty Holland · February 2011

I'd pronounce it He-lay-na. I'm English speaking and live in Holland. This is also the German pronunciation. It's not pronouced the same as Helena, but the difference is very slight and it's on the last letter. It's not an "uh" but a softer "a" if that makes sense.

It's a lovely name by the way.

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