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How would you spell this/ deal with this pronunciation?
When I first came across "Lena," it was listed as a nickname for Eleanor (which is my gram's name and we're considering using). Because of the pronunciation of "Eleanor," and since I'd never heard "Lena" before, I assumed it was LEH-na ...
I've since realized that it's actually LEE-na (or, at least, it can be pronounced either way but most people think LEE-na).
If I told you that we like LEH-na (either on its own or as a nn for Eleanor)-- what would you suggest?
A lifetime of correcting people?
A different spelling (I've seen "Lenah," but don't care for it as much)?
Get over it, LEH-na isn't even a name? 
Etc?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: How would you spell this/ deal with this pronunciation?
I love the Leh-nah pronunciation! Very pretty. Have you considered Elena with the nn, Lena?
I do think it will be mispronounced Lee-nah. It's honestly what I thought you were going for at first.
Cole Joseph 7/05/07
Nora Anne 11/03/12
9lbs, 6oz
Lee-na to me too!
It would be a lifetime of correcting people.
What spelling should you use to get "leh-na".... Lenna is all that comes to mind.
You know me. +6k
Where exactly did you read that it is a nickname for Eleanor? Next time, try our most trusted source for reliable etymology of names, www.BehindTheName.com:
Gender: Feminine
Usage: Scandinavian, German, Russian, English, Italian
Other Scripts: ???? (Russian)
Pronounced: LE-nah (German), LYE-nah (Russian) [key]
Nothing about Eleanor there. Why not use Eleanor, Ellen, Lenore, Lenora, Lorene, Nell, Nellie, Nora, Norene? All of these are actually related to Eleanor, whereas Lena is not.
After 7 years trying to concieve, 3 failed IUIs and 2 failed IVFs, my third IVF was a success!
My Christmas baby turned into a turkey bird! Dillon Richard was born at 34 weeks, 5 days on November 28, 2009 after 10 weeks on bedrest for preeclampsia.
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I pronounce it as Lee-na.
I suggest using Eleanor with the nn Lena, that way you can tell people her nn & how you want it pronounced vs. someone reading it off of a piece of paper & calling her Lee-na.
www.nameberry.com (which I learned about on this board):
Nicknames & Variations for Eleanor
Aleanor, Alenor, Aleonore, Aline, Allinor, Eileen, El, Elaine, Elan, Elana, Elanee, Elaney, Elani, Elania, Elanie, Elanna, Elanni, Elanor, Elanore, Ele, Elea, Eleanora, Elen, Elena, Eleni, Elenie, Elenor, Elenorah, Elenore, Eleny, Elianora, Elianore, Elie, Elienora, Elienore, Ell, Ella, Elladine, Elle, Elleanor, Ellee, Elleigh, Ellen, Ellene, Ellenor, Ellenora, Ellenorah, Ellenore, Elleonor, Elli, Ellie, Ellin, Elliner, Ellinor, Ellinore, Elly, Ellyn, Elna, Elnora, Elnore, Elyn, Elynor, Elynora, Elynore, Enora, Heleanor, Helen, Helena, Helene, Helenora, Heleonor, Leanora, Lena, Lenora, Lenore, Leonora, Leonore, Leora, Lina, Nelda, Nell, Nelle, Nelley, Nelli, Nellie, Nelly, Nonnie, Nora, Norah, Norina
At any rate, we're not sold on using Eleanor, and my question is about LEH-na.
To me Lena= Lay-Na
Lina=Lee-na
I really love this name, we are considering Helena for when we get PG again, and would most likely use Lena as a NN for Helena if it fit! I do know a few women who are named Lena, just as a first name, I think it is just fine on its own.
As for your source, I will say that Nameberry is only good for its blog, not for its name database.
It is extremely unreliable, and as you can see above, it groups "variations" and "nicknames" together. And it doesn't even mention "derivations". But it is important to know the difference. Variations are legitimate versions of the same name, often from another culture. Derivations are legitimate names that are derived from that name. And nicknames are names that are not on the birth certificate. They are just what a person is called for short, or as a term of endearment. Therefore nicknames are often more flexible in spelling.
One of the best things about www.BehindTheName.com is the family tree feature. You can look up any name, then click on "Related Names", and it will give you all of the legitimate names related to it (in list form). From that page, you can click on "Family Tree". This will give you a flow chart of how a name started originally, and you can see how the names derived from it. It's really cool.
As an example, here is the basic BTN page for Eleanor:
https://www.behindthename.com/name/eleanor
Then here is the "Related Names" list:
https://www.behindthename.com/name/eleanor/related
Then here is the "Family Tree":
https://www.behindthename.com/name/eleanor/tree
For more information about why www.BehindTheName.com is our most trusted source for legitimate baby names, read this previous Bump thread:
https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/44050665.aspx
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It's a very pretty name when it's pronounced either way I think.
The only place I've actually heard this name was from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, it was the name of one of the main characters. She, and her friend all pronounced it Lee-na, but, when she went to Greece to visit her grandparents, they all pronounced it Leh-na. So, I think the pronunciation is just a cultural thing, as it is with a lot of names.
All of this.
You're going to correct people no matter what, so just prepare yourself for it now. It's not a deal-breaker, IMHO.
If you are only asking about it as a nickname for Eleanor, then just call her Lena, pronounced how you like it, and people will catch on. Who cares how a NN is spelled?
Or am I reading this incorrectly and you are looking at Lena as the given name, not a NN?
I think Lena is beautiful pronounced both ways. I have known one person named Lena (that was her given name not a nn) and it was "lee na"
But, since you like the softer e sound, either prepare for corrections, or I would go with what pp suggested and add an n - Lenna.
I think the original spelling is prettiest, imo. But, I hate adding the h, I don't know why but it's less pretty to me PLUS I don't think it achieves the softer e, I'd still see it and think "lee nah" and wonder why her parents added a random h.
what about "Lenna" for the spelling? If I saw Lenah, I would still think "Lee-NAH"
WHEN I SEE IT I THINK LYNN-AH, AND I LIKE IT BETTER LYNN-AH. BUT THAT IS JUST ME!
This
Of my family members wants to name her first daughter Lena (in honor of our grandmother, Helene, (pronounced Huh-LAY-nah). She wants people to pronounce it LAY-nah (which is very similar to the German pronunciation like the German Helene). That said, I think Lena with a long a will be a challenge for correcting some people. I think most people's instincts would first be LEE-nah. LEH-nah would not even come to mind for me.
Edited: for clarity.
Leighna
Leina
Lehna
i don't know.....just suggestions.......
I don't think Lenna would help with the confusion...doesn't look like Lay-na at all to me, but Len-na.
I like Lena though, pronounced either way! If I met someone with that name I'd just ask first how it's pronounced, since its one of those that can go either way, like Cara.