Lena

[vbjodi05]

How would you pronounce the name Lena? Do you like this name? Does it seem trendy at all? Is it used more as a nickname or full name?

Thanks for your input!

[huntingbears]

I've always pronounced it Lee-nuh.

I don't think it's trendy at all. Actually, I would say it's pretty underused. It's short and sweet. I quite like it.

[ashthedreamer]

I love Lena! I pronounce it kinda like LAY-nah. Well, a mixture of LEH-nah and LAY-nah. I guess it kinda stems from how I say Elena.

I love Lena, but I think I prefer it as a NN. I think it would be a sweet nn for Magdalena or Helena, or even Elena.

It doesn't seem trendy at all, to me! I really like it. I've never met a Lina/Lena, and I would be impressed to meet one. It used to be a personal favorite of mine, and even though it's not a huge favorite, I still really like it.

Good luck!

[jwalling]

My daughter is Lena! She is two in September and I think it is adorable on her. It is a family name for us, and we say it lee-nah. It is a nickname (for Helena) but she is one of these kids who always goes by her nickname, wouldn't answer to the full first name, all the personalized stuff is for Lena, etc. (This was a compromise--I wanted Lena to be the full first name, my husband wanted her to have options.)

What originally drew us to the name, besides the family connection, is the fact that it is recognizable and simple but still uncommon. We thought it fit with the general sound of in-fashion names like Lily, Layla, Lila, even Emma and Bella to a certain extent, without being too similar or easily mistaken.

One thing people warned us about is that apparently in the Midwestern U.S. there are jokes about Lena and Ole.

[daisylou]

I love Lena! I love that it's short, sweet, and simple, yet gorgeous and underused. I pronounce it as lee-nah. I definitely think it can be used as a full name. It has similar feel to Lily and Lila yet not common.

[vbjodi05]

I probably should have mentioned that I live in America on the west coast. Don't know if that makes a difference for pronunciation.

What is "Lena and Ole"?

This name has grown on me lately along with Nora and June. I like short/sweet names that don't sound too frilly.

I think personally I prefer it as Lee-na.

[mynameisrachael]

Lena is very pretty! I prefer the Lee-na pronunciation. It fits into the category of simple, sweet, quirky, classic names (just made a thread about this lol).

[laurbails]

I'm on the west coast as well and babysit a 7-year-old Lena. The name suits her perfectly, and everyone always pronounces it Lee-nuh without question. I should add though that in her small group at camp there were not one but two Lenas! Maybe it's more popular over here.

[neuilly]

I naturally say Lee-nah, like Lena Horne. However, I've seen it as Lay-nah as well. I think both are pretty.