https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 04:53:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2554187 Sun, 22 May 2016 16:29:58 +0000 Astro Bee 2554187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's my middle name, and whenever it comes up, no one seems to mishear it. It would be more common if you are around a language where people drop the H at the beginning of words - like in French, hotel is pronounced oh-tel, and Helen would become Ellen. But aside from that, probably not. It's interesting to hear that the name is making a resurgence. It's was my grandmother's name, but I don't know any people my age or younger. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2553972 Sun, 22 May 2016 06:45:17 +0000 catomd00 2553972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could see how it might happen but my BFF is Helen and she said it rarely happens. My other friend is Morgan and gets called Megan all the time, which I don't understand at all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2553864 Sat, 21 May 2016 19:37:17 +0000 FannyMae 2553864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Helen is one of the most common Greek girl's names (Eleni - celebrated yesterday May 21st), and there are many variations that people use - I've never heard a Helen called anything but Helen (or Eleni!). Helen, Eleni, Ellen, Elena, Helena, Leni, Ellie, Nelly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2553847 Sat, 21 May 2016 18:41:53 +0000 MrsBeluga 2553847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: There's a 25% chance I get called Hannah by say a barista. I make it a point to articulate Anna, but I still get Hannah a ton anyhow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2553823 Sat, 21 May 2016 18:00:11 +0000 travellingbee 2553823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>People mishear every name. My DH has one of the most common names of our generation, and people mishear his name all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2553812 Sat, 21 May 2016 16:42:53 +0000 Finfan 2553812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know a little girl named Helen and it's such a beautiful name. </p> <p>I can tell you that people constantly mishear my own name and it's not that bad. People just don't pay attention. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2553176 Fri, 20 May 2016 10:40:52 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2553176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Beautiful, classic name :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2553154 Fri, 20 May 2016 10:16:49 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2553154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think they're quite different. I love it and it's a family middle name for us so we used it as my daughter's middle name. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2553151 Fri, 20 May 2016 10:14:49 +0000 mfa_lady 2553151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I LOVE that name! I have a friend and an aunt named Helen, and I don't think they have an issue. I think of them as completely different, like some other folks have said. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2553145 Fri, 20 May 2016 10:10:58 +0000 yoursilverlining 2553145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom is Helen, one of my grandmothers was named Helen, I have a great-aunt and several cousins named Helen and my step-niece is a Helen. YES, people mistake "Helen" for "Ellen" all the time (not close friends/family obviously, but if you're talking about customer service and what not, yeah it happens to my mom all the time) - but people do that with so many names. My name is a name with a female version and a male version (like Michael/Michelle, except closer) and I am called the wrong (male) name ALL THE TIME. It's okay though, use the name you love. No matter what, people will hear what they want, spell things the way they want, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2553074 Fri, 20 May 2016 08:53:54 +0000 looch 2553074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I mean, people will always mess up names, I don't think there's a name that people don't mispell, hear differently, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2553066 Fri, 20 May 2016 08:48:06 +0000 caterw 2553066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I absolutely LOVE the name Helen (it was one of my top choices, but hubs vetoed it). She may get called Ellen, but people mishear names all the time. DD is Anna and people are constantly calling her Annie or Ah-nna (doesn't help that she has red hair so it's assumed that I named her after the little orphan or the Disney princess). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2552446 Thu, 19 May 2016 14:54:06 +0000 winter_wonder 2552446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like it ☺ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2552435 Thu, 19 May 2016 14:47:10 +0000 pastemoo 2552435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>nope. maybe at starbucks? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2552407 Thu, 19 May 2016 14:14:42 +0000 regberadaisy 2552407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Why would she be called Ellen?<br /> That's my SIL's name and I have never called her Ellen in the 20 plus years I've known her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2552400 Thu, 19 May 2016 14:11:43 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2552400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I actually work with a Helen and an Ellen, and they hardly ever get mixed. Love it!</p> <p>As a little twist, you could go with Helena. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2552394 Thu, 19 May 2016 14:07:12 +0000 JenGirl 2552394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it would be rare for people to mix up Helen and Ellen, just because it's the first sound and it's a hard H sound. </p> <p>Also, Helen was totally on our short list for girls! I know a little girl that is a Helen and I think it's a great name! Makes me think of Helen of Troy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2552128 Thu, 19 May 2016 11:21:27 +0000 Happygal 2552128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LBee: you listed one of my names. :happy: </p> <p>Thanks for the input, everyone, and the encouragement! Now to get DH on board..... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2551931 Thu, 19 May 2016 09:51:06 +0000 FliegepilzHut 2551931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, should be fine. Helen (or Helena) is definitely on our short list of girls' names. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2551880 Thu, 19 May 2016 09:30:33 +0000 littlebug 2551880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It might get confused. My name is Erin, and people always hear Sharon or Anne.</p> <p>ETA: My sister (Callie) always has to correct people on pronunciation and spelling. But she LOVES her name. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2551822 Thu, 19 May 2016 09:02:35 +0000 mrsjd 2551822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Absolutely yes, happens all the time. But not a big deal (as someone who has the opposite issue).</p> <p>ETA: I'm laughing so hard at all the people who are like "it'll never happen." It will happen. I have one of these names and it is mistaken for the other constantly when I introduce myself, whether in person, on the phone, in a crowded room etc. But it shouldn't dissuade you. Helen is a lovely name. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2551818 Thu, 19 May 2016 08:58:29 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2551818@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally different names. But they could still be confused but no more than Ellen would get confused for Helen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2551814 Thu, 19 May 2016 08:57:03 +0000 MrsKoala 2551814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it will get mixed up at all. I love that name! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2551812 Thu, 19 May 2016 08:56:05 +0000 meredithNYC 2551812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really like it and don't think it would be confused. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2551772 Thu, 19 May 2016 08:25:12 +0000 nana87 2551772@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think they'd get mixed up! Maybe Helen and Helene, but Helene is much more rare of a name </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2551770 Thu, 19 May 2016 08:24:46 +0000 Alba4 2551770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like Helen and it is totally different from Ellen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2551747 Thu, 19 May 2016 08:14:37 +0000 lilyann 2551747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Love Helen :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2551714 Thu, 19 May 2016 07:53:22 +0000 MoonMoon 2551714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it ever occurred to me to mix up Helen and Ellen! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2551713 Thu, 19 May 2016 07:53:00 +0000 Truth Bombs 2551713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LBee: I quite like your example name selections :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/question-about-the-name-helen#post-2551707 Thu, 19 May 2016 07:47:09 +0000 lamariniere 2551707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really like it! I don't think it will be confused with other names other than like what people said above. </p>