Helena or Adair - pros/cons?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2005
Helena or Adair - pros/cons?
4
Sun, 06-03-2007 - 10:46pm
I looooove Helena, but I also love Adair - totally different ends of the spectrum. I think of Adair Howell (red-haired model from the South), but for me, a family name. What are the pros and cons of each? My son is Charles, nn Charlie, and Helena, nn Lena, would be a good fit for a lil' sis. But I love that Adair is so trim and so unexpected in the area in which I live. Thoughts?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Sun, 06-03-2007 - 11:11pm

I love Helena, but I vote for Adair. I think Adair makes a strong, spirited, quirky but completely accessable choice. Plus, I think Charlie and Adair are precious as brother and sister.

As far as pros and cons go, gender-confusion would never be a problem for Helena, but pronunciation definitely would. I think an Adair would usually be presumed female, but not always. Helena could get hell jokes; Adair could get Astaire jokes. If you have a third child, it would probably be easier to name Charles and Helena's sibling than Charles and Adair's. Most likely, your Helena would be the only Helena in her grade. Your Adair might be the only Adair anyone in her life ever meets. Helena is classic, and Adair is modern (which one is a pro or con is in the eye of the beholder!).

They really are on opposite ends of the spectrum, so far apart that it almost feels like weighing apples against oranges. Maybe it would be best to take both to the hospital and decide when you meet her.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Sun, 06-03-2007 - 11:13pm
I like Helena (which pronunciation, btw ... to bring up a possible "con" LOL), but I LOVE Adair. Where Charles and Helena/Charlie and Lena (immediately reminds me of Charlie and Lola, btw)

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-09-2007
Mon, 06-04-2007 - 8:30am

I just love the name Helena. I have a niece who hasn't encountered anymore teasing than anyone else does growing up.

It's a delicate, Shakespearian name, with a long literary tradition.

No gender confusion and hard to mis-spell.

I like Adair, but it isn't my style. I'd assume it was a boy.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-09-2005
Mon, 06-04-2007 - 11:26am

Both are simply gorgeous, but very different, as you said. I think I prefer Helena with brother Charles nn Charlie... but both are gorgeous.

-Nikki
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