Girl Baby Name Spelling

[tmphilo]

I need some help with the spelling of a girl's name...if you want the name to be pronounced "ee-lay-na", what spelling would you use? I don't want it to end up being pronounced as "ellen-a" but am not a fan of Elaine (no offense) and so Elaina isn't my top spelling choice. Also, I don't want a name that looks like a unique spelling. Thank you for your help!

ETA Oops! I didn't mean to make the poll public - I just wanted the results to show. Sorry! My first poll...

[Octobermommy]

Elaina would be the spelling I would expect.

[WatchingThemGrow]

I know different pronunciations for all the others, so I vote Elaina.

[wellyes]

I've known two Elenas. But they both pronounced it ah-leh-nah.

[ohiomom1121]

I know different pronunciations for all the others, so I vote Elaina.

I think this is perfect. My middle name is Alana (uh-lay-nuh) and NO ONE says it correctly. It's my middle so no big deal though.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Elena is most likely to be pronounced how you want, imo. I voted too quickly and picked Alayna but that would be an "ah" sound. If you stand a chance of getting your "ee" then you need to start it with an E or there is little hope, imo. People aren't going to see an "a" and make it a long "e" sound, kwim?

Beth

[tmphilo]

Thank you for the help! I think I would be fine with an "ah" sound rather than "ee" but just want to avoid the "ellen-a" pronunciation. To me, I wouldn't use "ellen-a" unless there was a double ll.

[infomama]

The only Elena I know is pronounced the way you want. I voted for that spelling.

[HIU8]

DD's name is Alana (pronounced ah-la-nah). People mispronounce it all the time. We get Elana, Ilana, Ellena, Allena (doesn't matter to me b/c I call her Ilana all the time as well--it's her hebrew name. The other pronounciations bother me though). If you want the hard E at the beginning I would go with Elayna (IMO if you leave out the Y you get the ee-la-nah pronounciation).

[KpbS]

We know a little girl spelled Alaina.