>Helen doesn't readily lend its self to being shortened-Hell! is not a nick name(well not a desirable one!)<

I've always solved that problem, of troy, by *adding* to the name instead of shortening it, to show my fondness for the person. So, if I knew you in person, I would call you Helena or some variation of that: Helenas, Helenia, Helena-Lou, Helen Melon.....you get the general idea....