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Baby names
Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.
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26 replies
Harebellmeadow · 24/03/2018 19:59
FIL subtly mentioned he would be honored if we used (would be a middle name) the name of his mother, Irene for our next DD. The name is pronounced in the German way - Ireneh - i.e. the e is pronounced, which I like better than the “magic e” pronounciation of Irene.
Does anyone have any variants or related names? There is not pressure for us to use the name, it would be a sweet gesture though and she passed away a few years ago, was a lovely old brave lady and saved a life or two during WWII.
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TheBrilliantMistake · 24/03/2018 20:01
renee? (pronounced Renay)
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MaryPoppinsStoleMyHandbag · 24/03/2018 20:02
Irini or Irina.
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LimpidPools · 24/03/2018 20:11
I think that Irene pronounced in the German way is probably the nicest version you'll find, OP. There is also the more Eastern European/Russian Irina though.
Much prettier than eye-reen or, worse, eye-reen-ee.
I'd probably think carefully about how you spell your daughter's name if you're in the UK though because the German pronunciation just won't occur to people.
The only other thing I can think of is something like Elena, but it's just not the same name, so what's the point?
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Awwlookatmybabyspider · 24/03/2018 20:11
Irena. Iraina. Reenie. Irini.
Would you not consider Irene. It'd be very refreshing in a class full of Avas and Islas
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ChocolateCrunch · 24/03/2018 20:31
Eireen, Eirini, Irina/Irena?
Irene means peace, so other names with the similar meanings:
Serena, Jemima, Paloma.
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IVflytrap · 24/03/2018 20:55
Eirene is an accepted variant that's closer to the original Greek. Irina is very popular in Russia and Eastern Europe.
I've hear that Irene used to be pronounced with 3 syllables here in the UK, in the same vein as other Greek names that end in -e. So "Ir-een-ee."
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Strax · 24/03/2018 20:59
I knew someone called Irena from Eastern Europe, it was pronounced more like Irrenna.
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NoSquirrels · 24/03/2018 21:03
For a middle name I’d go with straight honouring the person and use it as is, with the pronunciation your MIL had.
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Coffeethrowtrampbitch · 24/03/2018 21:03
I love Eirene pronounced ee ray nee.
When my sisters were young they had a neighbour called Niree which I thought was a lovely name but have never heard anywhere else.
FizzyGreenWater · 24/03/2018 21:04
Just go for Irene!
It's lovely when you look at it objectively. Could even be the next one to come around now that Isla is passe.
Ok most folk won't pronounce it as FIL would, but you can, and FIL can, and so can your DD.
Also, it works really well as a middle name - it will go well after most names I'd think.
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Sugarpiehoneyeye · 24/03/2018 21:40
I think Rena is pretty !
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Aprilmightmemynewname · 24/03/2018 21:45
Renee - (Renay)
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happynapper99 · 24/03/2018 21:46
My middle name is spelt Irene but pronounced Irenee
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Icantreachthepretzels · 24/03/2018 21:50
I like Irene just as it is. It was my Grandma's name - she was a wonderful woman. I really don't understand why it hasn't come back with the granny chic style names. It's lovely.
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RavenWings · 24/03/2018 23:24
Irene is lovely as it is.
I also like Irina.
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FrancisCrawford · 24/03/2018 23:30
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
ErrantBakedBean · 25/03/2018 00:50
If you search the first few letters of a name on babynamespedia.com you can often find nice variants. IRE comes up with
Irea - apparently means rainbow :)
Irenka - love this, means peaceful
Iretta - possibly too far from the original but means serene
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Harebellmeadow · 25/03/2018 17:53
Thanks everyone. My favourite is Iryna, otherwise the original Irene, as a middle name it would rarely be said out loud anyway but would be a nice link 😍
OP posts:
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MikeUniformMike · 25/03/2018 18:40
Irene - pronounced Eye-reenee
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upaladderagain · 25/03/2018 19:32
My German friend’s Irene is pronounced I(short I as in snip)rain-a, which I think sounds miles better than Eye-teen or Eye-Trent.
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upaladderagain · 25/03/2018 19:33
Oh bugger - Eye-reen/ Eye-reeny.
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Rainatnight · 25/03/2018 19:38
I'd keep it as is for a middle. It's a nice name, and has a lovely family heritage in your case. What a role model for your DD!
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TatianaLarina · 25/03/2018 20:10
I like the German name as it is. You could make the pronunciation clear by spelling it Irena or Iraina.
Much prefer It to the English versions of Ireen and Ireenee which are awful.
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grasspigeons · 25/03/2018 20:17
my families Irene is pronounced I ree nee and I think its nice
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Oysterbabe · 27/03/2018 14:14
I'd just use it as it is. Otherwise you're sort of honouring her and sort of saying you don't like her name.
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