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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Marlena - thoughts?

28 replies

Cinnamon2013 · 09/01/2016 07:21

Hi
Thinking about the girls' name Marlena (pronouncing it Mar-lay-nah). I like the connection to Marlene Dietrich and soul singer Marlena Shaw. Also potential nicknames -Marlie, Lena.

OH less sure and thinks she'll be mispronounced as Mar-leen-a

Would appreciate thoughts!

OP posts:

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NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 09/01/2016 07:27

I like it, although having never heard of Marlena Shaw would probably have opted for spelling Marlene.

Re: people mispronouncing - people will do it, you'll (and eventually she'll) correct them, no big deal. DS has a fairly recognisable Old Testament name and still gets mispronounced at least a couple of times a week - it doesn't bother either of us (he's now 3.5). I have a v unusual but phonetic name and have to correct pronunciation fairly often and again, I've never minded.

Marlie and Lena both lovely nicknames too, especially Marlie.

BikeRunSki · 09/01/2016 07:31

I know a Marlena, who is known as Marla. It's ok, I neither particularly like or dislike it as a name.

EmpressOfTheVulvaCupcakes · 09/01/2016 07:33

If it's any help, anyone who remembers the Suzanne Vega song is likely to assume Mar-lay-nah.

EsmesBees · 09/01/2016 07:34

I like it. It's strong and unusual. The line from the song 'Marlena watches on the wall' popped in to my head as soon as I saw the thread though.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 09/01/2016 07:35

I would have thought it was Mar leen a until corrected.

Don't really like it but it's not awful.

Cinnamon2013 · 09/01/2016 07:40

Thanks. I love that Suzanne Vega song.

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EmpressOfTheVulvaCupcakes · 09/01/2016 07:48

Got an earworm now.

I like Marlena.

nooka · 09/01/2016 08:25

I really like that Susanne Vega song, but still thought it was more of a Marl -ee- na than a Marl-ay-na sound (she does sing quite fast!). On the You Tube link it's Marlene not Marlena though.

I suspect that a Marlene would be even more likely to get Marl-een though, especially as that looks as if it's the standard English pronunciation - the 'ay' sound is German apparently (as was Marlene Dietrich)

GRW · 09/01/2016 08:29

I know a Polish little girl called Milena which sounds similar, and I think I prefer.

Cinnamon2013 · 09/01/2016 09:03

Yes - just heard Milena and it's v pretty. My background is German, though. I would like Marlene spelling but don't want to end up with Mar-leen so that 'a' would be to help avoid that.

OP posts:

timelytess · 09/01/2016 09:04

Marlene, the German way. Don't have a silly spelling.

Monica101 · 09/01/2016 10:37

I like Mar lay na but not Mar leen a. I think you'd get the latter pronunciation in the uk though.

MitzyLeFrouf · 09/01/2016 13:11

I was going to say that my first thought was Marlena Shaw who I love!

Great name.

IoraRua · 09/01/2016 16:59

It's gorgeous, love it.

MagicFinger · 09/01/2016 22:48

It's nice but makes me think of only fools and horses..

Snappingcrayons · 09/01/2016 22:54

It's nice with a few nice nicknames to choose from- Lena, Leni, Marley. All lovely.

BackforGood · 09/01/2016 22:58

When I read the title (not knowing the name) I read it as Mar-lean - ah, if that helps.

I also (like Magicfinger) got an instant picture of Only Fools and Horses in my mind

nooka · 09/01/2016 23:04

I really think given your German heritage you should go for Marlene, and just correct the people who get the pronunciation wrong. That way you can say 'like Marlene Deitrich' or 'like the Suzanne Vega song' and it won't sound as if you are in the wrong to the people who assume it's Marleen. Your dd when older can say it's the German pronunciation, and again knowing she is right about that can be very helpful.

I have a very unusual name which often gets mispronounced and find it really does help to be able to explain it's just unusual, not made up in some way. Very few people mispronounce repeatedly, and to be honest even if they do it's not that big a deal to me. OF course it does help that I really really like my name :)

Cinnamon2013 · 10/01/2016 17:49

I think you're right - may as well go for it with the German spelling. I'm sold, now just need to convince OH...

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Cinnamon2013 · 10/01/2016 17:51

Ah, didn't know the only fools and horses link... But prob not a connection her own peers will make at least

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IHaveBrilloHair · 10/01/2016 17:52

On the wall.
Love the name and the song.

YouthHostellingWithChrisEubank · 10/01/2016 17:56

It's also a beautiful song by Donovan. I really like it.

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DizzyDancer · 10/01/2016 18:04

I like it
Reminds me of the nan from hollyoaks but she was a likeable character anyway
I automatically said mar-lay-na

HappyHeart87 · 10/01/2016 19:18

What was the name of Helena BC's character in Fight Club?

BikeRunSki · 10/01/2016 23:33

Marla Singer

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