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Baby names

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

Original poster

Irene?

37 replies

BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte · 13/09/2010 21:04

Means 'peace' in ancient Greek.

Yes? No?

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DaisyDaresYOU · 18/09/2010 22:17

Bloody awful :o

tiredfeet · 17/09/2010 14:27

I know an Irene in her early twenties and she really doesn't like her name...

CharlieBoo · 17/09/2010 12:06

Don't like it, old womanish and totally 'daggy'.

HighlandlassinLondonshire · 17/09/2010 12:04

Whist it may work with your surname, it just doesn't'scream lovely new baby girl...!

Sorry x

Pasiphae · 17/09/2010 12:03

Irenée yes, Irene no. It's like a blue rince with a bad perm kind of name.

dotty2 · 17/09/2010 11:45

I remember thinking (when I was doing greek at school aged 14 - thinking ahead!)that "eir - rare - nair" (which is kind of how my greek teacher pronounced it) would make the most beautiful name, if only it hadn't turned into Irene on its route into English.

But, you know, all those old man/lady names sound OK once you get used to them and know a small child with that name.

MrsvWoolf · 17/09/2010 11:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EffieB · 17/09/2010 11:00

I knew one and her pronunciation was ee-reen-a... it was rather lovely actually. All worked together on some international youth project thingimejig many many moons ago, and embarrassingly can't remember what country she came from, but I remember thinking her name sounded nice. Think you have to aim to channel euro-cool rather than minor coronation street character, and defend it as such (based on some of the heated responses on this thread!!).

All the pretty victorianesque names that everyone's so mad for ARE going to sound like Sarah and Emma (also lovely but ten a penny at my school) so Irene will stand out and seem unusual which will be nice for her if that's what you hope for from her name!

jessi0343 · 17/09/2010 10:36

My mums name is Irene and we call her "ree-nee" for short. I really like it!

Greensleeves · 16/09/2010 16:51

it's the name of the princess in the George MacDonald books

I like it

Janoschi · 16/09/2010 16:51

I absolutely love the name Irene. Go for it. At least if the general population feels the same as the posters on here, you'll have a rare name for a while!

mathanxiety · 16/09/2010 16:27

I know a very cool teenage Irene. I like it, but prefer Irina or Eirene.

I like Renee, but its meaning is different.

I think Irene/Irina/ Eirene are far better than Enid, Ethel and Edna, not in that class at all.

Kathleen123 · 16/09/2010 12:30

Renee is better.

UrbanBabyWearsBlack · 16/09/2010 12:07

I knew an Irene ages ago, it was pronounced the alternative way 'Ireen-ee' -think that is very pretty (though a lifetime of correcting pronunciation beckons)

JudyPink · 15/09/2010 22:58

This is so weird, we were just discussing the name 'Irene' last night too! My nana was called Irene and we were thinking of using it as a middle name rather than first... I think first name is a little bit too old-fashioned and not in that cool way unfortunately!

clarabellarocks · 15/09/2010 22:52

Really sorry but it's just not cute, old lady chic or a classic it;s like Ethel/Edna etc our grannies names who we love but just don't go there with a baby. Sorry!

Elsa123 · 15/09/2010 22:01

My grandmother is called Irene (It was the most popular name in the 20s). She loathes it. She thinks its ugly and calls her name 'sodding Irene'. Her sisters' names are really feminine in comparison. I thought you may appreciate the opinion of someone who lives with the name. Oh, and she also hates Renee.

Rockbird · 14/09/2010 13:18

What, like Irene Handl? :o

loobylu3 · 14/09/2010 12:00

I think it is v pretty if pn Eye- reen-ee, rather than Eye-reen- like in 'The Forsyte Saga' (on TV recently).

ValiumSingleton · 14/09/2010 11:51

i agree with Cortina. I know one my age, adn she hated her name, but now i think it is cool. eeRenay sounds lovely. Ireeeeeen not so goo.

I can imagine an Irene, sister to a Lois, Dulcie or an Edith.

Cortina · 14/09/2010 00:26

I like it and it travels well in Europe I think. A European 'Irene' is cool and sassy somehow with none of the negative connotations.

AuraofDora · 13/09/2010 21:48

Renee?
Irene is brave i like it actually..

pointydog · 13/09/2010 21:46

no no no. Not a nice sound, old wumman, just don't lie it.

ozmetric · 13/09/2010 21:39

I quite like it, and prefer it to Iris and Isla which are popular at the moment. I also like Ivy.

Prefer I-reen pronunciation to I-ree-nee.

smother · 13/09/2010 21:39

I love the name Irenee (but not Irene)