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Baby names

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

Original poster

Please tell me what you think of Marlena

32 replies

PurpleSuedeHotpants · 05/02/2011 21:49

Pregnant and musing ... Marlena has been my favourite girl's name for years, also love potential nns Marley, Lena and Marla. Now I'm actually pg though, not sure about it.

Also like um Iris, Effie (but would prefer it to be short for something and not sure what), Hepzibah, forgotten what else now Blush

Totally stuck for inspiration on boys' names - like Thomas and Monty (but nothing that Monty is short for), maybe George or William but bit popular.

Ta :)

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PartialToACupOfMilo · 14/02/2011 23:21

Marlene on the wall...

sharon2609 · 14/02/2011 18:06

Be careful with the spelling.....Melena is blood in your poo !!

RIZZ0 · 13/02/2011 20:20

At least people won't assume how it's spelt, that's what happened with my DD's name, people think it's easy and usually get it wrong!

I first heard Malena in an Italian film starring the very comely Monica Belucci. Not a bad namesake for a girl...!

I was brave with my DD's name and I really haven't regretted it.

Original poster
PurpleSuedeHotpants · 12/02/2011 23:38

Rizzo I LOVED the film Shag as a teenager, so Melaina has always been a favourite of mine, but concerned that it is too unusual and will constantly be asked to repeat it.

Same with Marlis, is pretty though :)

Still stuck on boys ... Do like Benjamin and Daniel. I like Jos but think it might be a bit poncey and not sure what it's short for other than Jocelyn, which I don't like, plus DH not a fan. Like Matthew but is name of major ex so not a goer.

Dear DC, please be a girl! Grin

OP posts:
QuestionNumber · 11/02/2011 18:35

I like your earlier suggestion of John for a boy. It's a nice name but underused at the moment. Also like William.

If you like traditional "not too unusual" names how about

Alexander
Isaac
Samuel
Benjamin
Frederick
James
Henry
Matthew
Joshua
Nathaniel
Peter
Gregory
Miles
David
Charles
Luke
Nicholas
Simon
Daniel
Aaron
Owen
Reuben
Lawrence
Edwin

TheSecondComing · 10/02/2011 23:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RIZZ0 · 10/02/2011 23:37

An alternative could be Malena, pronounced Mallena/Malleyna One of my faves.

Viking75 · 10/02/2011 23:24
  • a cockney accent and you can imagine Del Boy Trotter's girlfriend bieng a Maaaaarleeeen-ah Don't like at all..sorry
Original poster
PurpleSuedeHotpants · 10/02/2011 23:04

Thanks again for the replies. Pretty sold on Marlena/e now I think, though swaying towards a spelling worried we'll have to spend too much time correcting people who say Marleen otherwise.

Not a fan of Rita, though I do like Vita. Odd how much difference a single letter can make!

Still really stuck on boys' names. Do like Edward and Joseph but a few of them in the family already. I am clearly some sort of man-hater as most of them remind me of blokes I know and do not like Blush Also want something not too unusual as I work with little ones and prefer more um sensible names I think.

Meh, DH has just distracted me and I've forgotten what else I was going to say Hmm Sniggering at lubing with Montezuma Grin

OP posts:
PlanetLizard · 07/02/2011 23:27

I like it.

telsa · 07/02/2011 22:59

or the lovely but much underused Gilda?

mathanxiety · 07/02/2011 20:25

I love Marlene pronounced as you intend to pronounce it, and also all the nns, including Leni.

Effie just sounds like someone swearing, to me. But Elfrida is lovely, nn Elfie not Effie.

I also love Estelle and Hepzibah. And Miriam, Margot and Kitty. All the names have a glamorous 1940s vibe to them.. Would you consider Rita?

Boys' names:
Conrad
Edmund
Roland
Gregor
Julius
Nicholas
Joseph
Jonas
Francis
Frederick
Fabian
Tobias
Matthias
Arnold
Michael
Richard
Clement

telsa · 07/02/2011 18:46

I love love love Hepzibah. Wish I were ahving another.....I also love Marlene - spelt the German way - with nn Leni.
Effie could be a shortening for Ephigenia or even Elfrieda - both nice.
Don't like Iris - too eyebally.
Boys - what about these which I haven't heard for ages now - David or Robert, Martin, Stephen, Michael and the like?

ensure · 07/02/2011 16:26

I prefer Marlene, not sure why!
I love Monty.

AllieW · 05/02/2011 23:20

I too prefer the spelling Marlene (and the Marlainer pronunciation). I think that Marlene Lily would be quite sweet and a neat reference to the song.

Original poster
PurpleSuedeHotpants · 05/02/2011 23:19

Marlainer/Mar-lane-uh (yep, I'm a Suzanne Vega fan harecare Wink)

OP posts:
Changeisagoodthing · 05/02/2011 23:16

How are you going to pronounce it- it's a name that goes many ways

Marleeener

Marlainer

Mar Len. A

Binfullofmaggotsonthe45 · 05/02/2011 23:10

I know a hateful idiotic woman called Marlene so would be biased on that one.

iris is beautiful, a name for a cute child, feisty female character and elegant old lady.

I love Monty.

How about Max? I work with a lot of guys called Max in Germany and they are all great guys.

I wanted Victor for a boy too...

onimolap · 05/02/2011 23:03

lube!!!! Aaaaargh - that has to be the worst the predicitve keyboard has done to a typo yet! live!!!!

sharon2609 · 05/02/2011 23:03

I can only hear Marlena being said in a Boycie- Only Fools and Horses voice Grin

onimolap · 05/02/2011 23:02

If you think you could lube with a Montezuma...

..... How about some other eye-opener names? I have always loved Pendragon.

Original poster
PurpleSuedeHotpants · 05/02/2011 23:00

Forgot to say thanks btw, was expecting Marlena to get a kicking but am liking it more and more (though do also a bit love Margot. And slightly Anna).

OP posts:
BelligerentGhoul · 05/02/2011 23:00

Marlene is lovely.

Hepzibah is about as far from lovely as it's possible to get, imho. Sorry.

Original poster
PurpleSuedeHotpants · 05/02/2011 23:00

Wafflenose - I love Effie but it sounds a bit like a nn to me and I think I'd rather have a more formal name on the birth certificate.

onimolap - I like Marlene as well but would be too worried about it being pronounced Mar-leen - which I do also like but it's a bit Midwestern waitress I think iykwim. Also like Estelle/Estella.

I like Monty but not Montague or Montgomery - though full name would be so rarely used that it's tempting to go for something like Montezuma or Monte Carlo Wink

Now thinking John for a boy maybe? Though husband now very taken with Phineus :)

OP posts:
harecare · 05/02/2011 22:58

Marlena watches from the wall her mocking smile says it all...
Great name
I have a friend whose daughter is Effie short for Phoebe.
Iris is lovely.
My middle name is Margot and I have always been very embarrassed by it due to the Good Life!

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