Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Our favourite name as a horrid connotation - can't think of another. Help!

84 replies

Flowerface · 15/03/2012 09:01

For ages I thought that I would call a second DD Milena, after Milena Jesenska. We both love it. But it turns out that there is a poo-related medical condition called 'Malena' (SP?) which will be everyone's first thought when they hear the name.

Basically, I can't find another name we both like. We would like something reasonably short and uncomplicated, but slightly unusual, and it can't begin with 'F'. Our DD is called Elsa. Any suggestions?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Ineedadollar · 15/03/2012 09:36

Well people name their girls Amelia, also a medical condition, and people don't generally make that association. I think it's fine.

Stellan · 15/03/2012 09:31

I'd bet that more women have heard of Mirena than melena/melaena... But if it doesn't bother you, great! If you pronounce Milena with a ME rather than a MIL sound at the beginning, it's probably not even a consideration. Similarly, I doubt Milena sounds like melena/melaena if you pronounce it ME-leh-na.

Suggestions -
Camilla
Elena
Helen
Marina
Matilda
Melanie
Melody
Miranda
Mila
Milda
Mildred
Miller
Millicent
Mira
Mirabelle
Mireille
Mirela
Miriam
Romilly

Maybe you could use Jesenská as a starting point - Jessica? Jessamine/Jessamyn? Jessamy?

Original poster
Flowerface · 15/03/2012 09:18

I didn't really mind about Mirena. I think that's quite a tenuous link, and there is some product named after almost everything these days (I also like Clio, so I am bitter).

We have thought a thousand other things, but none seems quite right. I suppose Helena is the current favourite but for some reason I find it a bit unwieldy. Also Harriet. Or Clara (find that a bit blah, though it does meet the criteria of being shortish and simple). I am just not feeling the love for any of them...

OP posts:
dinkystinkyandveryverybored · 15/03/2012 09:18

How about Marlena?

Stellan · 15/03/2012 09:16

Wasn't sure about the condition you're referring to so looked it up on Wikipedia: it's called melena/melaena (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melena). I suppose the pronunciation is similar. Milena is fairly widely used in Europe so I wouldn't necessarily let that put you off but I should also point out that Mirena (with an R) is the name of a contraceptive device.

What other names did you consider for your DD? That might help us suggest some alternatives.

HeidiHole · 15/03/2012 09:13

another one never heard of the poo thing!

Original poster
Flowerface · 15/03/2012 09:06

No (though some are). It was actually the MN ladies who enlightened me.

OP posts:
PrincessPrecious · 15/03/2012 09:06

I think Milena is quite nice. Never heard of the poo thing.

WitchOfEndor · 15/03/2012 09:03

Never heard of Malena so it wouldn't be the first thing I thought of when you told me your child's name. Are all your friends and relatives Doctors?