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Baby names

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

Original poster

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!

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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.

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.

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.