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Baby names

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Original poster

Irene?

45 replies

saltedtortillachips · 13/03/2020 16:16

Too old fashioned or due a revival? Disclaimer, not currently pregnant but it's the name of a family member and I think it could be sweet on a baby

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Fifthtimelucky · 16/03/2020 17:24

I was at primary school with an Irene and I always loved her name. She pronounced it with 3 syllables though.

I hate the 2 syllable version (I didn't realise it was the same name for years, as when I was introduced to an Eye Reen at work I assumed it was spelled in a similar way to Eileen.

I don't like the sound of any of those similar 2 syllable names (like Eileen, Maureen, Doreen and Noreen).

WhereDidMyEyebrowsGo · 15/03/2020 19:27

Just no. There are so many lovely names out there. Why would you choose such an ugly one? Both Irene and Ireenee sound bloody awful. Leave them in the past.

MikeUniformMike · 15/03/2020 19:21

The Ireenee pronunciation is pretty. I-reen isn't.
I like Eileen.

mumtumdocare · 15/03/2020 16:03

It's a no from me.

Annebronte · 15/03/2020 16:03

I like it when pronounced properly: I-ree-nee.
Trouble is, lots of people will assume I-reen, which is much less elegant.

ShortAndSharp · 15/03/2020 16:00

I like it pronounced eye-ree-nee or ee-ree-nee. Eye-reen is a bit meh...

TheLarkDescending · 15/03/2020 15:54

I quite like it, but prefer Irena

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 15/03/2020 15:54

I love it. I also like Ir EE nee.

Roselilly36 · 15/03/2020 15:53

Awful

Newcatmum · 15/03/2020 15:52

It's my middle name after my gran amd I hated it as a child. Even thought I didn't ever have to use my middle name I would always say I didn't have one if asked. because I was embarrassed.

cbeebiessavedmylifee · 15/03/2020 15:50

I quite like jt

Carouselfish · 15/03/2020 15:49

If you say it Irenie that's quite pretty. A la princess and the goblin.

Original poster
saltedtortillachips · 15/03/2020 13:48

So many great aunt Irenes! My relative was also a great aunt who died lately and it got me thinking about the name. I'm glad others like it too and it's definitely on my baby girl names list

OP posts:
NemesiaPinkLagoon · 15/03/2020 09:19

I like it, partly because I have a lovely great aunt with the name. She is 90 now.

I'd forgotten about Irene in the Forsythe Saga - I love the name Jolyon from that, too, but wouldn't give it to a child as it sounds so posh! Maybe a good cat name :)

raskolnikova · 14/03/2020 11:51

I like it with the Spanish pronunciation, not so much the English pronunciation though.

IVflytrap · 14/03/2020 11:21

You responded "come on" to Irene. I was joking that you were thinking of Come on Eileen, which is a very popular 80s song. Smile

SassyBrassyBitch · 14/03/2020 07:11

What's Eileen? Confused

MsTSwift · 14/03/2020 06:32

The problem with it is like Maureen it has a whiny tone. My granny used a nickname her entire life

LambriniSocialist · 13/03/2020 22:46

but in black and white it just makes me think of an Australian woman in her 60’s

Yes my immediate thought was yer one from Home and Away! Grin

IVflytrap · 13/03/2020 22:44

@SassyBrassyBitch That's Eileen, not Irene Grin

SassyBrassyBitch · 13/03/2020 22:42

Come on!

IVflytrap · 13/03/2020 22:41

I like it, although prefer the earlier (and now much rarer) pronunciation Eye-ree-nee over Eye-reen. Still a nice name though, even when 2 syllables.

Merename · 13/03/2020 21:17

ADORE Irene! Classy, feminine, interesting, work on a baby or an adult.

Grasspigeons · 13/03/2020 21:02

I had a great aunt I REE nee which i like. Less keen on eye-reen

Tummelthecat · 13/03/2020 20:58

Its my name, I love it, and it means 'peace'.

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