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Baby names

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

Original poster

Serena or Alina - Persian Baby

32 replies

cheesecake2 · 09/12/2020 12:25

Which one do you like more and why?

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DennisTMenace · 10/12/2020 13:37

I like Alina. My issue with positive attribute names is that the child is then not going to fit the mould. So Joy and Hope are depressed, Chastity is anything but, Grace is clumsy. It's a lot to live up to!

Katgolde · 10/12/2020 09:10

Alina, although I like both.

Labobo · 10/12/2020 08:21

I massively prefer Serena. It's a classical name with a lovely meaning. Alina sounds a bit whiny to me..

Spidey66 · 09/12/2020 22:59

They're both nice, but Serena gets my vote.

Mopani · 09/12/2020 22:55

Both names are beautiful. Probably slightly prefer Alina.

MercyBodle · 09/12/2020 22:48

I prefer Serena. I agree with pp there's nothing wrong with Alina, but it just feels more bland because there are lots of names with similar sounds.

mooloop · 09/12/2020 22:33

Serena is lovely Smile

Chilldonaldchill · 09/12/2020 22:22

Serena.
I don't dislike Alina but, although it's not a common name, it feels similar to lots of popular names somehow (like Eliana, Amelia, Alana, Leila, - they all have a similar feel).

diddlediddle · 09/12/2020 22:18

Ignore the pp suggesting Aleena, dreadful spelling of it. Alina is fine but similar to so many popular names.

Serena is much much nicer, more distinctive and strong. You'll say a name out loud far more often than you'll write it down.

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 09/12/2020 21:49

Then I'd go for the original spelling or possibly Aleena.

How did you come upon the name?

Original poster
cheesecake2 · 09/12/2020 21:20

@AccidentallyOnPurpose More joined together though, like aleeena, so that the 'a' and the beginning is like an 'uh-leena' not 'a -as in c-a-t" .

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Original poster
cheesecake2 · 09/12/2020 21:17

@AccidentallyOnPurpose I would say it like 'ah-leena'...

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AccidentallyOnPurpose · 09/12/2020 21:13

How would you say it?
Ah-leena ? Or Ay-leena?

Original poster
cheesecake2 · 09/12/2020 21:11

@AlexaShutUp It's interesting that you say that, I feel like it's the other way round for me. I like the sound of Serena but really dislike how it looks written down, whereas Alina looks sharper and neater to my eyes...

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AlexaShutUp · 09/12/2020 20:56

Both are quite nice but I think I prefer Serena on balance. I like the sound of Alina, but for some inexplicable reason, I don't like the look of it written down!

Original poster
cheesecake2 · 09/12/2020 20:54

@AccidentallyOnPurpose It's lovely to know that it has such a beautiful meaning where you're from! Thanks for sharing :)

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SpamIAm · 09/12/2020 20:53

I prefer the Alina spelling.

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 09/12/2020 20:04

In my home country the name Alina is associated with a verb that means "to comfort/settle down/calm down". It's also thought to come from Adelina/Adeline.

So ofc I'm biased but I think it has a nice meaning, and fairly close to Serena.

Makes me laugh that just because people aren't familiar with it think it's a random no meaning name.

Original poster
cheesecake2 · 09/12/2020 19:38

Would you spell it as Alina, Aleena or Elina?

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M0rT · 09/12/2020 19:35

I prefer Alina but Serena is also a nice name.

YoniAndGuy · 09/12/2020 19:33

Serena definitely.

Alina is just another 'vowel-start-bit-in-the-middle-ends-in-a' name, immediately sounds a bit nothing.

SpamIAm · 09/12/2020 19:24

I prefer Alina, it's really pretty. Not hugely keen on serena but that might just be because Seren is so popular in wales.

CosyQueen · 09/12/2020 19:22

Both are lovely - I slightly prefer Serena!

Original poster
cheesecake2 · 09/12/2020 19:05

Thank you all for your comments! :) Looks like Serena is in the lead at the moment!

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Mrsjayy · 09/12/2020 17:00

Oh I really like Alina it sounds the nicest,