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Baby names

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Original poster

Opinions on Irene?

71 replies

babynameratings · 05/09/2022 11:57

I have received a lot of mixed opinions on the name Irene and was wondering what the general consensus would be on the name. Nice or too old lady?

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PearlSupernova · 05/09/2022 16:48

It is my Grandmothers name, although she goes by Rene (Ree-knee). Love it and will be using it as a middle name myself

ThorsBedazzler · 05/09/2022 15:43

Eye-reen definite no, because that's your granny or auntie from the more formal side of the family.

Eye-reen-ee a maybe, but only because it's your granny or auntie from the fun side of the family.

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 05/09/2022 15:40

It's a bit sad and dreary to my ears. It's not old fashioned with a bit of pizazz, like Gloria or Pamela. It's old fashioned like Doreen.

WeAreTheWeirdosMister · 05/09/2022 15:02

I don't think it's 'little old lady' and classic, it's more 'older middle aged woman' not long enough time passed since it was trendy.

StellaAndCrow · 05/09/2022 14:57

I really like it. Was there an Irene in Mallory Towers or St Clares?

Saynotothefishtank · 05/09/2022 14:38

I love it.

Iris is nice as well. Also Arlene.

Wowitshot · 05/09/2022 14:37

I know quite a few Irenes in their 20s/30s from other European countries so it doesn't seem old lady to me - it seems cosmopolitan and cool.

BitOutOfPractice · 05/09/2022 14:34

I have a lovely friend called Irena. How about that?

kissmelittleass · 05/09/2022 14:34

Thinking old lady

emmathedilemma · 05/09/2022 14:32

Old fashioned and not in trendy revival way.

SlowingDownAndDown · 05/09/2022 14:28

Three syllables sounds a bit Hyacinth Bucket to me, whatever the history of it.

Moonlaserbearwolf · 05/09/2022 13:56

I love it, and think it's on the brink of a comeback. Someone else posted on here recently about it and got the same replies about pronunciation.

It only takes one celebrity who pronounces it Eye-ree-nee and people will start pronouncing it that way. Until then, you might have to correct people. But is that really a problem? My daughter has a traditional, but unusual name and sometimes people struggle with pronunciation - but only the first time.

ofwarren · 05/09/2022 13:46

Horrible
In the same vein as Doreen and Maureen.

Fifthtimelucky · 05/09/2022 13:43

I love Irene when pronounced with three syllables. It's been one of my favourite names since primary school and I love both the look of the name when written down and the sound of it.

I didn't realise until I was well into my 20s that some people pronounced it with two syllables. I hate it that way (I also hate Maureen, Doreen and Eileen).

I considered it for my children but discounted because I was worried people would pronounce it the way I hate.

ANUsernam · 05/09/2022 12:50

I like it.

ItsSnowJokes · 05/09/2022 12:46

I have an Auntie Irene and an Aunt Reenee and they are both amazing so I love both names.

UsernameIsHarderThanBabyName · 05/09/2022 12:43

Love it

MoreTeaLessCoffee · 05/09/2022 12:40

I love it, definitely due a comeback. It sounds old ladyish to people who are adults now but it's not going to be a problem for your daughter's generation, to them it will probably sound very fresh!

PersonaNonGarter · 05/09/2022 12:36

Renee is better

Marcipex · 05/09/2022 12:35

@Lilacsunflowers it’s much nicer pronounced that way, but it’s not common. Is there a spelling variation on Irene?

TempsPerdu · 05/09/2022 12:32

Not ready to be rehabilitated yet. As pps have said, it’s the ‘reen’ sound. I think of it as similar to Doreen, Eileen etc. It’s time will probably come round again - just not yet.

Eye-reen-ee sounds better and fresher, but it’s not the standard pronunciation.

numberthirtytwowindsorgardens · 05/09/2022 12:24

I adore it. If you do too, use it. You'll never find one which everyone likes, so you might as well use one which you think is beautiful!

(I especially like the Eye-ree-nee pronunciation, but both are beautiful.)

MatterOfThyme · 05/09/2022 12:21

Don't like Irene, but Irenie is v cool

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 05/09/2022 12:20

I quite often see names called 'old lady' or 'old man' on MN and it makes me laugh because names like Daisy, Poppy, Jack, William, Harry, Joseph, Elsie, Ruby, Betty to name but a few were considered 'old people' names not that long ago.

And you wouldn't have dreamt of calling your children anything that was considered 'wacky' at the time like Portia, Freya, Hermione.

Someone has to go first with making names popular/normal again.

KosherDill · 05/09/2022 12:18

Love it. It's elegant and timeless.