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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is Irene truly dreadful?

115 replies

spearmintbubble · 27/11/2022 14:46

I love the name Irene Elizabeth and I was wanting to use it. Majority of people I’ve asked like it, however there is a high percentage who don’t. Is it one of those names that you either love or hate? All opinions welcome!

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ReadtheReviews · 27/11/2022 17:31

I quite like it with the second e pronounced, so in effect Irenie.
But either way it's due a resurgence I think. By the way, stress should be on the rene not the I.

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 27/11/2022 17:25

My 80 year old auntie is called Irene. She says that when she was younger she wanted to be called the three-syllable version I-reen-ee, after the heroine of the Forsyte Saga. And that she especially hated the song "Goodnight Irene" which was popular when she was young.

I reckon the timing is right for a comeback and Irene Elizabeth is a good combination!

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 27/11/2022 17:24

I like it because it was my mum’s name. She pronounced it with three syllables but invariably most others didn’t.

BlackCatTabbyCat · 27/11/2022 17:19

It's my middle name and I hated it when I was a child and used to pretend I didn't have one if anyone asked. It's my gran's name and she kept hinting for me to use it as a middle name for my children but I ignored the hints Blush. Its not a great name for a baby but also not the worst I've heard. 6 year old Sheila 😳

JennieTheZebra · 27/11/2022 17:17

Irène is the French way of pronouncing it. It’s said I-renn with a short I like in bin. It’s fairly popular in France.

ZaZathecat · 27/11/2022 17:10

Irene just hasn't come back yet, so you'll be ahead of the curve. Names like Daisy and Lily (often shortened to 'Liww' in London) we're considered ugly and old-fashioned when I was young.
Choose the name you love for your daughter and eventually it will become popular again.

kitcat15 · 27/11/2022 17:03

wishing3 · 27/11/2022 16:56

I think it sounds beautiful and classy.

🤣🤣🙄

kitcat15 · 27/11/2022 17:03

I think you will will find that everyone you asked hates it....some are just lying to not hurt your feelings 🙄..... Irene is a bad name there's nothing nice about it..

And i say that as someone who had a nanny Irene

Whatsleftnow · 27/11/2022 16:58

I love it. Interesting how divided opinion is though.

wishing3 · 27/11/2022 16:56

I think it sounds beautiful and classy.

mumonherphone · 27/11/2022 16:55

Prefer Irena

Cleopatra67 · 27/11/2022 16:54

Danni675 · 27/11/2022 15:10

Eye-ree-nee. The name is originally Greek and was traditionally pronounced in the Greek way (3 syllables). (Compare other Greek names where you pronounce the final e, like Phoebe and Zoe.)

The 2 syllable version became popular in the mid 20th C but the 3 syllable version is coming back now. It’s much nicer IMO.

In Greek the i sound is sort - like the i in fish - so i - ri - ni . Much prettier but unlikely to happen in the uk. I considered it (I’m Greek) but knew that no one would ever pronounce it properly and I don’t like the English pronunciation.

Sandysandwich · 27/11/2022 16:37

Not personally a name that I like, it feels a bit on the clunky side of old lady names but Elizabeth is really nice.
I knew one Irene, she was in her 90s and people sang 'come on Irene' to her to the tune of come on Eileen

Whiskyvodka · 27/11/2022 16:15

I like Irene.
I prefer Iris though.

My friend Irene often has to sit through Goodnight Irene.

Enko · 27/11/2022 16:12

Not dreadful.no. but nor a name. I would use.😀

Angelofthenortheast · 27/11/2022 16:07

Yes it really is.

I met a 6 year old called Sheila a while ago and I'm still weirded out by it

RandomMusings7 · 27/11/2022 15:57

Irenee is not a commonly accepted spelling, no.

Flooper · 27/11/2022 15:54

Names can have lovely meanings but still sound unappealing.

RedWingBoots · 27/11/2022 15:50

Rauha · 27/11/2022 15:47

Sorry, I think it's dreadful.

So a name meaning "Peace" is dreadful?

RedWingBoots · 27/11/2022 15:49

Danni675 · 27/11/2022 15:45

If you want it pronounced with 3 syllables then it is spelt "Irenee"

Definitely don’t do this- it’s ugly and wrong.

It's not wrong. It is an acceptable spelling.

Also remember you cannot have accents on some official UK documentation e.g. passports.

SomeBeings · 27/11/2022 15:48

I love it. It's so much nicer than all the boring other E, A and I names that every little girl seems to have at the moment.

Rauha · 27/11/2022 15:47

Sorry, I think it's dreadful.

SantaOnFanta · 27/11/2022 15:46

Reminds me of the character in Only Fools and Horses who had the thug as a husband.

Danni675 · 27/11/2022 15:45

If you want it pronounced with 3 syllables then it is spelt "Irenee"

Definitely don’t do this- it’s ugly and wrong.

RedWingBoots · 27/11/2022 15:45

Oh and I use to know a Spanish "Irene" pronounced the 2 syllable way. At the same time there were a couple of "Irina"s.

(I looked up the name and similar when choosing a name for my daughter, who isn't called Irene.)