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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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SiobhanSharpe · 27/11/2022 15:44

I have a beautiful and sophisticated French friend called Irène, pronounced ee-ren.
It's as classy as she is.

MarshaBradyo · 27/11/2022 15:44

Yes sorry

Irina is better

RedWingBoots · 27/11/2022 15:42

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 27/11/2022 15:36

I like it, Irene or Irena (pronounded eer-ay-neh).

Irina

I've met a few women under 40 called that. None were born in the UK. It is a common European name.

Alternative is "Erina" which has various meanings depending on the country of origin e.g. Ireland, Arabic, Japan.

Dahliasrule · 27/11/2022 15:41

I love it. It was my mum’s middle name but she hated it. She also hated her first name which I would have to agree with her about so was known by a nickname given to her by her older sister who couldn’t pronounce her name correctly when little.
I think Irene Elizabeth would be a lovely pairing and Elizabeth would give her plenty of options for when she is older if she didn’t like Irene

RedWingBoots · 27/11/2022 15:39

You are naming your child after a K-pop star or someone who died yesterday who starred in Fame. (Google it.)

If you want it pronounced with 3 syllables then it is spelt "Irenee" otherwise you get most British people using the two syllable version.

KezzabellaB · 27/11/2022 15:38

Not for me, sorry.

slowquickstep · 27/11/2022 15:37

HowzAboutIt · 27/11/2022 14:52

Yes, it is dreadful. Unless you are giving birth to a 75 year old with a light perm

This little Irene will spend more of her life as an adult than she will as a baby.

Puckthemagicdragon · 27/11/2022 15:36

Freaking love it! Think you've just named my next child 😍

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 27/11/2022 15:36

I like it, Irene or Irena (pronounded eer-ay-neh).

RandomMusings7 · 27/11/2022 15:35

Irina instead? Pronounced Ee-rhin-uh

Flooper · 27/11/2022 15:33

I can't say I'm a fan of the name. But does it matter? As long as a name doesn't have an obscene meaning in another language, or have an association with say a famous serial killer, other people's opinions don't really count.

TheFallenMadonna · 27/11/2022 15:26

I love it with 3 syllables, as in Irene Adler, Irene Handl.

thisismylittlebrotherGeorge · 27/11/2022 15:24

HowzAboutIt · 27/11/2022 14:52

Yes, it is dreadful. Unless you are giving birth to a 75 year old with a light perm

Add a hairy mole she calls a beauty spot and you've just described my Aunt Irene.

Pick a different name OP

Luredbyapomegranate · 27/11/2022 15:20

As long as it's the original 3 syllables pronunciation I think it's lovely. I also think that it will also come back in the next few years with other names from that era - so I don't think your Irene will be alone. People thought calling kids Arthur and Edith was bizarre a couple of decades ago, now there are thousands of them.

QuentininQuarantino · 27/11/2022 15:20

It’s really popular in Spain where I live and so I know lots.

they pronounce it very differently though. sort of like Ee-ren-eh.

Im ambivalent about it. I’ve not too keen on “een” names like Kathleen, Maureen, eileen etc, but it does look prettier than those, even if it shares the same sound phonetically speaking.

ReginaPerrin · 27/11/2022 15:19

Discoh · 27/11/2022 15:13

Who pronounces it with 3 syllables 🤣

Irene Handle did! Showing my age there…

LadyMarmaladeAtkins · 27/11/2022 15:18

Who pronounces it with 3 syllables.

It's a name in various languages, with that or other spellings. So, lots of people, I'd say!

LadyMarmaladeAtkins · 27/11/2022 15:17

You also need to decide which emphasis to give it. I've known (older generation) EYE-reen and eye-REEN.

REE-nee was a popular nickname, even if the name itself was pronounced EYE-reen.

I'm not mad keen on any of the above variations but you should use the names you like. It goes well with Elizabeth, make sure it sounds good with your surname with and without the middle name.

Irene Cara has just died, it didn't do her any harm as a name, and would be a fitting tribute to her to use it (although that may well not be why you are choosing it).

DorritLittle · 27/11/2022 15:14

I think it's nice. Granny chic. Reminds me of the scatterbrain in Malory Towers.

DorritLittle · 27/11/2022 15:14

I think it's nice. Granny chic. Reminds me of the scatterbrain in Malory Towers.

Discoh · 27/11/2022 15:13

Who pronounces it with 3 syllables 🤣

Mydogatemypurse · 27/11/2022 15:13

Home and away 'eye reeeeen'

fancyfrogs · 27/11/2022 15:12

It just makes me think of old people. I've also never heard of it pronounced any other way than 2 syllables, eye-reen

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.

RaraRachael · 27/11/2022 15:10

It used to be quite popular in Scotland but haven't heard of any recently.
I worked for a dreadful woman called Irene so that might put me off it!