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Baby names

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

Original poster

Inès

89 replies

lfdsa · 19/03/2023 15:38

What are your honest thoughts about the name Inès? What comes to mind when you hear it - what connotations?

I am French but my husband is English, btw. We live in the UK.
It would be pronounced Ee-nez.

Thank you.

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Missingmyusername · 19/11/2023 21:48

BernadetteIsMySister · 19/03/2023 15:41

MAFS AUS

😂yup me too.!

MovingBird123 · 19/11/2023 21:47

Sorry, I think it rhymes with penis.

I know it doesn't exactly, but that is what springs to mind whenever I hear the name.

Holidayhell22 · 19/11/2023 21:28

I put it in the same category as Esme. Probably because the first person I knew called Ines had a sister called Esme. I don’t know if they used accents on the letters, it’s a very long time ago.

SallyCinny · 19/11/2023 16:12

Thanks! It's Isla for us in Canada. So I'm sure Ines will be making its way across the boarder soon. We are on to some other options but nothing jumping out yet!

InTheRainOnATrain · 19/11/2023 13:16

We live in SW London and it’s the most popular name at DC’s school. May be a weird anomaly but the Ines-es range from Nursery to Y5 and only 1 has a French link. It’s also one of those names I hear a lot in the playground.

Noicant · 19/11/2023 13:10

Love it, I have a friend called Inez, force to be reckoned with that woman.

Whiskerson · 19/11/2023 13:04

TheWordWomanIsTaken · 18/11/2023 10:52

I love, love this name - would have definitely used it if I could have.
I used to work with someone called Inez who pronounced it Eye-nez - her family were from West Indies.
I thought for years that that was how to pronounce it - is that not correct?

Well, not in any of the languages that it's native to, but it is a pronunciation that's been used by English speakers (in the US at least, and the Caribbean from what you say!).

TheWordWomanIsTaken · 18/11/2023 10:52

I love, love this name - would have definitely used it if I could have.
I used to work with someone called Inez who pronounced it Eye-nez - her family were from West Indies.
I thought for years that that was how to pronounce it - is that not correct?

SallyCinny · 14/11/2023 17:09

I originally came across it on a list of Italian baby girl names to honour my heritage. It's funny you mention using a traditional/cultural name, I'd like to honour my Macedonian/Italian roots but my husbands last name is Scottish/English. It doesn't always flow nicely.

SallyCinny · 14/11/2023 17:05

Thank you, this is helpful. Moving on to other names under the top 200 ish mark. I'm not sure why that's so important to me!

SallyCinny · 14/11/2023 17:02

I think this simple fact has removed the name from the top of our list 😂.

Whiskerson · 14/11/2023 12:04

lljkk · 14/11/2023 07:01

My great-great aunt, who was a career woman in 1920s-1940s. Hers was spelled Inez and said like "Eye-nezz". I never met her but my dad spoke of her with fondness.

Her name seems so odd for that family because Inez's parents were Irish-Swiss in ethnic origin living in Chicago & Minnesota when she was born, so where did they choose that name from, I wonder.

i dont' find it pretty, sorry

I think it was actually fashionable in the US back then, pronounced "eye-nez" like your relative! I think it just caught on as a trendy name, who knows why, and was used by families of all origins.

Whiskerson · 14/11/2023 12:01

My first thought is simply "Oh, is she Spanish?"

(I know it's used in French too, but I just associate it with Spanish.)

I'd pronounce it "in-NEZ", not "ee-NEZ". Subtle difference, but I think the "ee" beginning is not intuitive for native English speakers.

CurlewKate · 14/11/2023 07:56

I like it a lot-but if the child is going to grow up in Britain I would probably spell it Inez-simply to make life easier....

TerfTalking · 14/11/2023 07:47

I think it’s beautiful and as you are French it’s also very appropriate. I hate, for example, when people called their child a very traditional Irish name when their last Irish relative was in 1850.

Would the accent be manageable in the UK with our lack of them in the English language?

NameChange30 · 14/11/2023 07:40

SallyCinny · 14/11/2023 01:05

Of course, I've done that. The funny thing about North American culture is it's often influenced but European culture. I'm wondering moreso about popularity elsewhere, hence posting here!

You don't have to worry about the UK as it's not at all common here. It's more popular in France, Spain and Portugal.

In France if you look at the combined stats for the last 3 years, it's ranked at number 31.
https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3532172

Outil interactif sur les prénoms

https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/3532172

FloweryName · 14/11/2023 07:04

It’s lovely but it will be pronounced In ez and you will be setting your dd for a lifetime of having to correct people. I also wouldn’t use a name that has an accent in a country whose language doesn’t use accents. It’s just confusing.

lljkk · 14/11/2023 07:01

My great-great aunt, who was a career woman in 1920s-1940s. Hers was spelled Inez and said like "Eye-nezz". I never met her but my dad spoke of her with fondness.

Her name seems so odd for that family because Inez's parents were Irish-Swiss in ethnic origin living in Chicago & Minnesota when she was born, so where did they choose that name from, I wonder.

i dont' find it pretty, sorry

SneezyEvie · 14/11/2023 06:54

Really nice.

SallyCinny · 14/11/2023 01:05

Of course, I've done that. The funny thing about North American culture is it's often influenced but European culture. I'm wondering moreso about popularity elsewhere, hence posting here!

NameChange30 · 13/11/2023 18:28

Just look at the stats for Canada?!

SallyCinny · 13/11/2023 16:18

This is what I need to know! I see it's not ranked high on most lists but I keep reading it's gaining popularity in North America and it's already widely popular in Europe. I really want to avoid a popular name, help!

SallyCinny · 13/11/2023 16:15

This is my worry. It's our top name right now but I REALLY want to avoid something super popular.

Where are you from if you don't mind me asking? We are in Canada. Feedback is welcome!

Caledoniablue · 22/03/2023 10:25

Nimbostratus100 · 20/03/2023 08:14

causes the child stupid, endless, pointless unnecessary problems, don't do it

Show quote history

Grin I'll let the population of Portugal know that they're causing their children stupid endless pointless unnecessary problems then and they should only use simple English names with no accents in case god forbid the people with stupid names emigrate to Britain

Cherubiminal · 20/03/2023 17:33

Lovely...very pretty with a stylish edge to it.