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Baby names

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

Original poster

She’s here - rhymey?

69 replies

christmascracker772 · 21/01/2024 17:17

Previously posted about our name list for our 3rd, and she is now here!

Siblings are Kristina and Nikolai, and just to clarify as it was a question on my last thread we are Russian.

Our options were Irina, Alexandra and Maria.

Now she’s here Maria definitely doesn’t suit her! DH and myself are leaning towards Irina, but Alexandra as a close second.

Is Kristina and Irina too rhymey? For clarification Irina is Ee-ree-na. There is 9 years between them both, so they won’t be in the same school etc.

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BuddhaAtSea · 21/01/2024 18:07

You live in the UK? They’ll pronounce it Ai reena, it won’t sound anything like Irina.
I’d go for Alexandra, school is going to call her Alex though.

Nineteendays · 21/01/2024 18:05

I think it’s a bit rhymey so would go for Alexandra.

I also love the name Natasha which I think would go well

Original poster
christmascracker772 · 21/01/2024 18:04

Yes, I have heard! Irene is the saint name for Irina in our church, so when she is baptised she may be Irene in the church, but Alexandra will stay the same at baptism.

I like Irene but it doesn’t fit right in my head with Kristina and Nikolai.

OP posts:
Pemba · 21/01/2024 17:59

I prefer Alexandra, and it's more of a contrast to Kristina, but it's up to you of course.

Just in case you don't know, Irene pronounced as eye-reen is a name that was popular many years ago (pre war) in the UK and is currently considered old fashioned and dowdy. But that's obviously a different kettle of fish from Irina pronounced as you do, which is much nicer. You may get British people saying eye-reena though.

Original poster
christmascracker772 · 21/01/2024 17:58

Can confirm she won’t be called Rhymey 😂

DH doesn’t like NNs as names, so we are only going for the long versions!

I should also apologise I am aware I must seem fussy. I didn’t have such a hard time with naming my older 2, but I am this time!

Teena for Kristina, although not as long as it is pronounced here. The emphasis is more on the Na for us than the Tee if that makes sense?

Whereas I’d say the emphasis for Irina is more on the Ree, so the opposite to Kristina.

OP posts:
AbbeFausseMaigre · 21/01/2024 17:50

I'm so relieved that you aren't considering calling your daughter Rhymey!

SlashBeef · 21/01/2024 17:47

Adore Alexandra.

NewYear24 · 21/01/2024 17:46

How about Sasha, not as a nn but the actual name?

Funnymoustache · 21/01/2024 17:46

What about Arina?

BingoMarieHeeler · 21/01/2024 17:46

Is it like Kris-tinna rather than teena as we would say here? Kris-tinna and Ee-rina are only half-rhymes really. But having said that I prefer Alexandra 😁

Funnymoustache · 21/01/2024 17:45

Alexandra with a middle name Irina sounds lovely

Original poster
christmascracker772 · 21/01/2024 17:43

Is the rhyming really bad? We do love Irina but we also don’t mind Alexandra if Irina is out of the picture. Our family said it wasn’t bad but I think they may have just been saying that now!

For Alexandra, Sasha would be the nn. What we don’t like about Alexandra though, is Alex as an nn, which seems certain.

OP posts:
FayCarew · 21/01/2024 17:43

If you love it, use it. It's very pretty. I really like the siblings' names too.

NewYear24 · 21/01/2024 17:42

I don’t think it’s too rhymey.

Bigearringsbigsmile · 21/01/2024 17:41

Alexandra definitely the best
Congratulations!

Onelife2024 · 21/01/2024 17:40

I love Irina! I honestly don’t think the rhyming matters, especially with a bigger age gap. I would definitely choose Irina if it’s your favourite, as sibling names aren’t said together very often in the long run.
Congratulations!!

Zoomerang · 21/01/2024 17:39

Congratulations! I think they do rhyme a bit, which is a shame because it’s a lovely name. Of your three, I vote Alexandra. Lots of lovely NN potentials.

FayCarew · 21/01/2024 17:35

A bit rhymey, and will get said as Eye-reen-a.
It is nice.

Would Irene (Ee-ree-nee) work?

Congratulations! Flowers 👶Bear Flowers

Jessforless · 21/01/2024 17:20

Congratulations!

I love Irina but it does sound quite rhymey or almost like a nickname for your other DD’s name…

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