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Baby names

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

Original poster

Kerensa?

60 replies

SageGreenShoes · 01/04/2024 13:25

What do you think? Alternative spelling is Kerenza, which I think I might prefer. Cornish name, meaning 'love'. Not Cornish, just think it's beautiful.

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Original poster
SageGreenShoes · 01/04/2024 20:16

KirstenBlest · 01/04/2024 17:17

@OhhhhhhhhBiscuits ,did you mean Lowenna?

Ooooh, I love Lowenna!

OP posts:
thislittlebird · 01/04/2024 20:14

It’s nice, I know someone with the name and prefer the s spelling she has.

amz4 · 01/04/2024 20:08

Lovely name, I like the Kerenza spelling 😊

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 01/04/2024 20:05

I don’t understand everyone saying it’s close to Karen, sounds very different to me

SkaneTos · 01/04/2024 18:39

I have never heard the name Kerensa/Kerenza before (I am not from the UK), but I think it's a beautiful name!

KirstenBlest · 01/04/2024 18:20

Demelza is a place name. It was used as a name by Winston Graham in Poldark.

gingergiraffe · 01/04/2024 17:49

I much prefer Kensa, my niece’s name. Not very common. I’m Cornish but not keen on Demelza or Kerenza for no particular reason though. Certainly do not associate Kerenza with Karen, not that I dislike that name either.
I know a couple of Lamornas. Yes, a place in Cornwall but sounds nice.

Feelingstrange2 · 01/04/2024 17:37

My name is very similar to this.

I love it!

It's true that people spell it Karen. I've even had banks sign me up as Karen when my name clearly isn't that on the application nor was my passport that I supplied. It WILL happen. But many names come with confusions of sorts.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 01/04/2024 17:33

KirstenBlest · 01/04/2024 17:17

@OhhhhhhhhBiscuits ,did you mean Lowenna?

Yes, I think my fat fingers got in the way!

KirstenBlest · 01/04/2024 17:17

@OhhhhhhhhBiscuits ,did you mean Lowenna?

WeeOrcadian · 01/04/2024 17:17

La Senza

Sorry

Elieza · 01/04/2024 17:01

Love it. Either spelling

Doesn't remind me of the name Karen. I like that name anyway as I have a friend called that so associate it with good things anyway!

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 01/04/2024 16:52

If you like cornish names you may like Lorwenna, Morwenna or as someone else on here said Demelza. They were all on our short list as we wanted a traditional cornish name and then ended up sort of making our own version.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 01/04/2024 16:50

We have a Carensa. We didn't go for the Z as in Italian Carenza means defective so we avoided that. We also didn't want a K because of the Karen associated (not that I agree with it, but you know what kids can be like).

ComtesseDeSpair · 01/04/2024 15:42

I like it, though preference for Carenza. Wouldn’t connect it to Karen but at any rate, Karen as an insult isn’t going to be around forever. It’s already a tired and dated meme, the young people who think it’s funny will grow up.

TroubadourCat · 01/04/2024 15:41

Petrine · 01/04/2024 15:17

I like the name Kerenza - either spelling.

I find it so sad for those called Karen that their name has become so vilified that even a name sounding similar is considered to have negative connotations by association.

That’s how much our society hates women eh?

Kerenza is lovely. I know a Keren and a Kenza, it’s almost like a combination of those two lovely names. (I also know a Demelza believe it or not.)

NoelJo · 01/04/2024 15:38

I don’t really like the name myself but I don’t associate it with Karen at all.

Original poster
SageGreenShoes · 01/04/2024 15:36

Weird - I just don't associate Kerenza with Karen at all. They sound really different to me and have different origins / meanings.

OP posts:
Moreteaandchocolate · 01/04/2024 15:21

It’s pretty, but unfortunately I think I would be put off by the similarity to Karen. That doesn’t mean it should put you off though, it’s just how I’d feel if I was deciding.

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 01/04/2024 15:21

I've known two gorgeous Kerenzas and didn't even think to associate it with Karen. Such a lovely name, it was on my girl list too!

Petrine · 01/04/2024 15:17

I like the name Kerenza - either spelling.

I find it so sad for those called Karen that their name has become so vilified that even a name sounding similar is considered to have negative connotations by association.

Youdontknowmedoyou · 01/04/2024 15:07

It's lovely. I knew a girl at primary called Kerenza. She was a wonderful person.

KirstenBlest · 01/04/2024 15:05

Not a fan. It's too close to Karen and seems a bit fussy.

Mitsouko1919 · 01/04/2024 14:33

My daughter's middle name is Kerenza. We have Cornish connections & it was always my favourite Cornish name.

One person said they didn't like it as it reminded them of the name Karen "with all those negative connotations." I pointed out that Kerenza is pronounced with the emphasis on the 'ren' part - Ke-REN-za - & therefore sounds completely different to Karen. And that I found the misogyny & ageism associated with the criticism of Karen as a name unpleasant. Said person - a feminist academic as it goes - immediately went quiet.

It's a beautiful name 🙂

user1492757084 · 01/04/2024 13:50

Prefer Kerenza or Carenza.

Love many Cornish names..
Endellion
Elowen