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Baby names

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Original poster

Inés / Ines

33 replies

Chickpealemon · 12/06/2026 16:10

Thoughts on using this name for a girl in the UK especially if you have it / have used it

we have Austrian and Spanish family so would like a classic and elegant name that is easily recognisable in English German and Spanish.

other names that we like but not quite right: Helena, Clara, Diana

Is it familiar enough in the UK? Does it lend itself to bullying nicknames?
TIA.

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Redsparklybucket · 16/06/2026 15:12

SlayTheJAway · 14/06/2026 17:25

Yes, I own an Innes 😁

Me too -he's fabulous

NamingNoNames · 16/06/2026 14:40

I don't have 'major issues' but it gets misspelled and mispronounced all the time.

NamingNoNames · 16/06/2026 14:34

I don't think she has any major issues with the name. I doubt that my sister's friends know that I have major issues with mine.

Juryduty · 16/06/2026 14:11

A friend's sister is named Ines - they are of Portuguese heritage and live the UK. I don't think she has any major issues with the name.

I think it's a nice name. Some people will be unfamiliar with the pronunciation but I don't think it's a huge issue.

NamingNoNames · 16/06/2026 09:51

@Chickpealemon I doubt anyone would make that comparison It's just that a pp suggested it was like Enid ('English' pronunciation), which would have meant Ines pronounced like ee-nis.

Inés is a beautiful name, please don't be put off.

Some people struggle with any name that's not overused.

Original poster
Chickpealemon · 16/06/2026 08:09

Ok so a mix! Tricky I don’t want to saddle her with pronunciation clarification all her life and not thrilled about any comparison to penis which would never occur to me!! Pronounced ee-NES as mentioned - first syllable is short and the last syllable is stressed. Easy once you’ve heard it but maybe confusing if you haven’t.. Love Clara but know a few too many now.

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Trumptontown · 15/06/2026 11:14

It’s a beautiful name. Also agree with a pp about Clara / Nutcracker - love that name too (could be the middle name? 😁)

NamingNoNames · 15/06/2026 11:11

and it should be familiar to most people even if they don’t know one personally.
It won't be because it's not and hasn't been much used in the UK.
I'm aware of it because of Inès de La Fressange (Chanel model in the early 1980s).

MabelAnderson · 15/06/2026 10:47

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 13/06/2026 13:20

I think it’s well known enough to not be strange in the uk as it’s quite popular in lots of countries

Agree with this. I knew one years ago, an adult Spanish woman. Nobody seemed to find her name difficult in any way. It’s only two clear syllables, and it should be familiar to most people even if they don’t know one personally. It’s a lovely name.

ClairDeLaLune · 15/06/2026 10:41

It’s beautiful. There was an Ines at my DC’s school, she was Portuguese. Never any problem with the name.

SlayTheJAway · 14/06/2026 17:25

Yes, I own an Innes 😁

NamingNoNames · 14/06/2026 16:55

SlayTheJAway · 14/06/2026 16:30

I think maybe it’s varied, or perhaps regional?

I know two and one pronounces it as you say, and one pronounces it Innes.

Show quote history

The Ines you know might say her name as Innes but that's not the usual pronunciation. The French Inès sounds the same as the Spanish Inés .

  • e – like "e" in "bet"
  • i – like "ee" in "see"

The Innes I know says his name as Innes and it rhymes with Guinness.

SlayTheJAway · 14/06/2026 16:30

NamingNoNames · 14/06/2026 11:36

Eeness

Show quote history

I think maybe it’s varied, or perhaps regional?

I know two and one pronounces it as you say, and one pronounces it Innes.

SlenderRations · 14/06/2026 16:28

Lovely name. Elegant, easy to spell (provided you are relaxed about the accent), easy to say, classic but also not over used, works with your background without fuss. Great choice

TofuTuesday · 14/06/2026 16:25

NamingNoNames · 14/06/2026 13:38

@TofuTuesday ,strictly speaking Enid is Enn-id not Ee-nid, but most people say it as Eenid.

Inés is ee-ness
How to pronounce Ines | HowToPronounce.com
rhymes with me yes - doesn't rhyme with penis.

I’ve never heard it said like that, is it a local thing? Thanks for Ines pronunciation.

NamingNoNames · 14/06/2026 13:38

@TofuTuesday ,strictly speaking Enid is Enn-id not Ee-nid, but most people say it as Eenid.

Inés is ee-ness
How to pronounce Ines | HowToPronounce.com
rhymes with me yes - doesn't rhyme with penis.

TofuTuesday · 14/06/2026 13:30

NamingNoNames · 14/06/2026 11:36

Eeness

Show quote history

Oh thank you, would never have guessed that. Like Enid ?

NamingNoNames · 14/06/2026 11:36

TofuTuesday · 14/06/2026 11:25

How is it pronounced?

In - ez?
In - nyez?

Eeness

TofuTuesday · 14/06/2026 11:25

How is it pronounced?

In - ez?
In - nyez?

NamingNoNames · 14/06/2026 11:12

Inez is more unusual and not Spanish, @kenzsmum .

Totalmayhem · 14/06/2026 00:25

Oh I love this name - I was keen, dh not so! Be aware it’ll often be ‘shortened’ to Nessie/Nessa ….which can change the entire perception of the name!

kenzsmum · 14/06/2026 00:20

Inés/Ines is a beautiful name. While it’s uncommon in the UK, it’s still a recognisable name. The spelling Inez might feel more familiar to English speakers at first glance but no, it doesn’t lend itself to teasing.

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 13/06/2026 13:20

I think it’s well known enough to not be strange in the uk as it’s quite popular in lots of countries

Zingading · 12/06/2026 20:10

Not especially unusual here but might depend where in the UK you are. Nice and short to avoid too many issues.

Original poster
Chickpealemon · 12/06/2026 20:07

Thank you all very helpful comments! We would use the Spanish (Inés) but not too fussed about the diacritic being dropped as we’re in the UK

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