Our favourite name as a horrid connotation - can't think of another. Help!

[Flowerface]

For ages I thought that I would call a second DD Milena, after Milena Jesenska. We both love it. But it turns out that there is a poo-related medical condition called 'Malena' (SP?) which will be everyone's first thought when they hear the name.

Basically, I can't find another name we both like. We would like something reasonably short and uncomplicated, but slightly unusual, and it can't begin with 'F'. Our DD is called Elsa. Any suggestions?

Never heard of Malena so it wouldn't be the first thing I thought of when you told me your child's name. Are all your friends and relatives Doctors?

I think Milena is quite nice. Never heard of the poo thing.

No (though some are). It was actually the MN ladies who enlightened me.

another one never heard of the poo thing!

Wasn't sure about the condition you're referring to so looked it up on Wikipedia: it's called melena/melaena (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melena). I suppose the pronunciation is similar. Milena is fairly widely used in Europe so I wouldn't necessarily let that put you off but I should also point out that Mirena (with an R) is the name of a contraceptive device.

What other names did you consider for your DD? That might help us suggest some alternatives.

How about Marlena?

I didn't really mind about Mirena. I think that's quite a tenuous link, and there is some product named after almost everything these days (I also like Clio, so I am bitter).

We have thought a thousand other things, but none seems quite right. I suppose Helena is the current favourite but for some reason I find it a bit unwieldy. Also Harriet. Or Clara (find that a bit blah, though it does meet the criteria of being shortish and simple). I am just not feeling the love for any of them...

I'd bet that more women have heard of Mirena than melena/melaena... But if it doesn't bother you, great! If you pronounce Milena with a ME rather than a MIL sound at the beginning, it's probably not even a consideration. Similarly, I doubt Milena sounds like melena/melaena if you pronounce it ME-leh-na.

Suggestions -
Camilla
Elena
Helen
Marina
Matilda
Melanie
Melody
Miranda
Mila
Milda
Mildred
Miller
Millicent
Mira
Mirabelle
Mireille
Mirela
Miriam
Romilly

Maybe you could use Jesenská as a starting point - Jessica? Jessamine/Jessamyn? Jessamy?

Well people name their girls Amelia, also a medical condition, and people don't generally make that association. I think it's fine.

Is it?! What is Amelia? I know hundreds...

Thanks for the suggestions Stellen!

Amelia's the medical term for a missing limb.

Never heard of the medical condition and its not even spelt the same so I wouldn't worry about it. I think Milena sounds Italian...maybe thinking Milan? I like it :)

What about Selena?

Though Elsa and Selena might be too much 'ssss'

Sorry, but every nurse (and there can't be many nursery or schools who don't have at least one parent who's a nurse), will cringe when you shout it across the school yard. It's a very common nursey term.

Most medical nurses (as well as doctors) will have heard of melena, it's really loose unpleasant smelly tarry black stools usually as a result of internal bleeding.

Would put me off the name tbh.

x-posted mrsb

Please don't let it put you off! I had never heard of melena, and I bet most other people wouldn't think of it unless you pointed it out.

Lots of names have strange meanings, eg Candida (thrush), Cecilia (blind), Claudia (lame), in fact my name is only one letter different from a medical term for weakened muscles! And not one person has said anything to me about it.

Xposted! Ok maybe there are some people who'd cringe at it...

What about Jasenka? I know a doctor with this first name. Jessica is prob a bit too popular for you. It is actually pronounced with a 'Y' sound for the J.

Or what about Milana our Melana? Or Leyna or Lana?

I would never never think of poo in relation to Milena. Nice name. Lots of Poles and other Eastern Europeans round near us and it sounds like an Eastern European name to me - I wouldn't bat an eyelid.

If you like Clio though, go with Cleo - lovely name and no one has mentioned the car when we've told them that's DD2's name perhaps they were just too polite .

I like Milena (Mee-lena) and have no poo associations whatsoever.

I've never heard of the medical term, and I couldn't give a shit :o what some school nurse thinks.

never heard of the poo thing either so i don't think you should let it put you off.

Never heard of the poo thing either

Is the name pronounced Ma-layna or Ma-leena?

If Ma-layna how about: Alayna, Lani or Dana
If Ma-leena how about: Mina, Amina or Lina