Serena - how to pronounce or spell?

[Celen]

Thoughts please?

I really like the name Serena for a girl but would like it pronounced Ser-Ray-Na, not ser-ree-na or ser-ren-na. Am I being silly? Is it possible to alter the spelling of a name to reflect the pronunciation or is that a really stupid idea?

Thanks

My Dad's cousin is called this and its pronounced Ser-reen-na.

I've always thought that its a beautiful name as it is. If you effectively 'create' a new name to reflect pronounciation your child will spend her life spelling it out to people.

Some people do alter the spelling so people pronounce it the way they want.

I went to school with a girl called 'Tarnya' because her Mum didn't want it pronounced Tan-ya

Yeah I don't want to appear ignorant by giving my child a "yoonique" spelling but I don't particularly like ser-ree-na, it seems a bit squeaky

If you spell it Serena but pronounce Serayna it will drive her demented constantly having to explain - I have a difficult name that looks nothing like it's pronounced so have experience with this!

Raina or Seraphina are quite similar. Or spell it Seraina/Serayna if you must...I wouldn't though.

Oh dear I meant Rania like the queen of Jordan, not Raina...Raina looks quite nice actually though!

How about Seren? Rhymes with wren. I love Serena though - lovely calm name.

Se-Ray-Na reminds me of Jack Black in School of Rock - 'Actually it's Snablay!'

worra I went to school with a "Tarn-ya" too

Serena is such a beautiful name, I would leave it be.

Serena should be pn Se-ree-na and it is most definitely not 'squeaky'. I should know