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Baby names

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Original poster

Milena for a girl?

29 replies

coveredinsnot · 09/09/2015 20:46

We want something slightly unusual but not weird. I like the name Milena partly because it can be abbreviated to Millie. My hesitation is that we're fairly British as a family, our son has a Hebrew name so we're not averse to 'foreign' sounding names, but just wondering what opinions or thoughts or reactions you lovely and honest mumsnetters have to this name?

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Original poster
coveredinsnot · 09/09/2015 20:47

Sorry if that makes no sense. I'm heavily heavily pregnant and my brain is all melty!

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 09/09/2015 20:48

I thought of mirena (coil)
But that may just be because I have one. Children wont

goldglittershitter · 09/09/2015 20:49

I thought of the coil too, straight away. Sorry, OP!

CalliopeTorres · 09/09/2015 20:51

Honestly, working in a medical background, this was my first thought....

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melena

FaintlyMacabre · 09/09/2015 20:52

Google 'meleana' (pronounced very similarly to how I assume you'll be saying Milena). Or maybe don't if you're at all squeamish.

I really wouldn't advise calling a child this. Millie is sweet, but as a shortening for Millicent.

Kathysclown · 09/09/2015 20:52

I llive outside of the UK and know several American ladies with similar names - Malini and Melina...... Those are similar but bring the thought of the coil into my head - any good??

SevenSeconds · 09/09/2015 20:53

I know a Milena, she's Polish.

Original poster
coveredinsnot · 09/09/2015 20:53

Excellent! Seriously, just what I wanted - never would.have occurred to me Smile but really useful to know!

OP posts:
Kathysclown · 09/09/2015 20:53

I meant - they DON'T bring the thought of the coil into my head..... (Whereas Milena does)....

Sophronia · 09/09/2015 21:40

How about Mileva instead? That was Einstein's wife's name.

Original poster
coveredinsnot · 09/09/2015 22:21

BTW we'd pronounce it mi LAY nah

Does that sound less shitty and coily?

OP posts:
Gobbolinothewitchscat · 09/09/2015 22:24

I think the problem is that everyone else would pronounce it My leen ah

Can you spell it "Milana"?

Raines100 · 10/09/2015 11:45

Milena is a beautiful name and certainly well known throughout Europe. Pronounced correctly, it doesn't sound like an IUD. It's just the spelling. Normally, I'd advise against altering a spelling, but maybe it makes sense in this circumstance. Mil??na is the French but perhaps still too close. You could anglicise it to Milayna or Milaina? Or do you like Milana, as it's the female form of Milan.

Pipilangstrumpf · 10/09/2015 13:37

I like it and have only ever heard it pronounced mi LEH nah. Great name - not overused, works well in most languages and sounds beautiful.

Pipilangstrumpf · 10/09/2015 13:38

And I've never heard of Milana - Mi-LAA-nah?!

Afterthestorm · 10/09/2015 13:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LaMalli · 10/09/2015 14:09

I think Milena is typical of eastern Europe but very popular in Italy as well, it's a name from the 70/80s, not massively used now (that's why it could be a good option, I like names that are not too trendy!)
Another nice, shorter version is Mila, beautiful name.

zippyswife · 10/09/2015 14:35

A RL friend recently called Her dd this. I think it's quite pretty and unusual. I didn't think of the coil!

Original poster
coveredinsnot · 10/09/2015 16:47

I guess people think of the coil when they see it written down and don't hear how it's pronounced?

OP posts:
Original poster
coveredinsnot · 10/09/2015 16:47

Yes I like Mila too, but not as much for some reason.

OP posts:
SmugairleRoin · 10/09/2015 16:51

Another one thinking of the coil here.
I imagine you (and her) would have to spend a lot of time correcting peoples pronunciation - don't know if that'd bother you.

thehousewife · 10/09/2015 16:53

I too thought of the coil immediately ??

FlysInDreams · 10/09/2015 17:02

Millie could also be short for Melissa.

I admit I also thought of the coil, and keep pronouncing it that way even after you've said how it should be said Blush

jefferson1 · 10/09/2015 19:06

The coil. Sorry. It thought it instantly on seeing the name.

CurlsLDN · 10/09/2015 19:10

I know a milene. She's French, pronounced mill-N.

Or how about Alaina?

I read milena to rhyme with mirena and thought of that too