Marlena - thoughts?

[Cinnamon2013]

Hi
Thinking about the girls' name Marlena (pronouncing it Mar-lay-nah). I like the connection to Marlene Dietrich and soul singer Marlena Shaw. Also potential nicknames -Marlie, Lena.

OH less sure and thinks she'll be mispronounced as Mar-leen-a

Would appreciate thoughts!

I like it, although having never heard of Marlena Shaw would probably have opted for spelling Marlene.

Re: people mispronouncing - people will do it, you'll (and eventually she'll) correct them, no big deal. DS has a fairly recognisable Old Testament name and still gets mispronounced at least a couple of times a week - it doesn't bother either of us (he's now 3.5). I have a v unusual but phonetic name and have to correct pronunciation fairly often and again, I've never minded.

Marlie and Lena both lovely nicknames too, especially Marlie.

I know a Marlena, who is known as Marla. It's ok, I neither particularly like or dislike it as a name.

If it's any help, anyone who remembers the Suzanne Vega song is likely to assume Mar-lay-nah.

I like it. It's strong and unusual. The line from the song 'Marlena watches on the wall' popped in to my head as soon as I saw the thread though.

I would have thought it was Mar leen a until corrected.

Don't really like it but it's not awful.

Thanks. I love that Suzanne Vega song.

Got an earworm now.

I like Marlena.

I really like that Susanne Vega song, but still thought it was more of a Marl -ee- na than a Marl-ay-na sound (she does sing quite fast!). On the You Tube link it's Marlene not Marlena though.

I suspect that a Marlene would be even more likely to get Marl-een though, especially as that looks as if it's the standard English pronunciation - the 'ay' sound is German apparently (as was Marlene Dietrich)

I know a Polish little girl called Milena which sounds similar, and I think I prefer.

Yes - just heard Milena and it's v pretty. My background is German, though. I would like Marlene spelling but don't want to end up with Mar-leen so that 'a' would be to help avoid that.

Marlene, the German way. Don't have a silly spelling.

I like Mar lay na but not Mar leen a. I think you'd get the latter pronunciation in the uk though.

I was going to say that my first thought was Marlena Shaw who I love!

Great name.

It's gorgeous, love it.

It's nice but makes me think of only fools and horses..

It's nice with a few nice nicknames to choose from- Lena, Leni, Marley. All lovely.

When I read the title (not knowing the name) I read it as Mar-lean - ah, if that helps.

I also (like Magicfinger) got an instant picture of Only Fools and Horses in my mind

I really think given your German heritage you should go for Marlene, and just correct the people who get the pronunciation wrong. That way you can say 'like Marlene Deitrich' or 'like the Suzanne Vega song' and it won't sound as if you are in the wrong to the people who assume it's Marleen. Your dd when older can say it's the German pronunciation, and again knowing she is right about that can be very helpful.

I have a very unusual name which often gets mispronounced and find it really does help to be able to explain it's just unusual, not made up in some way. Very few people mispronounce repeatedly, and to be honest even if they do it's not that big a deal to me. OF course it does help that I really really like my name :)

I think you're right - may as well go for it with the German spelling. I'm sold, now just need to convince OH...

Ah, didn't know the only fools and horses link... But prob not a connection her own peers will make at least

On the wall.
Love the name and the song.

It's also a beautiful song by Donovan. I really like it.

I like it
Reminds me of the nan from hollyoaks but she was a likeable character anyway
I automatically said mar-lay-na

What was the name of Helena BC's character in Fight Club?

Marla Singer