Serena or Alina - Persian Baby

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Which one do you like more and why?

Serena, it's serener.

Alina is ok but a bit too vowel-heavy.

Serena is a beautiful name — serene is a very positive characteristic. It has a lovely smooth sound.
Alina sounds more jerky, if you see what I mean.
It’s an ok name however if you decide to go with it.
Both your choices are great

I love both your names. If it was me I would be tempted to go with Alina just because I think it’s the least popular name.

Both are lovely. Serena is slightly more classical sounding, Alina more internationally used.

It also depends on whether you want a nickname? In the UK Alina may well be called Allie by her peers (the way most Alison's are), Serena doesn't have an inbuilt nickname as such (although I'm sure her friends will find something!).

Thank you everyone for your suggestions so far! Keep the advice coming..
@IamnotwhouthinkIam I'm not too concerned about nicknames but i guess it's good to keep in mind! Serena could be Seri or Reena

I think Serena is lovely - sounds quite magical and sparkly too me, nice meaning. Positive association with Serena Williams too. Alina is fine - possible nn of Ally / Ali, which I dislike. It just sounds plainer to me. I don't think I like the elongated 'lee' sound, same with 'Lisa' - personal preference really.

Love Serena!

Oh I really like Alina it sounds the nicest,

Thank you all for your comments! :) Looks like Serena is in the lead at the moment!

Both are lovely - I slightly prefer Serena!

I prefer Alina, it's really pretty. Not hugely keen on serena but that might just be because Seren is so popular in wales.

Serena definitely.

Alina is just another 'vowel-start-bit-in-the-middle-ends-in-a' name, immediately sounds a bit nothing.

I prefer Alina but Serena is also a nice name.

Would you spell it as Alina, Aleena or Elina?

In my home country the name Alina is associated with a verb that means "to comfort/settle down/calm down". It's also thought to come from Adelina/Adeline.

So ofc I'm biased but I think it has a nice meaning, and fairly close to Serena.

Makes me laugh that just because people aren't familiar with it think it's a random no meaning name.

I prefer the Alina spelling.

@AccidentallyOnPurpose It's lovely to know that it has such a beautiful meaning where you're from! Thanks for sharing :)

Both are quite nice but I think I prefer Serena on balance. I like the sound of Alina, but for some inexplicable reason, I don't like the look of it written down!

@AlexaShutUp It's interesting that you say that, I feel like it's the other way round for me. I like the sound of Serena but really dislike how it looks written down, whereas Alina looks sharper and neater to my eyes...

How would you say it?
Ah-leena ? Or Ay-leena?

@AccidentallyOnPurpose I would say it like 'ah-leena'...

@AccidentallyOnPurpose More joined together though, like aleeena, so that the 'a' and the beginning is like an 'uh-leena' not 'a -as in c-a-t" .

Then I'd go for the original spelling or possibly Aleena.

How did you come upon the name?

Ignore the pp suggesting Aleena, dreadful spelling of it. Alina is fine but similar to so many popular names.

Serena is much much nicer, more distinctive and strong. You'll say a name out loud far more often than you'll write it down.

Serena.
I don't dislike Alina but, although it's not a common name, it feels similar to lots of popular names somehow (like Eliana, Amelia, Alana, Leila, - they all have a similar feel).