Is Irene truly dreadful?

[spearmintbubble]

I love the name Irene Elizabeth and I was wanting to use it. Majority of people I’ve asked like it, however there is a high percentage who don’t. Is it one of those names that you either love or hate? All opinions welcome!

As long as it's the original 3 syllables pronunciation I think it's lovely. I also think that it will also come back in the next few years with other names from that era - so I don't think your Irene will be alone. People thought calling kids Arthur and Edith was bizarre a couple of decades ago, now there are thousands of them.

It’s really popular in Spain where I live and so I know lots.

they pronounce it very differently though. sort of like Ee-ren-eh.

Im ambivalent about it. I’ve not too keen on “een” names like Kathleen, Maureen, eileen etc, but it does look prettier than those, even if it shares the same sound phonetically speaking.

Add a hairy mole she calls a beauty spot and you've just described my Aunt Irene.

Pick a different name OP

I love it with 3 syllables, as in Irene Adler, Irene Handl.

I can't say I'm a fan of the name. But does it matter? As long as a name doesn't have an obscene meaning in another language, or have an association with say a famous serial killer, other people's opinions don't really count.

Irina instead? Pronounced Ee-rhin-uh

I like it, Irene or Irena (pronounded eer-ay-neh).

Freaking love it! Think you've just named my next child 😍

This little Irene will spend more of her life as an adult than she will as a baby.

Not for me, sorry.

You are naming your child after a K-pop star or someone who died yesterday who starred in Fame. (Google it.)

If you want it pronounced with 3 syllables then it is spelt "Irenee" otherwise you get most British people using the two syllable version.

I love it. It was my mum’s middle name but she hated it. She also hated her first name which I would have to agree with her about so was known by a nickname given to her by her older sister who couldn’t pronounce her name correctly when little.
I think Irene Elizabeth would be a lovely pairing and Elizabeth would give her plenty of options for when she is older if she didn’t like Irene

Irina

I've met a few women under 40 called that. None were born in the UK. It is a common European name.

Alternative is "Erina" which has various meanings depending on the country of origin e.g. Ireland, Arabic, Japan.

Yes sorry

Irina is better

I have a beautiful and sophisticated French friend called Irène, pronounced ee-ren.
It's as classy as she is.

Oh and I use to know a Spanish "Irene" pronounced the 2 syllable way. At the same time there were a couple of "Irina"s.

(I looked up the name and similar when choosing a name for my daughter, who isn't called Irene.)

If you want it pronounced with 3 syllables then it is spelt "Irenee"

Definitely don’t do this- it’s ugly and wrong.

Reminds me of the character in Only Fools and Horses who had the thug as a husband.

Sorry, I think it's dreadful.

I love it. It's so much nicer than all the boring other E, A and I names that every little girl seems to have at the moment.

It's not wrong. It is an acceptable spelling.

Also remember you cannot have accents on some official UK documentation e.g. passports.

So a name meaning "Peace" is dreadful?

Names can have lovely meanings but still sound unappealing.

Irenee is not a commonly accepted spelling, no.

Yes it really is.

I met a 6 year old called Sheila a while ago and I'm still weirded out by it