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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Irene or Rose?

40 replies

spearmintbubble · 30/11/2022 23:05

Originally we settled on Irene Elizabeth Alexandra, but I nearly have some sort of attachment to Rose. I love Irene but I also love Rose! Whichever one I don’t use with this DD will be used if I ever have another. We love both middle names and will be keeping them the same no matter what name we choose.

Irene Elizabeth Alexandra
Rose Elizabeth Alexandra

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S25 · 30/11/2022 23:16

Rose Alexandra Elizabeth? I feel like that flows better than Rose Elizabeth Alexandra.

I’m sorry but I don’t like Irene at all if you’re pronouncing Eye - reen

DramaAlpaca · 30/11/2022 23:28

Rose! I get that it's popular but that's because it's beautiful in a way that Irene, sadly, just isn't.

And I agree with reversing the middle names as suggested above.

Thewolvesarerunningagain · 30/11/2022 23:28

Ask yourself if you only have one daughter, which one you can't do without. You may be happy with one child/have boys/lots of other things.

Personally I like Rose more, but Irene is less used. As a northerner Irene ends up as 'Our Reeny' which is rather dated. Irena has more of a flow with the middle names. The German pronunciation ee-ray-nuh is much nicer than the uk eye-ree-na.
Great connotations of Sherlock (Irene Adler) or Irene Castle for silver screen glamour!

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 30/11/2022 23:30

Rose Elizabeth Alexandra is beautiful.

DotDotDotDotDot · 01/12/2022 05:21

Rose is beautiful as a first name, 100 times better than Irene IMO.

Lightowl · 01/12/2022 05:24

Rose everytime

Irene is dated and not making a comeback anytime soon, also subject to a lifetime of hilarious “come on Irene” jokes.

LadyWithLapdog · 01/12/2022 05:25

I like Irina (Yee-ree-nah) and the one I know is Yeery. Rose is also pretty.

lifeinthehills · 01/12/2022 05:27

Rose all the way.

Sandysandwich · 01/12/2022 05:45

Rose Elizabeth Alexandra

Luredbyapomegranate · 01/12/2022 08:54

Irene - although only if three syllables.

There are far too many Rose names - she’ll end up one of a billion Rosies

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 01/12/2022 10:02

Luredbyapomegranate · 01/12/2022 08:54

Irene - although only if three syllables.

There are far too many Rose names - she’ll end up one of a billion Rosies

Not necessarily - my DD is a Rose, she's the only one in her year at school (two form entry primary). Quite a few girls have Rose as a middle name, but that's not really an issue. It's definitely not like when I was at school and there were three Emilys in a class, two Victorias, and everyone's middle name was Jane!

midsomermurderess · 01/12/2022 10:02

The OP isn’t asking for opinions on Irene.

Rauha · 01/12/2022 10:03

Rose

Sprouttreesareamazing · 01/12/2022 10:04

Imo Irene isn't and never will be due a comeback..

user864 · 01/12/2022 10:06

Rose!

Excusemegreentea · 01/12/2022 10:08

ROSE 🌹ROSE 🌹ROSE🌹

choochooandspook · 01/12/2022 10:21

irene is awful, prefer rose but love alexandra

ShowsLikeThese · 01/12/2022 10:23

Irene

Chuckle94 · 01/12/2022 10:28

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 01/12/2022 10:02

Not necessarily - my DD is a Rose, she's the only one in her year at school (two form entry primary). Quite a few girls have Rose as a middle name, but that's not really an issue. It's definitely not like when I was at school and there were three Emilys in a class, two Victorias, and everyone's middle name was Jane!

Show quote history

My daughters middle name is Rose
definitely prefer Rose over Irene

Original poster
spearmintbubble · 01/12/2022 10:49

I should also add we have a 2 syllable last name. Irene sounds better with it as Rose sounds slightly short. We love both, DH favours Rose slightly and I favour Irene. Oh and eye-reen, we don’t like the sound of the other pronunciation with our last name.

OP posts:
Luredbyapomegranate · 01/12/2022 11:51

midsomermurderess · 01/12/2022 10:02

The OP isn’t asking for opinions on Irene.

She is.

The thread is literally called Irene or Rose

Luredbyapomegranate · 01/12/2022 11:53

spearmintbubble · 01/12/2022 10:49

I should also add we have a 2 syllable last name. Irene sounds better with it as Rose sounds slightly short. We love both, DH favours Rose slightly and I favour Irene. Oh and eye-reen, we don’t like the sound of the other pronunciation with our last name.

Oh if it’s Eye-reen then no

I think that anyone who likes Irene these days it tends to be with the original
Eye-ree-nee pronunciation, Eye-reen really is dated

Rose is nice

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 01/12/2022 12:26

I'd be happy to be called Rose.

I'd be s-i-g-n-i-f-i-c-a-n-t-l-y less thrilled to be called Irene.

EmmaC78 · 01/12/2022 12:30

Definitely not Irene.

Vienna92 · 01/12/2022 12:35

What about Iris? It’s kind of a mix of both :)
Rosa is beautiful though, also love Rosa!