Irina or Irene?

[squirrelsinapool]

Irene is a family name, and we are very close to choosing it, but we also like Irina but we are unsure on it.

Opinions?

There was a thread on here the other day about the name Irene and the feedback was nearly all bad.

I think Irina is much nicer x

Irina is so much nicer.

Irene is bright and lovely.

If it is the family way and yu like it then you should choose it and be proud.

Irina is much better, Irene makes me think of a loud old lady who smoke’s like a chimney.

I like Irina but it will be pronounced eye-reen-uh in the UK rather than like in Russian. Don't know if that bothers you or not.

Irene just seems rather dated to me, though I can see it making a comeback at some point.

Eirene (eye-ree-nee) is another option - I know someone who has this as a middle name.

Irene is eye-ree-nee, the awful eye-reen pronunciation is a US import

Irene and Irina are both nice, I would probably go for Irene but you will be correcting it a bit

Irina is a Russian name, do you have any Russian/East European background?

I would definitely go with Irene

Irina is beautiful- one of the mums I know is called it. It’s a lot brighter sounding than Irene especially for a little one! I’d chose it

Don’t like Irene at all - very dated

Irina is beautiful but is Eastern European - does that bother you

I agree - when you see Irina, you assume someone of Russian or Eastern European heritage. If that doesn’t apply to you, I’d go for Irene. It’s unusual, in that there aren’t many around these days, but not bizarre. People know how to spell it etc. I think it’s really nice.

Have you considered Renée (Ren-ay)?
I'd say Irina as Ir-ee-na, and Irene as Eye-ree-nee, but that's me.
All are nice.