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

Baby names

Help me pick a name!

25 replies

Daisykay · 09/05/2023 02:03

Marina
Serena
Elena
Eva

I would love to see your thoughts on these names!

OP posts:

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Pemba · 09/05/2023 02:31

They are all lovely names. I would probably pick Serena or Marina as Elena and especially Eva seem to be very popular at the moment.

How are you pronouncing Elena by the way, EL-ena, El-LAY-na or El-LEN-a?

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Daisykay · 09/05/2023 02:41

Thank you. I’m pronouncing it Eh-lay-na.

OP posts:

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Summer2424 · 09/05/2023 02:47

Hi @Daisykay
Awww good choice of names, i'd go with Eva x

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mathanxiety · 09/05/2023 02:51

They're all lovely.

Marina and Elena are my favourites with Eva a close second. Serena is a bit wispy imo.

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JauntyRedShoes · 09/05/2023 03:56

Elena - love this name and the way it sounds.
Eva - close second. I love Ava too.
Serena - I like the serene element of the name.
Marina - my least favourite of the four.

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user1492757084 · 09/05/2023 04:04

Serena is my favourite from your list.
Serena Ellen
Serena Rose
Serena Margaret

Second - Elena
Third - Marina
No to Eva

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MissedItByThisMuch · 09/05/2023 04:16

Marina is lovely and rarely heard. Serena my second favourite. Elena and Eva are perfectly nice but there are so many El- and Ev- names around.

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Theoldwoman · 09/05/2023 04:28

Eva is the only one I love.

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Mumofgirls2017 · 09/05/2023 05:51

Eva or Elena

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pilates · 09/05/2023 05:53

Elena

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quietnightmare · 09/05/2023 05:59

Elena

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wellingtonsandwaffles · 09/05/2023 06:17

Lovely names, Eva is very popular though.

my favourite is Elena, then Serena.

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Peachbubble · 09/05/2023 06:26

I like them in the order you've put them OP:
Marina, Serena, Elena, Eva

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KirstenBlest · 09/05/2023 12:41

Marina - not unusual where I am
Serena - spelling. I know more Sarinas than Serena
Elena - pronunciation - EL-en-a/Elaina/El-EN-a? Lots of Ellies
Eva - with Eva/Evie/Ava too popular

Serena.

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shoopshoopdedoo · 09/05/2023 14:31

I like Eva, despite popularity
Also like Elena
Serena and Marina not to my taste but they are nice!

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ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 09/05/2023 15:29

Serena

2 Marina
3. Elena (Elle's are everywhere)
4. Eva (too popular!!!)

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AndSoFinally · 09/05/2023 18:33

My friends little girl is Elena, Nell for short. It's a lovely name

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grishaverse · 09/05/2023 19:07

I love Serena, reminds me of the Gossip Girl character and it's such a sweet name. I quite like Elena too as it's pretty. Then Eva is okay but quite popular and not as lovely as the other names on your list and I really dislike Marina - makes me think of fish.

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Backtonormalatlast · 09/05/2023 19:09

Serena

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ThickSkinnedSoWhat · 09/05/2023 19:15

Serena or Elena for me. Though if I was pronouncing Elena your intended way (which I would as its the only way I am overly fond of it) I'd probably spell it Elaina for fear of constantly getting mispronounced

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shadowchancesassy · 09/05/2023 19:17

Love elena so pretty 😍

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Watchthedoormat · 09/05/2023 19:25

Eva has my vote
Simple, elegant - a classic!
Marina- seaside
Elena- pronunciation issues
Serena- tennis

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SuperheroBirds · 09/05/2023 19:29

My favourite two are Serena and Marina.
I think there is a risk of their being a lot of Evas, and as someone who had a common name with 3 of us in my primary class, I’d prefer something a little rarer.

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PickledScrump · 09/05/2023 19:31

I love elena said either EL-ena or el-EN-a. Really dislike it as e-lay-na, seems to really give it an unpleasant sound.

Eva is far too popular, blends into all the Evie’s, eve, names too.
Serena and Marina are ok

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fairycupcakes · 09/05/2023 23:00

How are you pronouncing Serena? Se REH na or Sa ree na?

Your list is lovely though I prefer the Eh le na Elena pronunciation the same way I prefer the se REH na Serena (the way I prefer them they rhyme, hope that makes sense! ☺️) I grew up in a Spanish-speaking country so maybe that answers to my preferences with these names.

Marina is gorgeous as is Marine.
Eva I like but as PPs have said it is very very popular and gets lost amongst all the other vowel-heavy names that are very of-the-now x