Irina?

[irinairene]

Irene is the more old fashioned of the two which made my partner prefer Irina, but what is holding me back from Irina is we aren’t Eastern European, but other than that I do like Irina.

For Irene we decided on 2 middle names, so her full name would be Irene Elizabeth Alexandra.

Irina is harder and I can’t think of anything at the minute, except Irina Elizabeth.

I love it, it’s a name I see a fair bit on my ancestry (my grandmother was Russian I believe) - honestly it’s not like you are calling your child something like Fyodora. It’s more like calling her Sasha or Anastasia. I love it.

This name immediately makes me think of Boy Parts by Eliza Clark - Google it! I do like the name though.

I think Irina is better than Irene, though I don't like it. I think it's fine for parents who aren't from Eastern Europe though. It's a name which sounds like a villain's name to me. Though I'm probably influenced by Irina Viner who is one of the most abusive and cruel gymnastics coaches and also dresses like a Disney villain.

I think it's lovely! I remember reading a (British) book as a child called The Enchanted Horse, and the main girl was called Irina. It's also the name of a ballerina in a dance series of books I had when younger, (although she was Russian), so the name sounds very elegant to me! I think it's fine to use on a non Eastern European child

I like it but it'll probably be mispronounced in the UK as Eye-reen-ah rather than Ir-reen-ah.

With Elizabeth Alexandra I prefer ..

Irene
Also consider Eileen, Iris or Ida

Irene by far.

Irina sounds off with Elizabeth.

Irina is better than Irene, Irene is really bad

I don't think you should worry too much about which name 'goes' with the middle name, as middle names are rarely used... I'd rather be called a nice name and have no middle name at all than called a less nice name that flowed with the middle name personally! (Pick Irina 😁)

Love the name Irene/Irina it’s on my baby name list but spelt Irena. Has a gorgeous meaning as well. I’ve met baby Petra’s & Anastasia who are British as they come, it still works.
For middles I would go something short for Irina and either short or long for Irene.

How are you pronouncing Irene?

I know one who pronounces it ‘i-ree-nee’ and it’s lovely on her. I do also like ‘i-reena’.

But unfortunately in the UK, most will be more familiar with the ‘eye-reen’ and ‘eye-reena’ pronounciations, so that’s something to be aware of.

I like Irina and I know a girl with the name. She’s not Russian/European

I like Irina and prefer it to Irene, but I would assume you had some sort of Eastern European connection.

It's a beautiful name.

If you are having second thoughts, what about Elena?

I like Irene if it’s 3 syllables (two is awful) but Irina is probably easier.

I might vaguely assume you had some E European connection but I don’t think it matters.

I think these names will be revived soon, at which point they’ll be commonplace anyway.

Not sure why Irina sounds like something vaguely gynaecological to me. Maybe I'm thinking of Mirena.

My friend has a DD called Irina. She is Eastern European but it's a lovely name even if you're not, much better than Irene

Not wearing my glasses. I thought you wrote Irma. Irma would be unexpected 😂