Doreen is an honor name on my list, and it’s not going anywhere, but I’ve often wondered what everybody here thinks of the name. Does it strike you as too ‘old lady’ of a name, or is it vintage and sweet and ready for a comeback?
I personally find the name sweet and charming and lyrical, and though nameberry lists its Irish meaning of “sullen”, I’ve found it can also mean “gilded” or “gift” as well, so it’s not even a name that is ruined by its meaning for me. I absolutely adore it, and not just because it’s my best friend’s name!
I currently have it in the mn spot, paired with a variation of another friend’s name; Michaela Doreen
For myself, I find [name_f]Doreen[/name_f] quite a 60s name. She’s plucky and flouncy in a curled-up-hair and bubble-gum-smile sort of way! I imagine a [name_f]Doreen[/name_f] today would be an old woman who was a rascally bit of fun back in the 60s. While I wouldn’t use the name myself, I don’t have any objectively negative things to say about it!
I think an honor name that works and that you love trumps all. Imagining that such a spunky name honors a loved one for you is just great. I absolutely think that [name_f]Doreen[/name_f] is usable. [name_u]Dory[/name_u], [name_u]Deen[/name_u], and Reenie are such cute nicknames, too. I say go for it.
[name_f]Michaela[/name_f] [name_f]Doreen[/name_f] is a lovely combo!
I really like the vintage vibes of [name_f]Doreen[/name_f] (the similar [name_f]Eileen[/name_f], [name_f]Irene[/name_f], and [name_f]Marlene[/name_f] are all names on my own long list). The fact that it’s an honor name is a bonus as well.
It definitely reads as an “older person name” but I honestly think that’s an indicator it’s ready for a refresh/comeback rather than a negative thing.
[name_f]Michaela[/name_f] [name_f]Doreen[/name_f] flows very nicely together.
It’s not my cup of tea. I think I get caught up on the dor part, it’s kind of clunky and heavy while the -een part is lyrical and pretty like you said. I do love that it has significance to you tho
I’m not fond of it, though I’m partial to the similar [name_f]Doris[/name_f]. I don’t know where Nameberry got its meaning from - it’s simply [name_f]Dora[/name_f] (gift) + een. There don’t appear to be any Doreen’s in history before the eponymous novel by [name_f]Edna[/name_f] [name_m]Lyall[/name_m], who was [name_f]English[/name_f], so I find the Irish etymology unconvincing.
I agree @marysia - [name_f]Doreen[/name_f] doesn’t mean anything in Irish, nor is it Irish in origin. No offence to the Nameberry owners, but the database is not accurate when it comes to Irish names. There are a couple of Irish names that bear a similarity to [name_f]Doreen[/name_f], but [name_f]Doreen[/name_f] itself is a name from the [name_f]English[/name_f] language.
I find [name_f]Doreen[/name_f] dated but I would use it as a middle name of it was meaningful for me. You could also spell it [name_f]Dorine[/name_f], as in [name_u]French[/name_u], which seems a little bit more chic to me.
there’s nothing about it i particularly dislike, but yes I do associate it with the 60’s/70’s and wouldn’t use the name myself. if I were to meet a little Doreen though it’s not like I would think anything bad of it (maybe it could even help change the association of the name if more little one’s were named Doreen). Michaela Doreen is lovely and flows really well!
I don’t find it an old lady’s name, but I dislike this name. I am sorry if it is a name you really love or a honour name and have offended you somehow, but I dislike the “een” in general, so this is why I also dislike [name_f]Maureen[/name_f], [name_f]Eileen[/name_f], [name_f]Colleen[/name_f] exc. While I like [name_f]Coline[/name_f], Eyline / [name_f]Ayline[/name_f], and appreciate [name_f]Maurine[/name_f].
But I really like the -ine spelling / ending. If it was [name_f]Dorine[/name_f], I would have loved it and think it is so spunky and original yet familiar and beautiful. I would recommend [name_f]Michaela[/name_f] [name_f]Dorine[/name_f], it looks better too (for me). But it is a name you love, some opinions by strangers shouldn’t matter! [name_m]Just[/name_m] use it, who cares if other people won’t like it? I am sure that [name_f]Doreen[/name_f] has its charm that is vintage and musical. It reminds me of orange and blue, some artistic house, books, jazz music, colorful sweaters. [name_f]Doreen[/name_f] is a cool name after all! Now that I wrote this paragraph, I am starting to like [name_f]Doreen[/name_f] too XDDDD but really, it reminds me of a big house with a parrot, paintings, colorful, water and lakes and sweaters, music, vintage 60s.
It definitely has a dated/vintage vibe for me. It’s nms, but I like that it sounds similar to [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] or [name_f]Dolores[/name_f] which are coming back in, and I feel like its rare enough that it would be very refreshing to hear on a young person!
