My favorite name, which I’ve been wanting to call my daughter for a long time, is [name]Milena[/name] (I’ve been pronouncing it as “mil-[name]LAY[/name]-na”), nn [name]Millie[/name]. But, yesterday I found out that a nearly identical word, [name]Melena[/name], is the name for black, tarry poop! Oh no! :o I can’t even say [name]Milena[/name] now without thinking about that. Is it ruined? Can anyone offer some similar alternatives?
I would use [name]Mila[/name] as A nicknamed … Not [name]Millie[/name]
I kind of wish something like that would happen to me, because DH hates all my favorites 
Erm, in what language? I’ve never heard that before. Besides, [name]Milena[/name] is a strong, beautiful name, and I don’t think anyone (or at least, very few!) will think of that when they think of [name]Milena[/name], especially with the sweet nn [name]Millie[/name]. Maybe you could search for another name that would yield [name]Millie[/name], if [name]Milena[/name] just doesn’t work for you anymore? I think [name]Amelie[/name], [name]Camilla[/name], [name]Romilly[/name], etc., with the nn [name]Millie[/name], is adorable. Or even [name]Emilia[/name]/[name]Amelia[/name] or [name]Emmeline[/name]…
The other word is pronounced mil-eh-na, not mi-lay-na.
Aw, that sucks! Hm…similar sounds:
[name]Elena[/name]
Annalena
Annalina
Mazelina
Sabelina
[name]Sabina[/name]
[name]Zarina[/name]
[name]Milana[/name]
Miliana
[name]Milada[/name]
Mirela
Maleia
Maleka
[name]Malika[/name]
Malila
[name]Melena[/name] is indeed a medical term for black tarry poo, used in English. But it is pronounced muh-[name]LEE[/name]-nuh. Still, a far less pleasant association than the fact that [name]Milena[/name] is the given name of [name]Mila[/name] Kunis.
The similarity to melena does kinda ruin the name for me but it doesn’t have to. Most people aren’t going to make the connection and it’s a very beautiful name.
I thought that black tarry poo was called meconium?
I think if you search hard enough you could find a reason not to use almost any name, so I’d just put the black poo out of your mind and stick with the name you love. It’s a different word, with a different pronunciation so try not to give it another thought.
I know of a few Milenas, all pronounced the way you like.
Nameberry is the ONLY reason I would have ever heard of melena. Have [name]Milena[/name] on my list and will probably use it.
You could consider [name]Melina[/name].
@slavebrackets - Meconium is the word for a baby’s first poop. I think melena can be used to refer to a black tarry poop by anyone (not necessarily a baby).
I know a girl named milena (pronounced muh-lawn-ah) never heard anything about the tarry poop word
Yeah I’ve heard the melena thing before. It sucks, because [name]Milena[/name] is a beautiful name!
I am a registered nurse in [name]Canada[/name] and [name]Milena[/name] is a term we use to describe bloody stool. Before I went to school I loved the name but now it has forever been tarnished. [name]Every[/name] medical professional around here is fully aware of the unfortunate meaning of the name.
I’ve told my husband countless times that this is why we can’t use the name [name]Melina[/name] (mel-ee-na). However, [name]Milena[/name] (mel-ay-na) was still on the table for quite sometime after. In the end, we ended up deciding that it was just too likely that [name]Milena[/name] would be pronounced as [name]Melina[/name] by most of the general public and that was an association we didn’t want to think about. However, if she were to go my [name]Millie[/name] or [name]Mila[/name] (my favorite) most of the time, that wouldn’t be as much of a concern, I think.
Honestly, I had no idea that melena was a medical term for black tarry poop…and I doubt many others do as well.
I’ve seen far worse names used.
Oh gosh, that is a real downer! I think [name]Milena[/name] is still lovely though…
[name]Mila[/name]
[name]Amelie[/name] “[name]Millie[/name]”
[name]Millie[/name] (could be used on its own)
[name]Melinda[/name]
[name]Millicent[/name]
[name]Alena[/name]
[name]Lena[/name]
[name]Catalina[/name]
[name]Helena[/name]
[name]Magdalene[/name]/a
Shalena
[name]Malin[/name]
I found Shalena and [name]Malin[/name] on different sites. I guess [name]Malin[/name]'s finnish and Shalena’s russian? or maybe it was the name next to it… I x’d out the page too quick hehe. None of them are the same, but they have similar sounds too them… You could even use [name]Mila[/name] [name]Catalina[/name] or something and as a whole the name would kinda be there… WDYT? Lemme know and maybe I can try suggesting other names if you don’t love any <3
Except [name]Melina[/name] is how [name]Melena[/name] is pronounced.
But I agree with those who say it’s non-issue. It’s rare medical term, pronounced differently and first association will be [name]Mila[/name] Kunis. And I heard about [name]Melena[/name] and that still doesn’t bother me.
I have never heard that term before. To me, [name]Milena[/name] is the Russian word for raspberry. I think it’s a sweet name.
I’m in the medical field, and we do make the association. Sorry.