I’ve liked [name]Irena[/name] for a long time, but I took it off my list some time ago because I was afraid it would invite too many pronunciation problems.
Now I’m taking a second look at this name and wondering…
In general wdyto [name]Irena[/name]?
Does [name]Irena[/name] have particular ethnic connotations for you?
[name]How[/name] do you pronounce [name]Irena[/name] (ee-REHN-ə, iy-REEN-ə, not sure, something else), and where are you from?
I say “Iy-ree-na” for [name]Irena[/name] and “eer-een-a” for [name]Irina[/name], but I feel like both of them have a Russian/eastern European vibe. To me, [name]Irene[/name] is less tied to a specific place/are of the world.
[name]Irena[/name] - very Polish, which is why I love it.
I say it somewhere between eh-[name]REN[/name]-ah and eh-[name]RAY[/name]-ah/eh-REH-na, but I’m from Western PA and the local dialect is a bit wonky from even other nearby places.
ee-REHN-ə. I like it. I know too many [name]Irene[/name], so [name]Irena[/name] sounds fresh to me. Ethnic connotation? not so much. [name]Irina[/name] is so russian, but not [name]Irena[/name].
I love the name too teacherma! In fact, I shared my thoughts on it in your first ever thread. I’m pretty sure my first ever NB thread was also on [name]Irena[/name]!
Gosh you are making me loooove this name again. I prefer it pronounced [name]Irene[/name] w/ an A at the end, but I don’t think that is the correct way to say it. That bothers me.