Melina? Naming A Multicultural Baby Girl

[lorenafirenza]

Hello everyone!

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]My[/name_f] husband and I are expecting a little girl. We come from multicultural backgrounds, so we’re looking for a name that works beautifully in both the UK and [name_f]France[/name_f][name_f][/name_f]. We want something melodic, soft, and elegant[name_f][/name_f] with a sweet meaning, and easy to spell and say[name_f][/name_f].

[name_f][/name_f]

We had our hearts set on [name_f]Melina[/name_f][name_f][/name_f] (pronounced meh-LEEN-uh), which we love for its gentle, musical quality and sweet vibe. But we recently heard it might sound like “melena” to some, which has us second-guessing. [name_f][/name_f] We’re also considering [name_f]Meline[/name_f][name_f][/name_f] but wondering if it’s still too close to that unwanted association.

[name_f][/name_f]

Here are some other names we’re fond of:

[name_f][/name_f]

• [name_f]Melia[/name_f] (meh-LI-ah)

[name_f][/name_f]

• [name_f]Melita[/name_f] (meh-LI-tah)

[name_f][/name_f]

• [name_f]Mina[/name_f] (MIN-ah)

[name_f][/name_f]

• [name_f]Marina[/name_f] (ma-REEN-ah)

[name_f][/name_f]

• Miella (mi-EH-lah) – we found this was used by a medieval female scholar, which is intriguing, but we’re not sure if it feels too unusual.

[name_f][/name_f]

• Esme/Esmee (EZ-may) – we love the [name_f]French[/name_f] spelling [name_f]Esmée[/name_f] for its elegance, but to avoid any hassle with official documents, we’d prefer [name_f]Esme[/name_f] or [name_f]Esmee[/name_f] without the accents.

[name_f][/name_f]

We’d love to hear your thoughts! [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think [name_f]Melina[/name_f] or [name_f]Meline[/name_f] risks being misheard? Are any of these names particularly well-suited for both [name_f]British[/name_f] and [name_f]French[/name_f] contexts? [name_m]Or[/name_m] do you have other suggestions that fit our style? Thanks so much for your advice – we really appreciate it!

[tallemaja]

[name_f]Lovely[/name_f] names! [name_f]Mina[/name_f] is my favourite [name_f][/name_f]- really multicultural, sweet and versatile, easy to wear & timeless. I also like [name_f]Marina[/name_f] from your list for similar reasons.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]English[/name_f] isn’t my first language but I am[name_f][/name_f] fluent and I hadn’t heard of melena – I’m not sure if it’s a medical term that the average [name_f]English[/name_f] speaker would be familiar with? So I’m not the best person to answer your question, but I do think [name_f]Melina[/name_f] is a lovely name!

[name_f][/name_f]

On the other names on your list, I like [name_f]Melita[/name_f] but to me it has more of a sunny, bubbly vibe rather than the soft elegance you’re going for. [name_f]Melia[/name_f] would have the most pronunciation issues (I could see it being pronounced like [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] without the A). Miella is lovely, I don’t think it feels[name_f][/name_f] unusual at all because if the popularity of -ella names and the similar [name_f]Millie[/name_f] and [name_f]Mila[/name_f]. Maybe you would like Mielle more? And [name_f]Esme[/name_f] / [name_f]Esmee[/name_f] is very sweet, but maybe not ideal since the UK and [name_f]France[/name_f] use different spellings.

[name_f][/name_f]

I’ve noticed all the names on your list have an M sound, so some similar ideas…
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Milly[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Mila[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Amelie[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Amalia[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Alma[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Amabel[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Camille[/name_f] / [name_f]Camilla[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Emilia[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Emilienne[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marianne[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Marie[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Margot[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Maude[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Milou[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Romy[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Mathilde[/name_f]

[name_f][/name_f]

And some other names that work in both languages:
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Colette[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Odette[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Lilou[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_m]Valentine[/name_m]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Elodie[/name_f]

[Sorceress]

I think melena and [name_f]Melina[/name_f] would be pronounced similarly enough to some people so much they will think it’s same name. I though melena is pronounce muh-lee-na so to me I would have trouble hearing difference between the word and a name. So, it’s not question of ‘mishearing’ it, rather that they are way too similar. I feel Slavic [name_f]Milena[/name_f] is also similar to that word, and I prefer that to [name_f]Melina[/name_f], even without association.

[name_f][/name_f]

I like [name_f]Marina[/name_f] best from your list. When it comes to [name_f]Melita[/name_f], I simply prefer variant [name_f]Melissa[/name_f] (they are basically same name), but might be somehow dated. [name_f]Melia[/name_f] and [name_f]Mina[/name_f] are too nothing-y for me, they seems somehow bland. Miella isn’t that bland, but looks like fake name to modern standards and you’ll constantly have to explain it medieval name. At first look, it looks invented. [name_f]Esme[/name_f] is overly popular, but that’s my only issue with the name.

[name_f][/name_f]

Similar names that you might love:
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Melusine[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- from a folk tale about serpent-woman, associated with royals in [name_f]French[/name_f] countries and I think one illegitimate daughter of [name_f]British[/name_f] [name_m]King[/name_m] owned name Melusina. I feel like this name doesn’t feel nothing-y because it’s kinda longer, but most people aren’t familiar with the name.

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Melody[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- this is kinda dated, but still cute
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Madeline[/name_f] or [name_f]Madeleine[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- maybe this name is mostly teenage girls now, because it was popular 10 years ago, but nice

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Melisande[/name_f], Melisant or [name_f]Melisende[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- [name_m]Jerusalem[/name_m] [name_f]Queen[/name_f] of [name_f]French[/name_f] origin owned this name, I stop loving it once GOT became popular, but maybe Melisant is usable, maybe. There’s also [name_f]Millicent[/name_f] which I like as full name, but maybe it’s still too dated. [name_f]Millicent[/name_f] and [name_f]Melisande[/name_f] has shared origin

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- maybe this or [name_f]Emily[/name_f]?

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Rosaline[/name_f], [name_f]Rosabel[/name_f] or [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- maybe you will like this? Also very nice

[Greyblue]

[name_f]Melina[/name_f] is lovely [name_f][/name_f]- sweet and gentle, but with plenty of spirit.

[name_f][/name_f]

While [name_f]Melena[/name_f] is a word I’ve heard, I had to look it up to remind me of what it was; it’s not an “every day” word, if that makes sense [name_f][/name_f]- and [name_f]Melina[/name_f] is familiar enough as a name that I don’t think it’s a deal-breaker?

[name_f][/name_f]

I’d consider: do you know a lot of people in the medical profession and would they bring it up? that might be when I’d hesitate [name_f][/name_f]- if it was[name_f][/name_f] likely to be thought about in your close circle?

[name_f][/name_f]

On your other choices…

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Melita[/name_f] → sweet but sharp

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Marina[/name_f] → cool, ocean vibes

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Esmee[/name_f] → bright but cosy [name_f][/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- I do wonder if this might get ‘Ez-mee’ in the UK? it’s not uncommon though and I have seen it used here (pn Ez-may)

[name_f][/name_f]

Miella → intriguing [name_f][/name_f]- it has a pleasing sound and gentleness. Not 100% sold on it but I would be pleased to meet one

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Mina[/name_f] → international and sweet too [name_f][/name_f]- however, to get the MIN-uh over MEE-nuh pronunciation, I’d go with [name_f]Minna[/name_f] maybe?

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Melia[/name_f] → pretty, but I think it would get confused with the end of Amelia[name_f][/name_f]?

[name_f][/name_f]

Over all, I think I’d go with [name_f]Melina[/name_f], but [name_f]Mina[/name_f], [name_f]Esmee[/name_f], [name_f]Marina[/name_f] and [name_f]Melita[/name_f] are nice options!

[name_f][/name_f]

Some alternative ideas…

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Celina[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Alina[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Alma[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Malia[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Noemie[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Emmeline[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Lilia[/name_f]

[daisydarcy]

All your names are absolutely gorgeous!!

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Melina[/name_f] is gorgeous – soft & lyrical, but also elegant & sweet. I do have a friend named [name_f]Melina[/name_f], she’s Greek but pronounces it the same way you do (meh-LEEN-uh), and as far as I know she’s never had any issues with mispronunciation. I wasn’t even aware of the melena association until I looked it up just now – so if that’s the name that holds your heart I say go for it!

[name_f][/name_f]

If you’re still unsure, however, I also love your options of [name_f]Marina[/name_f], Miella (not too unusual at all, she’s such a stunning choice!) & [name_f]Esme[/name_f], I think they’re all well-suited for both [name_f]British[/name_f] & [name_f]French[/name_f] contexts.

[name_f][/name_f]

A few more suggestions just in case (I tried to avoid repeats!):

[name_f][/name_f]

[name_f]Melody[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Miriam[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Salome[/name_f] “Sally”
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Euphemia[/name_f] / [name_f]Mia[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Tamsin[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Amalia[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Cecily[/name_f]
[name_f][/name_f][name_f]Imogen[/name_f]

[EloiseT]

I really like Meline - but I think it’ll more than sometimes get Melin/ Melon or Me-Lyne pronunciations in English without saying “it’s Celine with an M”.

Melina is nice too - it will be pronounced Meh-LEEN-ah in English (in French more Meh-LEE-NAH). It’s a bit more interesting or distinct than Marina (which also has its own medical sound, Mirena).I wouldn’t worry about either word, Melena or Mirena.

I really like Mina (Mee-Nah) even though it’s close to “meaner” in non-rhotic English speaking places. It’s chic and compact.

I possibly wouldn’t go Melia - “smellier” - I would go for Amelie or Amalia if you’re going for that sound. Or for something more distinct, how about Maelys or Maelie? Or Mirelle.

I don’t myself warm to Melita. Maybe the litre thing, not sure. I of course would be happy to meet one, just not as pretty to my ear.

Miella’s will get questions on pronunciation and I need to say it more to have it click. It is definitely pretty! Mirella or Marielle might be easie but Miella works!

Esme is charming and lovely.

For names that work well in both:

Marceline (M name)
Marguerite
Margot/ Margaux
Marion
Manon
Marianne
Delphine
Isaleen
Celeste
Aveline
Elodie
Inès
Sylvie
Solenne
Noemie
Lilou

[marysia]

In my language, [name_f]Melina[/name_f] is a decrepit, sleazy dwelling or establishment. A super dubious party you go to as a teenager where nobody checks IDs would be held in a melina.

[name_f][/name_f]

I love [name_f]Melia[/name_f], [name_f]Melita[/name_f], and [name_f]Mina[/name_f], though!