Lena??

JuliaDeeS · July 2017

My husband's great grandma "Lena" recently passed away and he would love to use her name when naming our next child (if it's a girl). I'm not sure how I feel about it as a first name, but I'm not finding many names that sound good with it as a middle name. Any suggestions?!?

OliveOyl2014 · July 2017

Are you open to using similar names? My DD is Alena. If you do go with Lena as a first or middle name, I would suggest pairing it with a longer name.

jessilee15 · July 2017

Could also do Magdalena, Elena, etc...

FakeFinn · July 2017

I'm sorry for your loss.

I like Lena most with a longer middle name, such as:
Lena Olivia
Lena Ophelia
Lena Susannah
Lena Josephine
Lena Vivienne
Lena Bernadette

bbiutmcph · July 2017

I do personally prefer something like Elena to just Lena. Don't feel pressured to use it if you don't love it. Did she have a middle name that's maybe A better option.

mb0112 · July 2017

I like PP suggestion of Magdalena nn Lena. Or Helena.

or you mentioned using Lena as the middle -- that's a good idea. You said you had trouble finding first names that go with it but can you give some names you had in mind for first names? Maybe they flow just fine (flow isn't super important when you are using a family name) or maybe we can suggest others in your style. Off the top of my head I think these names flow nicwly

Genevieve Lena
Penelope Lena
Vivienne Lena
Therese Lena
Eloise Lena
Grace Lena

FelicitousJinx · July 2017

If he's okay with using an elaborated form of Lena, other names you could use are Olena and Selena.

Here are some more first name options:

Aubrey Lena
Briar Lena
Calla Lena
Cadence Lena
Catherine Lena
Emma Lena
Gwenda Lena
Kate Lena
Maris Lena
Sophie Lena
Stella Lena
Vivienne Lena

holli0801 · July 2017

I like Lena a lot!! But if you don't love if, don't use it!

JuliaDeeS · July 2017

Calla is actually on our short list of names! Thanks for your suggestions!!!

JuliaDeeS · July 2017

@FelicitousJinx I love the idea of using it as a middle name but do have some trouble with the flow. Calla is actually on our short list of names. But Calla Lena reminds me of Catalina (like the salad dressing)! Lol.

Big sister is Ivy Grace. Other names we like include Nora, Eva, Camilla, Ida.

FelicitousJinx · July 2017

I can see where you'd make that association. Do you think you would like the flow of Lena with other names better if you pronounced it Lehna instead of Leena?

JuliaDeeS · July 2017

@FelicitousJinx I find that it flows too well with first names. It almost sounds like I just add another syllable onto the first name! Does that make sense?

I like the Lehna alternative! I've never heard that before! Not sure how my hubby will like it, but worth a try!

mb0112 · July 2017

For what it's worth, you might not care much about flow at all once the baby is born and the name is first announced. Unless you plan on using it out loud a lot e.g. "Nora Lena, go to your room!" You might kind of forget about the middle name most of the time. It's nice to honor a relative with the middle name but don't choose a first name that you don't really love just for the sake of flow.

JuliaDeeS · July 2017

@mb0112 that's a really good point! Thanks!!

JuliaDeeS · July 2017

Thoughts on Lenora? It kinda ties back to Lena, but we could call her Nora which I love!!?

Bringmemylongswordho · July 2017

Love Lenora

steph30032 · August 2017

Lena makes me think of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books that I read when I was younger. And I always loved the name. It's unique and pretty!