So a lot of people are struggling with Irene's name. I know, I know - it seems benign enough, especially since my family has been saying the name Irene since we can remember (seeings how it is my mother's name and everything). Then Joe and I have to go and make things difficult. Here's the deal: we love the name Irene in English, but we especially love it in Spanish. Here is my attempt at explaining the difference in pronunciation.
English: eye-REEN
Spanish*: ee-RE-nay
*The hardest part about pronouncing her name in Spanish is trying to roll that soft "r."
I don't care if you can roll an r (either soflty or hard). I don't do it all that well, anyway. I tell the boys to just pronounce it ear-E-nay, and they usually do. Sometimes they just say it with the English pronunciation, and that is fine with me too. So if you can't say it in Spanish - or you just don't want to - then say it with the English pronunciation.
OR ~ you can always call her by her nickname that was given to her by cousin Cathy - Reni Belle. We love this one too.
p.s. Vicky, does reading her name and pronouncing it differently in your head help you with your thoughts of me nursing Irene?
7 comments:
yes...pronouncing it differently helps me tremendously. Thank you.
I may just call her ear.
I love it. I'm mentally compiling my next blog entry, that has to do with Willie Nelson and I each seeming to have a connection to Mexico and the old Hispanic way of life.
I love the pronunciations of my students' names... in the past two years, I've had Iriana, Ariana, Adriana. I've had Noemi, Nohemi, Nyomi, and Naomi. When I hear their mothers roll their daughters' names, with heavy pronunciation, it sounds like music to me.
Irene.... beautiful.
Vicky, I am glad I can help you out. Unfortunately, you have come up with the only nickname that I do not like so far. Ear isn't cute.
Gina, I love those names. One of my choices for a girl's name was actually Noemi. In fact, every name on our list for this baby was a Spanish name. When I was younger I was convinced I was going to name a daughter Adriana. I agree with you - Spanish is beautiful.
Reni Belle is a cute nick name. :D You had two pretty names to choose from and I think it's awesome you surprised the moms with the honor.
I'm just going to call her Renee. And I'm truly honored. ;)
I think she is a beautiful baby with a beautiful name! I'm so happy for you guys!!
Not trying to get too deep or anything, I gotta say. . .This birth was powerful and significant for many reasons. You turned to your ancestry to reclaim birth. I felt our "women" close by as I prepared, as this spirit daughter prepared to leave them. I have shared details of that with you. When I think of our auntie's names, I can hear Grandma T's voice, how the song of her children's names sounded - so beautiful, so right. For you to name your princess after powerful, significant women and to properly sing her name, brings strength to our loving circle. I do not take this heritage, this blessing of being mentored by the most beautiful, loving Latina ancestry lightly. Walk tall, Irene Annabella, my sweet little Reni Belle. Claim your place in the circle.
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