A celebrity chef pretty much owns this miniature appellation, but once upon a time she was quite common.
Thanks to Kerri for suggesting Ina as our Baby Name of the Day.
Miniature names are very much in vogue.
Baby Name of the Day: Ina
on Aug 18, 2011
I really like the name, but it is probably too similar to my Mila for me to ever use. I also love Nina – both pronounced ee-na and nee-na not the “eye” pronounciation, which sounds quite odd to me. I am a huge fan of Ina May Gaskin so that would be a very positive association for me.
My Grandmother Christina, whose family came from Scotland, was always called Ina (pronounced eye-nah). Apparently it was a very common nickname for the girls who had been named to honor male relatives (Jamesina, Thomasina etc.). I would have trouble seeing Ina as anything other than a cute nickname.
Interesting, Jen – today I think a Jamesina would be called Jamie, a Thomasina would be Tommie or Tammy … but there are so many ends-in-ina names that it makes sense.
*eeh-nah* !
I always said eeny-meeny-miny-mo!
Am I the only one who think it sounds like the start of the children’s counting out game – eeh-ha, mee-nah, my-nah, mo???!!
This is the type of name my husband usually likes, short and nickname proof, however I’d like it more if it was spelled Ena. I’m not usually fan of changing a spelling to suit a preferred pronunciation, but this would be an exception — Ina just feels incomplete.