These days, Melissa is another mom in your kid’s playgroup. But here’s an unexpected starts-with-M, ends-in-a choice for a daughter that won’t be shared by another child – or parent!
Thanks to Mookie for suggesting Milena as Name of the Day.
In nearly any Slavic country, Milena is a perfectly reasonable choice – heard in Poland, Bulgaria, Russia, Slovenia, Czech Republic. She’s currently a chart-topping favorite in Armenia.
Milena also surfaces in Italy, where she’s a place name on the island of Sicily. It lends her a pan-European vibe, but turns out the Sicilian village is named in honor of a Slavic queen.
Back in the nineteenth century, Milena of Montenegro was the wife of King Nicholas I. The aristocratic Milena was a child bride – just 13 when she said her “I do” in a dynastic match. Over the course of their long marriage, Milena and Nicholas had a dozen children of their own, most of whom made advantageous alliances themselves. Daughter Elena married King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy.
Vittorio reigned for nearly fifty years (1900 through 1946) and also answered to King of Albania and Emperor of Ethiopia some of the time. In 1933, the Sicilian village took the name Milena in honor of Vittorio’s royal mother-in-law.
Elena and Vittorio had four daughters and a son of their own, but the closest they came to passing down the name was with their firstborn: Yolanda Margherita Milena Elisabetta Romana Maria.
A fictional Queen Milena appears in Terry Goodkind’s novels. If not through Goodkind’s Sword of Truth series, American audiences might have heard of the name thanks to actress Mila Kunis, best known as Jackie on That ’70s Show. Mila is short for Milena.
Milena’s meaning is debated:
- Some link her to Ludmila, as an elaborated nickname/spinoff, sometimes with the meaning beloved attached;
- Others connect her to the Slavic mil – gracious;
- On a similar note, some suggest that her occasional use among Spanish speakers relates to milagros – miracle – associated with the Virgin Mary;
- You can find other sites that say she means dark – though they’re probably thinking of the far older, worn-by-saints and Greek-in-origin Melania. (It’s also the spelling worn by the Slovenian-born Mrs. Donald Trump.)
Greek and Spanish attributions aside, most notable Milenas come from Eastern Europe. A smattering of singers, athletes, journalists and others have worn the name. Milena Jesenská, a Prague-born journalist, died in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. Besides the royal and Mrs. Trump, she’s probably the best known Milena.
The name has never charted in the US Top 1000, and a few variant pronunciations are heard: meh LEH nah, meh LAYN ah and meh LAH nah are all out there – as with any rarity seldom heard in English, it’s tough to insist that one is correct.
Overall, Milena is pretty and sophisticated. If she’s a bit exotic for a small child, then Mila, Millie or Lena could all serve as appealing nicknames. She’s accessible, unusual and wouldn’t be out of place on a playground with Isabella and Olivia.
Milena says
May 19, 2013 at 11:12 AMMy name is Milena and I am part Russian and part Bulgarian. When I was little I didn’t like my name, you could say that I hated it. Now I am loving it, because even it is Slavic name it is not as popular name in Bulgaria as it used to be 40 years ago, so there are very few Milenas around and you could say it it unique…
Jessie says
February 24, 2013 at 7:32 AMSee I want to love this name. I know a beautiful, Bulgarian Milena, pronounced mihlayna. But, being a nurse, it reminds me too much of the medical term for Blood in stools, melena. Putting this name in the same category as candida for me. Pretty sound but ruined by job associations
Milena Neshkova says
November 8, 2011 at 1:32 PM😀
Kelleita says
September 9, 2009 at 9:46 PMI had an Eastern Eurpoean client with this name and it turned me off of it for a while, but reading about it here kind of revives it for me. Mila is an adorable nickname.
Laura says
September 9, 2009 at 8:08 AMMila what an adorable nickname. I think that this is a fresh name with loads of potential!
Anna says
September 9, 2009 at 7:49 AMI really like Milena I must try it on hubby cause he’s shot down Millicent 🙁
appellationmountain says
September 9, 2009 at 3:43 PMToo bad he doesn’t love Millicent – Millie is such an appealing, retro-chic nickname. I’m pretty sure one of Jane Green’s heroines names her daughter Millie at the end of The Other Woman.
charlottevera says
September 9, 2009 at 4:40 AMWhile I’d never use the name myself (I’m trying to avoid names that begin with “m” since it’s such a popular letter), I find this name decidedly pretty. I have a friend whose sister is Melina, but I think I prefer this sound-alike more.
charlottevera says
September 9, 2009 at 4:41 AMOops, I meant “I prefer this sound-alike”, the “more” slipped in accidentally!
Sebastiane says
September 9, 2009 at 12:14 AMI agree with JNE. Its a very nice choice, and Mila or Lena are adorable nicknames. It has some nice associations too.
Mookie says
September 9, 2009 at 3:12 AMOoh, my first suggestion in a post! How exciting! I have to say, Milena was on my list for a long time, and is now on my first-middle-name list because I can’t bear to part with it. I pronounce it “Mee-LAYN-ah” or “Meh-LAYN-ah” most of the time, but people I’ve asked about it say that would pronounce it as “Mill-lee-nah”, like Malina. My nickname of choice is Mila.
intheafternoon says
September 9, 2009 at 2:47 AMI love it! It seems modern and classic at the same time, somehow. I would pronounce it “Meh LAY na”
Digitalbee says
September 9, 2009 at 12:31 AMThis is my daughter’s name. I’m so happy to see it here as the name of the day! I pronounce it Mil-LEE-na and call her “Mina.” So far we haven’t encountered another Milena.
appellationmountain says
September 9, 2009 at 3:42 PMWhat an appealing nickname – I’ve always loved Mina. Thanks for suggesting it!
JNE says
September 9, 2009 at 12:00 AMI think Milena is exceedingly wearable and a lovely choice for a girl. I especially like Lena and Mila as nicknames. It does seem a little exotic, but not exceptionally so – I’m surprised it has never charted.
Kelly Brea says
April 13, 2017 at 1:26 PMHello Abby!
I was compelled this morning to google my daughters name, Milena (MEE-Lay-na) and I’m in awe over a few things, that I just had to reach out and share with you.
You share the same name as my niece 🙂
Throughout your post, Nicholas is mentioned, which is my nephew’s name 🙂
We call our daughter M, Emmy and now that she’s almost 6, we are using Mila.
Her middle name is Regina – which is my Grandmother’s name and we chose Milena Regina because of Italian heritage.
The kicker for me about your post is when I scrolled down to the very bottom under trackbacks, you posted this post 1 minute after my daughter was born on June, 9th 2011 at 5:11AM.
We cannot deny the serendipity here!
The Universe works in such mysterious and beautiful ways!!!
I feel so blessed for this reminder today – that sweet connections are happening all around us, especially behind the scenes, and they can be found at the times that we need them the most.
Thank-you for your post. All of it !
Many blessings to you,
Kelly Brea
appellationmountain says
April 13, 2017 at 10:24 PMThe universe is mysterious and wonderful! Thank you so much for writing, Kelly – and sharing this story. Love, love, love. – Abby