Name Spelling Help

Since its a middle name, you really can do what you want in this case. Even with the double dots, no way would I think Rena was pronounced Renee. I would spell it the conventional way but if you want to carry on the tradition its fine.

When I took French, there was a way to make the special accented French letters on an American computer, using the command buttons, I think. You might want to find out if there is a way to do a double dotted "A".

Because you are "passing the name down", I would spell it the same way you spell your own name. That way you and your daughter have the EXACT same middle name, she will love that :)

I would go with Renee. It is the traditional spelling and least likely to be misprounounced.

If it's her first name, do the traditional spelling. It's SO annoying as a kid to have to explain the spelling over and over to everyone. If it's the middle name, then keep the original - people hardly ever use their middle name so the explaining won't drive you or your daugter as crazy :)

Definately drop the double dots and go with Renee. Your daughter will thank you!!!

Oh, I like the spelling renae. But if you are naming her after you, rena is a very special way to spell it and it has a sentimental story behind it. It's fine to leave it the way you spell your middle name.

Since it's a family name, I say keep it that way. Sure it will get mis-pronounced probably 100% of the time, but how often do you use your middle name anyways? To verify your identity to the bank? To apply for college? Not often enough to worry about it. So I say keep it how it is to keep the family name going.

Oh wait - I just re-read your post. If you give her FIRST name as Rena, I'd spell it Renee or Renae. Otherwise, she will go her WHOLE LIFE having her name mispronounced. Or she'll decide to have people call her by her middle name if it's easier.

I was just thinking, now that pretty much all writing is done on computers, if she writes her middle name, how will she do the double dots? It may not matter to you, just wasn't sure if it ocurred to you. Has that ever come up for you? If it's a middle name, maybe it doesn't matter.

Spell and pronounce it the way you like best, and just understand that if you use a spelling/pronunciation combo that is not what people expect it to be, you're going to have to educate people on how to spell/say it.
My daughter has an unconventionally spelled name, and she often has to correct people's spelling of it, but she says she doesn't mind. She likes the fact that her name isn't like everyone else's.

My cousins' is spelled Rene'

My friend and her daughter have the same middle name. It is spelled oddly because her dad honestly did not know how to spell Colleen, but he wanted his daughter to have that as her middle name. When my friend was giving her own daughter that same middle name she considered changing the spelling. Ultimately she kept it the same. Her reasons were that it would honestly confuse her when filling out forms and such. Knowing my friend, I agree with this self assessment;). Secondly it is a story, and gives meaning to sharing this name with her daughter. My friend was a "miracle" baby to her much older parents (and thirty years ago the survival of premies born as early as my friend was drastically different than today) and her dad being responsible for filling out the paperwork was related to all the chaos at that time for her parents. Ultimately I don't think you can go wrong here, but I thought I'd share what swayed my friend in her choice. Congratulations on your baby!

I would do it the same as yours. The double dots do make the 'a' sound long, so it would technically be pronounced the way you are wanting... but people don't usually know what the dots mean off the top of their mind. But it's the middle name, so no big deal. The only people that will actually use the name are your family, and they will know. I'm with Amanda on the reasoning if she's being named for you, then it would be fun to have it the same. :)

I say keep it the way it is.
Look up ASCII code tables on google. It will show you what you need to do to be able to type it correctly. I have an "accent mark" over a letter in my last name, most leave it off but it's part of my signature.

I agree with Patricia G. it depends on if it's her first or middle. My daughter's name is Kiara (key-era) but everyone pronounces it Key-ar-a obviously... The name is spelled right, pronounced right for Gaelic lol. I've explained a couple times when people see my wrist tattoo (her name) or see her name spelled out. I think on her school registration I'm going to put the pronunciation in parenthesis for the teachers so she won't have to explain it a million times. I LOVE her name but I'm sure it will be irritating sometimes.

My middle name is Renee with an accent - however like Linda said it's not the same on a computer! My daughter's Renee is without just because that was easiest but I know she was named after me! IF you were going to change it though I think in your case Renae to it's more similar to yours is what I would do.

congrats. i think people could get confused with the dots. how about renae or renaye. GL

M

Renee is 're-Nay'.
One of my friend growing up has that name.
Rena is 'Ree-na' (like Reno is 'Ree-no')
I like more traditionally spelled names - you can find them on pre-printed pencils an other little gifts and mugs, and you have less of a chance that people won't know how to pronounce it, but that's just me.

Just looking at it, I would have pronounce it ree-nah. The trouble with the dots over the E is that it will make it difficult to type her name on a computer. So if she's filling out forms online or typing a resume, it might cause problems. Personally I'd go with Renae or Renee, just to avoid confusion, but if the spelling is important to you, just be prepared to correct people!

If you spell it Rena with the dots, everyone is going to mispronounce it. If you are okay with that, then spell it as you wish. Otherwise, you might want to use one of the more traditional spellings.

Renée- is the correct French spelling for girls.

J.

It would be easier for your daughter if she had a more traditional spelling. Otherwise, she would probably have to keep explaining. But would you be all right if her name had a different spelling than yours? Renae is really very close to your name - and it certainly looks pretty.

I think that all 3 spellings are pretty cool. Or maybe you can try Rena with a line over the a to represent the a sound. Just a thought. :)