Would you still name a girl "Melena" if you knew what the word meant?

Question

I noticed a recent questioner asking for opinions about "Melena" for a girl. Most of those who answered thought it was a pretty name. But this is one of those times when an unusual name is actually a real word, and unfortunately the meaning is far from pretty.

I don't wish to offend anyone, but there's really no polite way to phrase this. In medical terminology, the word "melena" essentially means dark stools due to the presence of blood. All medical personnel are familiar with this -- it's very commonly used and not at all obscure. It would definitely raise some eyebrows in the doctor's office or emergency room, that's for sure, if a child with that name came in for treatment. And that's probably the least of the problems she'd have with the name.

The question was already in voting so I did not have the opportunity to point this out directly. I'm hoping that person, plus any others who are considering the name, see this before burdening a sweet little girl with it.

Pepper, dear, nice bit of research, but I never claimed this was a strictly medical term -- only that this particular meaning for it is VERY COMMON TODAY, and not merely one of many meanings or in the sense of 'john'. Your friend Melena obviously chose a career in a different field, and that's wonderful for her. Had she aspired to be a physician, she would have been a little less enamored of the spelling and probably changed it.

To others offering alternatives: I'm not the one naming a baby, those days are long past, but thanks anyway. They might be of help to someone else.

Answer 1

I wouldn't name a kid Melena anyway, because it sounds too much like melanoma. But no, I especially wouldn't name her Melena after I found out it was a medical condition involving poo. It's important to do your research on things like that, especially on pretty-sounding, Latin-based names, because there are a lot of medical conditions out there that would sort of make nice names if you didn't know what they meant. Chlamydia comes to mind- wouldn't that be a pretty name if it wasn't an STD? Or Veruca (which is a foot wart), or maybe Sarcoma, which is a type of cancer. Bottom line- consult a baby name book AND a medical dictionary, and then Google it just to make 100% sure there's nothing embarrassing connected with the name.

Answer 2

I think this is one of those times where the meaning of the name actually does matter. Some names have bad meanings that most people don't know about (Kennedy means ugly, deformed head), and as long as nobody knows, it doesn't really matter. However, there are a LOT of people right in your neighborhood who know what Melena means, and Melena is going to have to be face-to-face with those people from her first breath to her last. It would be cruel to use this name.

Edit:
Harley makes a good point by mentioning Malina as an alternative. It means raspberry in Polish, too! :)

Edit 2:
Even if Melena has some other meanings, "dark, bloody stools" is the only meaning that anyone in your community is bound to know. So, for practical purposes, that's the only meaning that's going to matter (unfortunately).

Answer 3

You can add a comment to the question without actually being able to answer it (since it's gone to voting). You might have to wait until after the voting is finished to add a comment, but you will (probably) still be heard (presuming the asker checks back).

No, of course I wouldn't name a child that - even though before I read your post I had no idea what it meant. It just sounded too much like a Latin root with negative connotations ("mal"). So, no Malena or Melena for me.

Answer 4

Any how I always believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel and perhaps I have found one. According to babynameaddicts.com the name Melena is a Modern English name; only it had no meaning. So I took my search further over to thinkbabynames.come, typed in the name Melana. I didn't get a close match, now what I did get was it was very close to the name Madeline and I can see how.
There always is a light at the other end.

Answer 5

I'd use the Milena (I knew an Italian girl with this name).

One the the most up and coming names is Addison...do people know what it means? Probably not. Addison's disease is a endocrine or hormonal disorder. Kind of depressing in my opinion.

As someone else mentioned...Candida...wow, that's the saddest name!

Answer 6

Definition Of Melena

Answer 7

They could name the child Malena...it's not gross like the other name..

Gender: Girl

Meaning: Hebrew Of Magdala

Meaning: Danish Pet form of Magdalena

Categories: Danish

Pronunciation: (MA lee na) [ Guide ]


Form of: Magdalene

Answer 8

lol!

I always look up any name I hear online to see what it means (www.behindthename.com is an extemely inforamtive sit for that). I used to like the name Portia until I found out it meant "pig."

Please people, look up the meanings of names before you actually name your child that!

Edit: to whoever wrote the original question, Melanie would be a cute and safe alternative....

Answer 9

OK, how many people would know what it means without running a defination check?? I certainly wouldn't. People are going to find reasons to pick on kids no matter what they name them.

How about the guys named Richard??? Several go by a shorter name (Rick, Rich or Dick) and do you think anyone thinks twice if they do?? No.

And what about all the unisex names out there?? Kim, Shirley or Taylor for a boy. Or Cori, Jordyn or Jaime for a girl.

Personally, I think if the parents like the name Melena.....regardless of the medical defination......then go for it. there are alot worse names out there.

Answer 10

ha ha no, i didnt even read past the first line! i knew a girl in high school named melena.. lol i hope they see this too..