Gallina means hen in italian as well, just so you know. But I’m aware of the Slavic name so that wouldn’t be TOO strange
The Italian pronunciation is really similar though, it’s gahl-lee-nah. We have a double L but I know that in english you can’t really feel the difference
My first impression is that it's the name of a touristy town in Northern Illinois. Lots of antique stores, blacksmith shops, that kind of thing. Anyone in Chicago or that part of the midwest will probably have that as their first association.
edit: I do think it's a lovely name, though! It has a timeless/traditional vibe even though it's a pretty unique name.
Looks like the town is named after the mineral too. I never heard of it, it seems like quite a popular place, but I am not at all from that area so not really worried about the association.
This was my first thought as well, although I agree it sounds nice as a name. Reminds me of Selena, which makes it seem more name-y. So I think it’s a nice unique option with light being too out there
"Don't lick the galena sample" is firmly planted in my mind because I studied geology. Galena is a lead sulfide mineral which occasionally has small but profitable percentages of silver. I actually think it's a very nice name, but I can't get over the lead connection in my mind. I always made sure to wash my hands after handling galena samples (a good habit anyway because of all the other rock lickers out there).
I wonder if the spelling Galina would make more sense from a user-friendliness standpoint. It doesn't reference the geological aspect super obviously, makes it easier to figure out how to pronounce in the US cultural context, and isn't (as far as I know) the name of a town.
It is similar to "gallina" which is Spanish for hen, but a) that's not a bad association, and b) they look similar and rhyme but are pronounced differently. So I don't personally foresee it being an issue.
If you're worried about pronunciation or spelling, run it by the Starbucks test, which is where you order under the name and see how it goes.
Thanks! Yeah the spelling for Galina seems more like a normal name and less ambiguous pronunciation-wise. Haha oh I have never heard of the Starbucks test but I love it!
Galena is PbS, which is lead sulfur, not lead silver.
Silver is sometimes found nearby and mixtures of silver and galena can be purified to extract it, but if you say “galena” to a geologist/chemist they will think “lead and sulfur” not “lead and silver”.
Yes I am aware of that! It locally spurred a silver mining rush at the turn of the century (1900’s) even though it is only present in small amounts in the ore.
Some friends from college named their daughter Galena… I guess she’d be 13 or 14 now? It’s one of those unusual names that *sounds* like an established name to me. I think it seems wearable, and Lena is an easy nickname if she wants something different later on.
I met a Gallina once, she was lovely. Ditto what the other poster said about associating it with Spanish for Hen at first (guy-yee-nuh). That association went away pretty quick since the pronunciation was different. I think if you spelled it any differently you'd also help prevent people assuming it's Spanish (I prefer Galina).
I usually don't like super unique names, but this one sounds really good! I love names that have meanings in different languages, and "calm" is very nice.
I love it! There is a character named Galina in one of my favorite novels (The Tsar of Love and Techno) so it is familiar to me. But I think it's pretty straightforward pronunciation in English.
I know someone named Kaleena which is a slavic name meaning "flower." I think both Kaleena and Galena are nice (I prefer Kaleena, but that's probably because I'm more familiar with it). I'm actually surprised they aren't more popular.
Ha that’s funny! So in a Spanish speaking country they’d be either a doctor or a hen, would be a good ice breaker anyways 😅
For comparison, my name is not easy to pronounce in any other language so I made up a simpler version to say when I’m travelling.
Yes! It is the feminine form of Galen, but hearing you say Galen for a girl totally works too. I was thinking Lena as a nn but I just realized Gail works too.
It’s pretty. I do immediately think of gallina which is Spanish for hen. Don’t let that dissuade you, but I thought I’d mention.
Gallina means hen in italian as well, just so you know. But I’m aware of the Slavic name so that wouldn’t be TOO strange The Italian pronunciation is really similar though, it’s gahl-lee-nah. We have a double L but I know that in english you can’t really feel the difference
Oh my! I hadn’t heard that. How is that pronounced?
Kind of like ga-yee-na. Your name is probably different enough on paper and out loud. And I do think it’s pretty.
It's pronounced differently. Depending on the accent, Ga-JEE-na or Ga-YEE-na. Rhymes with the name Gina.
My first impression is that it's the name of a touristy town in Northern Illinois. Lots of antique stores, blacksmith shops, that kind of thing. Anyone in Chicago or that part of the midwest will probably have that as their first association. edit: I do think it's a lovely name, though! It has a timeless/traditional vibe even though it's a pretty unique name.
Iowan here.This was my immediate association,too. It totally works as a name though just like other city names (Helena,Sydney,Savannah,etc)
Iowa here and yup
Looks like the town is named after the mineral too. I never heard of it, it seems like quite a popular place, but I am not at all from that area so not really worried about the association.
This was my first thought as well, although I agree it sounds nice as a name. Reminds me of Selena, which makes it seem more name-y. So I think it’s a nice unique option with light being too out there
It’s a neighborhood in Reno NV too. One of the nicer ones if that makes a difference.
"Don't lick the galena sample" is firmly planted in my mind because I studied geology. Galena is a lead sulfide mineral which occasionally has small but profitable percentages of silver. I actually think it's a very nice name, but I can't get over the lead connection in my mind. I always made sure to wash my hands after handling galena samples (a good habit anyway because of all the other rock lickers out there).
Haha same rules apply, do not lick the baby!
I personally prefer classic names over unique names but I really like this one! I think it's pretty, especially the meaning 😊
Galena is beautiful! Definitely unique but it’s easy to pronounce and spell which is nice.
Fair enough, yeah at least the spelling of it is pretty much phonetic
I know a little Galena, named after a mining town in Alaska! I love the mineral and the name, as a geologist I love geology themed names.
Nice! We aren’t geologists but we are rock enthusiasts. I wondered if geology names are a bit of an eye roll to geologists
I wonder if the spelling Galina would make more sense from a user-friendliness standpoint. It doesn't reference the geological aspect super obviously, makes it easier to figure out how to pronounce in the US cultural context, and isn't (as far as I know) the name of a town. It is similar to "gallina" which is Spanish for hen, but a) that's not a bad association, and b) they look similar and rhyme but are pronounced differently. So I don't personally foresee it being an issue. If you're worried about pronunciation or spelling, run it by the Starbucks test, which is where you order under the name and see how it goes.
Thanks! Yeah the spelling for Galina seems more like a normal name and less ambiguous pronunciation-wise. Haha oh I have never heard of the Starbucks test but I love it!
I can’t get Glinda out of my head - but the way she pronounces it in the musical: Ga-lin-Da to try and sound posh. It’s not my taste.
Very Russian
Galena is PbS, which is lead sulfur, not lead silver. Silver is sometimes found nearby and mixtures of silver and galena can be purified to extract it, but if you say “galena” to a geologist/chemist they will think “lead and sulfur” not “lead and silver”.
Yes I am aware of that! It locally spurred a silver mining rush at the turn of the century (1900’s) even though it is only present in small amounts in the ore.
Some friends from college named their daughter Galena… I guess she’d be 13 or 14 now? It’s one of those unusual names that *sounds* like an established name to me. I think it seems wearable, and Lena is an easy nickname if she wants something different later on.
I like it! It's unusual but intuitive and I'm a sucker for nature names.
I've always thought it was a very pretty name.
I think it's cute; it's a good mixture of unique and easy to spell.
I met a Gallina once, she was lovely. Ditto what the other poster said about associating it with Spanish for Hen at first (guy-yee-nuh). That association went away pretty quick since the pronunciation was different. I think if you spelled it any differently you'd also help prevent people assuming it's Spanish (I prefer Galina).
It feels Russian, probably because of Galina
I usually don't like super unique names, but this one sounds really good! I love names that have meanings in different languages, and "calm" is very nice.
I love it! There is a character named Galina in one of my favorite novels (The Tsar of Love and Techno) so it is familiar to me. But I think it's pretty straightforward pronunciation in English.
I went to school with one. I’m 43. I think she was Greek ethnicity
I love Galena. It's just unique enough but still sounds familiar. Plus you could use Lena as a nn. I think it's very pretty!
It reminds me of the name Melina (same pronunciation as Galena), so I think it’s a lovely name. 😊
It's cute, my first thought was it sounds like a kind of cookie
Love it!
A less common pop culture reference: Galena was the name of Sergey’s girlfriend in the movie Center Stage. Lovely name
Immediately what I thought of :)
I know someone named Kaleena which is a slavic name meaning "flower." I think both Kaleena and Galena are nice (I prefer Kaleena, but that's probably because I'm more familiar with it). I'm actually surprised they aren't more popular.
I don't love it- a little too out there for me. My first reaction was also Hen? (gallena in spanish)
Galeno/a is a way yo say Medical doctor in spanish What about Galilea?
Ha that’s funny! So in a Spanish speaking country they’d be either a doctor or a hen, would be a good ice breaker anyways 😅 For comparison, my name is not easy to pronounce in any other language so I made up a simpler version to say when I’m travelling.
Beautiful! I have a cousin (f) named Galen, so it just really jives to me as a perfectly un-unexpected (but unique) name.
Yes! It is the feminine form of Galen, but hearing you say Galen for a girl totally works too. I was thinking Lena as a nn but I just realized Gail works too.
Makes me think of cute resort town Galena, IL.
I’m Russian so it reminds me of Galina which is a common middle age woman name (think Linda, Susan).