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Help[Opinions] Idina?
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I'm not familiar with the actress, but I would have assumed that Idina was a merger between Ida and Dina(h). How is it pronounced? Both Ida and Dina(h) can have an EE or an EYE sound: I would guess eyeDEEna, but it could just as well be eeDEYEna.
The actress pronounces it with a short "I" at the beginning and heavy emphasis on the second syllable, so something like ih-DEE-na
(this is almost irrelevant but please tell me you know that Idina Menzel has done much more than played Elsa, yes? Please?)
You know, I've encountered the idea that Idina Menzel was born Adena before, but outside some fandom Wikis, I can't find anything concrete that suggests there is truth to that. That her given surname was Mentzel is established fact, but as far as her first name is concerned, I don't know. (Regardless, her sister is named Cara; Adena/Idina got a much more unusual name.)
Anyway.
I don't dislike the name, but while Idina Menzel isn't a household name in the same way as a Taylor Swift or Beyoncé or something, the name is so singularly associated with her that I don't know if it's useable.
I do enjoy that Idina has enjoyed yet another renaissance in this era of the Wicked film. She is so incredibly controversial amongst Broadway fans and even Wicked fans, but I'm a huge fan. I'm sorry that Redwood didn't do better on Broadway.
You know, I've encountered the idea that Idina Menzel was born Adena before, but outside some fandom Wikis, I can't find anything concrete that suggests there is truth to that. That her given surname was Mentzel is established fact, but as far as her first name is concerned, I don't know. (Regardless, her sister is named Cara; Adena/Idina got a much more unusual name.)
Anyway.
I don't dislike the name, but while Idina Menzel isn't a household name in the same way as a Taylor Swift or Beyoncé or something, the name is so singularly associated with her that I don't know if it's useable.
I do enjoy that Idina has enjoyed yet another renaissance in this era of the Wicked film. She is so incredibly controversial amongst Broadway fans and even Wicked fans, but I'm a huge fan. I'm sorry that Redwood didn't do better on Broadway.
This message was edited 5/23/2025, 11:50 PM
I’m not sure she was born Adena, but I believe Idina is a variant of Adena.
It's very unique. I really like it, but I probably wouldn't use it because Idina Menzel is such a household name.
You know, I did wonder of Idina was supposed to be a (strictly feminine) variant of Adina, but it being an elaboration of Ida makes more sense (though I didn't know Ida also had a Hebrew origin). I've always thought Idina was an interesting name.
I've never heard of the name before, but it has a nice sound.
The probably belongs on the Name Facts board but anywho.
The Columbus Monthly wrote an article about Idina with her own statement on her unique name: “Since we're talking names: ‘Idina’ is a tribute to Menzel's great-grandmother, who was named Ida. ‘It's an Israeli name, a Hebrew name; it means gentle,’ Menzel told Playbill, adding, ‘In the Jewish religion, when someone passes, you name [a child] after [him or her] and use the first letter.’”
There’s also a source that stated “Menzel's mother named her Idina after her great-grandmother Ida, but also incorporated the ‘A’ from the name Adena, which she also liked.” However, I found that harder to verify.
It’s interesting to note that the Wicked Fandom Wikipedia says she was born Adinah Kim Mentzel, which may reflect a variation in spelling based on her Israeli heritage. She has said she changed her name to make pronunciation easier.
The Columbus Monthly wrote an article about Idina with her own statement on her unique name: “Since we're talking names: ‘Idina’ is a tribute to Menzel's great-grandmother, who was named Ida. ‘It's an Israeli name, a Hebrew name; it means gentle,’ Menzel told Playbill, adding, ‘In the Jewish religion, when someone passes, you name [a child] after [him or her] and use the first letter.’”
There’s also a source that stated “Menzel's mother named her Idina after her great-grandmother Ida, but also incorporated the ‘A’ from the name Adena, which she also liked.” However, I found that harder to verify.
It’s interesting to note that the Wicked Fandom Wikipedia says she was born Adinah Kim Mentzel, which may reflect a variation in spelling based on her Israeli heritage. She has said she changed her name to make pronunciation easier.
This message was edited 5/23/2025, 6:26 PM
Is Menzel Israeli? I always assumed she was Norwegian.
Yes, her family is Jewish, and Israeli citizenship is available to all Jews no matter their country of residence. Her parents are both immigrants from Russia.
She is so closely associated with her character Elsa, so I can understand why you’d think she may be Norwegian.
She is so closely associated with her character Elsa, so I can understand why you’d think she may be Norwegian.
This message was edited 5/23/2025, 6:29 PM
(this is really irrelevant but it was her grandparents that emigrated from Russia. Menzel is an American Jew of Russian descent. While she could theoretically apply for Israeli citizenship, she never has and has had zero public connection to Israel.)
This message was edited 5/24/2025, 9:02 PM
I didn’t know that! I just assumed it was her parents; thanks for the correction.
I didn't know she was of Russian descent!