[OTMomma]

I am down to Anna vs. Ana for our baby (due in Sept), and am trying to make a choice. I'd like insight into how others perceive these names, does one leave you cold, or give you a different impression than the other?

My list of resons for each so far:
Anna- Its the more common spelling and more traditional, so less correcting others. It has a longer name history to go with it. Because of the history it seems very much like a name you can be anything with as an adult.

Ana- My other 2 kids have 3 letter names, and the oldest is rooting for a 3 letter name this time. I am unsure whether we would pronounce it just like Anna, or use the more European pronounciation. It seems more modern- but I know there was a goddess with that name (need to research that history) which is cool.

Thoughts?

 

[coldandsleepy]

I really like Ana, and don't think it's too terribly uncommon. (It's a VERY common spelling of the name in some parts of the world.) My guess is that most US people will pronounce it exactly the same as Anna, so if that's what you want, I wouldn't be worried on that front.

They're both nice names, though.

 

[BethSLP]

this is weird I know, but I'd avoid Ana simply because it reminds me of the slang for anorexia. there's a whole movement of women who think eating disorders are cool that call themselves "pro-ana."

Here's the wikipedia entry on it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-ana

If you google "pro-ana," its crazy how much there is on it.

Anna doesn't have any connection to this for me.

Ani is super cute too....I'm a big ani di franco fan.

XOXO
B

 

[BlueWolf]

I like both names. If you settling on Ana though, be prepared for people to mispronounce it as Anna.

 

[dogmom327]

As someone with a hard to spell last name, I vote for the more common spelling. It's a huge pain to have to constantly correct people.

 

[sunshynbaby]

I vote for the common spelling so people aren't misspelling her name all her life.

 

[MaybeGracie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethSLP this is weird I know, but I'd avoid Ana simply because it reminds me of the slang for anorexia. there's a whole movement of women who think eating disorders are cool that call themselves "pro-ana."

This exactly.

 

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

I second the pro-ana thing, which was what first popped into my head when I saw Ana. Also, if you want her name to be pronounced like Anna, go with that spelling. Ana should be Ah-na.

 

[zinemama]

Anna.

 

[bubbamummy]

Yeah the Ana version made me think of eating disorders!

 

[learnlovebe]

I'm excited that someone likes my name!

:

I'm an Anna! I have always loved my name (I'm an Anna Rose). I'm named after 2 great-grandmothers, so it has a special meaning to me.

Here's what I've liked about my name:
1) I'm in my 30s, and I've only known a handful of other Annas. In classrooms full of Amys, Jennifers, Angies, and Kellys, this was REALLY nice to be the ONLY one with my name (I never had to go by my last initial either!).

2) It's a classic. Easily recognizable by most everyone.

3) It looks good on a resume.

I've always thought it looks "smart" (and says, Hire me! I'm reliable!).

4) You can spell it backwards.

5) I always thought I had a special bond w/ "Anne of Green Gables" and "Annie" because our names were so similar. Yeah, I was a dork.

What I didn't like about it:
1) It rhymes with banana. I've heard "Anna Banana" my whole life. But, there are worse things it could rhyme with, and I just didn't let it bother me. Hey, it helped people remember my name!

That's about it. It's a name that has served me well over the years!

I pronounce it w/ the traditional American "ann-a". When I was much younger, I used to get irritated w/ people who pronounced it the other way...Ah-nah. Then...the super cute boy I worked w/ at the drugstore in high school pronounced it that way (he was a college boy) and I have never minded since!

I think either spelling someone, sometime, or another will ask to spell it. I've had to stipulate the 2 ns several times. I've had a difficult to spell last name where I had to spell it almost every time, and an easy to spell, common, 4 letter last name and I STILL have to spell it, almost every single time. Some people just can't spell, or don't want to mess it up. It doesn't really bother me to spell either name, I'd rather have them ask and spell it correctly than not ask and mess it up.

 

[bubbamummy]

One of my best friends name is Anna, I have always thought it was very pretty

 

[ann_of_loxley]

I like both.

Ana has a more european feel to it though. hehe I also see Ana as a tough little girl who takes no crap - whilst Anna feels like a more gentle and calm kind of name.

 

[graceomalley]

My vote depends on how you're going to pronounce it. I love Anna (it was top of my list for a while), but if you go with Ana I vote for the aah-nuh pronunciation (ie don't pronounce Ana the same as Anna).

 

[pinksprklybarefoot]

Add me to the list of people who immediately thought "eating disorder" when seeing Ana.

 

[BekahMomToOliver]

My sister's name is Anna. I think it's a classic, it feels traditional and feminine but is familiar to people. I worked with a woman named Ana, she was of European descent so yeah, I associate it more with that part of the world (definitely not a bad thing, but it kind of sounds like there's a regional feel to it, like Gabriella and Marie, KWIM?) Also, she liked it pronounced ann-a but often got ahn-a. As someone who constantly has to spell her name out to people (and often still getting them spelling it wrong

) I agree it might save some hassle later on to keep it simple.
Very nice name choice, though. Good luck deciding!

 

[Ceili]

I prefer Ana regardless of how you're going to pronounce it. Oddly enough I've known an Ah-na that spelled her name Anna, and an Ann-a who spelled her name Ana.

 

[OTMomma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethSLP this is weird I know, but I'd avoid Ana simply because it reminds me of the slang for anorexia. there's a whole movement of women who think eating disorders are cool that call themselves "pro-ana." Here's the wikipedia entry on it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-ana If you google "pro-ana," its crazy how much there is on it.

Oh- that's just gross!

 

[Ms. Cellaneous]

Yup, I also think of eating disorders when I see Ana, sadly.

But I love Anna, I think it's a great name and it goes wonderfully with your other children's names.

 

[OTMomma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by learnlovebe I'm excited that someone likes my name! : I'm an Anna! I have always loved my name (I'm an Anna Rose). I'm named after 2 great-grandmothers, so it has a special meaning to me. What I didn't like about it: 1) It rhymes with banana. I've heard "Anna Banana" my whole life. t But, here are worse things it could rhyme with, and I just didn't let it bother me. Hey, it helped people remember my name! That's about it. It's a name that has served me well over the years!

Thanks for your thoughts! Its good to hear someone with the name say they have enjoyed having it. Since my oldest gets called Mya Papaya I think Anna Banana will be a nice match-