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Baby names

Dana

27 replies

BlueShirtBlueTie · 24/09/2013 22:02

I'm actually not pregnant at the moment, just thinking ahead.

I've always liked the name Dana for a girl, though it does make me think of Dana Scully from the X Files but that's a good thing Smile.

I know it's an American name and was in the top 100 for girls names in the US from 1960 to 1990 however it's since fallen in popularity since and is now ranked 610 in the US so not popular there at all any more.

I'm curious about how this name would go down in the UK though. I'm British and have no connection with the US at all and I've never met or heard of a British person with this name, only Americans. I think it's a pretty name though and would consider using it for a future dd.

Any thoughts?

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Thurlow · 24/09/2013 22:08

American and X Files. Sorry, but that is all that comes to mind!

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tigerdriverII · 24/09/2013 22:10

All kinds of everything, that's what it sounds like to me. But I am old!

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Wallison · 24/09/2013 22:11

Makes me think of Dana Andrews, who was a man.

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2tired2bewitty · 24/09/2013 22:12

I know one in the UK who's about 18m. I suspect there might be a bit of x-files influence there too!

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sonlypuppyfat · 24/09/2013 22:13

Was there a Dana in Waynes World?

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treaclesoda · 24/09/2013 22:14

Pronounced Day-na, like X files, or Dah-na, like the Eurovision winner?

I know a couple of Dana's but pronounced Dah-na. Have never met a Da(y)na though.

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BlueShirtBlueTie · 24/09/2013 22:15

I would pronounce it Day-na like the x files.

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Theironfistofarkus · 24/09/2013 23:10

Dana international.

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BlueShirtBlueTie · 24/09/2013 23:20

Also I'd be slightly worried about people misreading it as Diana.

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PurpleGirly · 24/09/2013 23:30

I know a Daynah. No ambiguity with pronunciation that way!

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MisselthwaiteManor · 25/09/2013 06:42

I like it, I read it as Dah-na though

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almapudden · 25/09/2013 07:10

I used to know a Da (h) na who's my age (28). Have to say she was a right old slapper so it's a tainted name in my eyes!

That said, Da (y) na sounds quite cool, albeit very American.

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CordeliaRose · 25/09/2013 09:31

I know a teenage Dana, pronounced Dah-na. She's lovely!

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squoosh · 25/09/2013 10:44

Every Irish person will associate the name with 'All Kinds of Everything' Dana the 1970's Eurovision winner who is now a right wing, religious loon.

Definite 'NO' from me!

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Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 25/09/2013 10:50

I like it (pronounced-day-na)

The scully connection is not a bad thing, as far as female lead roles went it was a good one.

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xfilefan · 25/09/2013 10:54

I love it! (but very biased towards xfile names- my boys nickname is going to be fox -would be his actual name but dh vetoed that). I think its a pretty name.

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wigglesrock · 25/09/2013 12:46

what squoosh said and I also think of it pronounced Day nah as a boys name.

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keiratomm · 25/09/2013 13:49

might be irrelevant, but in Turkish "dana" means "cow"

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BlueShirtBlueTie · 25/09/2013 21:05

Lol well I'm sure there are lots of names that mean unpleasant things in other languages so I wouldn't be put off on that alone.

I pronounce it Day-na. Anything else just sounds weird to my ears.

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lurcherlieber · 25/09/2013 21:16

i like it! i first heard of it watching homeland. its what brodie's daughter is called if you watch it.

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AngusMcFife · 27/09/2013 12:31

I haven't heard of a Dana in a long long time. Which is a shame because it's such a lovely name!

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TallulahBetty · 27/09/2013 18:22

I like it.

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EnidClowes · 27/09/2013 18:24

I know a Dayna in her forties and she's cool as anything. Lovely name.

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BlueShirtBlueTie · 27/09/2013 18:48

Which is a shame because it's such a lovely name!

Agreed. I think it sounds lovely and classy (though others may disagree). It's easy to say, easy to spell, easy to remember and of course it's a lovely name.

Reading this and apparently it isn't at all common neither www.babynames.co.uk/meaning_origin_name_Dana.htm there were only 35 recorded births with the name in 2011 and is ranked 3039thShock so she wouldn't be one of many in her class. Others probably don't care about that but I do.

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BlueShirtBlueTie · 27/09/2013 18:49
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