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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

aiyanna, aiyelle or aria

31 replies

appletree100 · 29/04/2014 17:08

which of these are you favorite?

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Sigyn · 30/04/2014 18:34

Aiyanna is actually growing on me.

EmpressOfJurisfiction · 30/04/2014 12:53

Ah ok. .

florascotia · 30/04/2014 12:39

Agree that it's definitely not Native American. and that many babynames sites are full of misleading information.

One reputable website says that Ayanna (variations: Aiyana,Aiyana) is possibly East African (possibly Amharic) in origin, and possibly means 'beautiful flower'.

Very definitely, whatever its origins, it has been used in USA and Jamaica for almost 50 years, ever since famous African-American activist Dick Gregory gave the name to his daughter.
See : www.behindthename.com/submit/name/ayanna

DebbieOfMaddox · 30/04/2014 09:37

If all you get online about the meaning of a name is that it is "Native American, meaning [something or other]" then that is usually crap. There's no such language as "Native American" -- there are/were around 90 tribes each with their own language, and those languages divide into 25 or 30 language families. Attributions such as "...in Mapuche" or "in Choctaw" are far far more likely to have a basis in reality.

In the case of Aiyanna, it's a variant spelling of Aiyana, which was the name Brian Sykes (author of The Seven Daughters of Eve) invented to refer to a hypothetical common ancestor for one particular haplogroup based on Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses. There's no evidence linking it to any actual Native American tribe, and the original woman represented by the name would probably (based on DNA distributions) have lived in Siberia rather than the Americas, with her descendants moving across the Bering Straits land bridge later on. It's not a bad source of a name (although I'd go for the Aiyana spelling), but it's not a Native American name.

Sigyn · 30/04/2014 08:32

I've known Ayan/Ayanas. Its an Arabic name, isn't it?

Ianna would be pronounced the same as Aiyanna, I think.

I'm not a fan of highly unusual spellings. I don't really see the point. DP's brother has one for his name and just ends up spelling it to people all the time. Absolutely no one ever thinks "wow, creative and original parents, putting a silent P in Pthomas.". It feels like the baby naming equivalent of that thing where people use all the fonts.

flavourflave · 30/04/2014 08:17

Haha! True, I dont. Laughing now!

flavourflave · 30/04/2014 07:47

Had to think about that one.

flavourflave · 30/04/2014 07:47

Haha! True, I dont. Laughing now!

OwlCapone · 30/04/2014 07:37

You even like the one that is going to get pronounced I Yell??

flavourflave · 30/04/2014 07:28

I like all three. Personally I like made up names. I know two adult women with made up names and they are smart, lovely individuals. You just get used to saying their name! I like Aiyanna the best tho

OwlCapone · 30/04/2014 07:03

Think about the child you are naming. They are the one who has to go through life with the name you chose for them and they are the one who has to explain the spelling, pronunciation, meaning or the fact that it was made up every time they meet someone new.

Original poster
appletree100 · 29/04/2014 23:17

Ouch... well I appreciate your opinion - its why I posted xx I still think aria and aiyanna are lovely names anyway :) so that's a good sign

Safe journey

OP posts:
Martorana · 29/04/2014 21:51

You could try looking at some names?

Original poster
appletree100 · 29/04/2014 21:31

thank you everyone :) :) Aria is the best :) Aiyanna i loved to mind you... as EmpressOfJurisfiction has said, it's native american x I did make up the other :) its fun...

Finding naming my child quite difficult I must admit though

Love

OP posts:
Frontdoorstep · 29/04/2014 21:14

I wouldn't know how to pronounce the first two, I think a lot of people will be like that.

Artandco · 29/04/2014 21:12

Eyana or Eyelle would be better. A friend has Iyano but they are Japanese

Aria is nice

Nunyabiz · 29/04/2014 21:05

with a DD named Ariana- please don't murder this name! Aria is fine. The other two are... Inferior made up versions I would assume.

EmpressOfJurisfiction · 29/04/2014 21:03

Just googled and they're all real. Aiyanna is Native American but not sure about Aiyelle.

funnyoldonion · 29/04/2014 20:59

I love Aria x

OwlCapone · 29/04/2014 20:39

Th first two are dreadful. Aria is fine though.

vitaminC · 29/04/2014 20:37

The first two look made up, but I guess Aria is OK.

I actually know someone with a DD called Ayanna, which still sounds made up, but at least looks to be spelled logically.

How about Ariella or Ariana, which are real names?

UriGeller · 29/04/2014 20:34

Have you made them up? There are unnecessary 'Y's in the first two words anyway and the third is a sung melody in an opera.

I probably would use Aria if I was really into opera, but I'm not.

everlong · 29/04/2014 20:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

flowery · 29/04/2014 17:33

Apart from Aria they all sound like you just made them up.

Monstamio · 29/04/2014 17:31

Aria is very pretty I think. The others sound made up to me I'm afraid.

How about Arianne / Arianna, Aurelia or Ariadne which sort of fit that style?