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Original poster

Lana- backwards spelling an issue?

33 replies

onceuponavino · 14/04/2015 18:15

I love the name Lana..have done for a long time and even more so since I got really into watching Once Upon a Time a couple of years ago and have adored the actress Lana Parrilla ever since!

I admit i think of myself as fairly "dirty minded" but it never occurred to me what Lana spelt backward spells until people started pointing it out! I have read other threads on other forums and a lot of people called Lana have said they had issues growing up with kids at school- same goes for parents with DD Lanas who have said a few kids have pointed it out.

I am wondering if instead I go for Alana and Lana nn. I always liked Alana anyway and my grandfather was Alan so I think it may be a nice way to honour him. Can anyone think of any other names that Lana could be a nn for? Also, I really like Lani as a nn pronounced Lay-nee, but would this seem silly considering I would pronounce Lana Lah-na? It would make more sense if it was Lay-na nn Laynee, or Lah-na nn Lah-nee (IYSWIM!) but I just think Lay-nee is a very sweet nn! But prefer Lana as Lah-na..sorry that rambled a bit lol.

So what other names can Lana be a nn for? Or possible alternate spellings to Lana? DH suggested Lahna but I think that looks quite ugly.

Thanks in advance for your input :)

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jaykay34 · 28/04/2015 07:41

I never realised this ! I work with a Lana, and my friend has just had a baby called Lana - and I have never thought about the backwards spelling ! I wonder if they have ? Smile

SeenSheen · 20/04/2015 22:56

Roy Orbison song called Lana - no relevance to discussion however.

ceebelle83 · 19/04/2015 21:01

Alannah

DefinitelyMaybeBaby · 18/04/2015 09:48

There was a Lana in my year at school, she was picked on a lot for being clever, red haired and overweight :( but I have to say the "anal" thing was used against her A LOT! Definitely put me off the name.

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 16/04/2015 21:41

Alana nn Lana is lovely. DD has a friend who is Lainie, not short for anything, known as Lane. I prefer Lana though ??

HeyDuggee · 16/04/2015 16:42

There's a little girl at school nick named Lainey, proper name Helena. Makes sense to me, as Helena usually has a dimminutive/nickname in many cultures see here

Original poster
onceuponavino · 16/04/2015 16:33

thanks so much for all of the input everyone!

I think we will go with Alana and nn Lana :) With any luck she'll be ballsy enough to bash away the silly comments if she does get any. and if it really is a problem she could always change the spelling if she wants by the time she goes to secondary school! If she immediately spells it Lahna or something, hopefully the "anal" stuff won't even come up.

OP posts:
Gullygirl · 16/04/2015 14:33

The backwards thing had never occurred to me until you posted, having said that, how about spelling it Lanna?
Lainey is really nice too, so is Ilanna.

Hypotenuse · 15/04/2015 20:39

My exact same fear for my eldest. We call her Lana but her name isn't quite that, so she has the option to switch to her full name as a teen when everyone starts talking about anal... I'm hoping she'll be strong enough to just shout 'yer mum!' Or something equally witty to combat the bullies though.

flowerygirl · 15/04/2015 20:31

I have a friend Lana and when I first met her, her friend butted in and said 'if you can't remember her name, it's anal spelt backwards'

Ever since then I can't unhear it! It's a lovely name though, if you choose it I would definitely go for a different spelling

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 15/04/2015 20:20

I never even thought of that! So perhaps others haven't either but why take the risk with teasing.
How about Larna or Larner.

33goingon64 · 15/04/2015 11:40

Leonie
Lena

Sophronia · 15/04/2015 10:29

How about Ilana, Iolana, Milana or Roxelana with Lana as a nn?

swancourt · 15/04/2015 10:09

Alana NN Lani is absolutely lovely :)

sweetpeame · 15/04/2015 08:35

Just in case it's of interest, Alannah is the usual spelling (in my experience) in Ireland. And it's pronounced with a long "a" not a short one, so in fact the same way as Lana but with an A in front ie A-lana. I believe Alana and Alanah are just alternative or perhaps anglecised spellings of the same name. The same way someone might anglecise Ciara to Keira or Eoin to Owen.

IvoryMadonna · 14/04/2015 20:49

Kids will always find something to tease about, so I really wouldn't lose any sleep over potential for wordplay.

I knew a Lainey, her full name was Elaine.

I would pronounce Alana like A-lar-na, but Alannah with a short 'a' because of the double 'n'. Same as Hannah. They seem like different names to me.

I prefer Alana to Lana, and it would be nice with the link to your grandfather.

Totality22 · 14/04/2015 20:21

It wouldn't bother me but my OH vetoed a "J" middle name for our DD who has a "B" first name (his initials are BJ too!)

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 14/04/2015 19:46

this was top of the list for dd and just before my due date I read about the backwards spelling. cue massive pregnancy meltdown as no other names were right and we couldn't agree on any others. so went into labour with no name.
then I looked at newborn dd and I realised how silly I was being. we loved the name it was perfect in every other way. kids will tease about anything and with this trend of 'unique' names I doubt she will have anything to worry about especially after hearing some other names in the local area Grin

AlmaMartyr · 14/04/2015 19:38

It is a pretty name but I admit the backwards spelling occurred to me a while back and now I can't unsee it. I'm normally one to not worry about these sorts of things but it would put me off the name just because I can't unsee it.

That said, I am surprised that kids would pick up on it, I'm not sure I would have until at least teenage years.

WhenMarnieWasThere · 14/04/2015 19:38

I went to school with a Lana. As far as I can recall, I don't remember any of the children making an issue of it or making fun.

That said, I really like Alanah. My friend's DD is Alanah. She calls her 'Laney (Larn-ee) or Lana for short.

thebeesankles · 14/04/2015 19:36

I would add an h on the end as a pp suggested.

sweetpeame · 14/04/2015 19:30

I would never have thought of that!!! Like the name Lana but LOVE the name Alana (although would spell it Alannah), was on my list if DS was going to be a DD. You could definitely use Lana as a nn for Alana and avoid any possible jokes/teasing that way. Also love Lara which is similar.

Alisvolatpropiis · 14/04/2015 18:49

It would bother me, though it is a lovely name.

Same goes for Arlo and Orla.

GertrudeBell · 14/04/2015 18:48

Lara?

Lanaandmaria2014 · 14/04/2015 18:43

Wow, someone else thinking of Lana? that's my 6mo dd's name (her father's idea) I've grown to love it, the backward spelling never occurred to me and it certainly doesn't bother me, I love the fact it is quite unusual - never met another Lana. Lena is pretty common in Germany where we live but I much prefer Lana.