Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Thoughts on Alana / Alanna?

31 replies

TiffanyAtBreakfast · 11/09/2017 07:13

My DM suggested it last night and I think it's quite pretty. Think I prefer the Alana spelling to any others. Other girls names on our shortlist are Tabitha and Robin... Thoughts welcome!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
TiffanyAtBreakfast · 12/09/2017 10:20

Yeah I was aware of the books but no real life cats. I'm finding myself defending Tabitha a lot in general actually - maybe that's my answer!

OP posts:
SuperBeagle · 12/09/2017 08:16

There was a book when I was younger called Martha B. Rabbit and Tabitha Cat too.

Sweet book. Beatrix Potter is hardly a negative association either. Smile

DuggeeHugs · 12/09/2017 08:08

The cat connection is probably due to the Tabitha Twitchit character in the Beatrix Potter stories. It wouldn't put me off though - lovely name

17caterpillars1mouse · 12/09/2017 07:45

I like Alana better pronounced a-larn-uh

Tabitha is nice enough though reminds me of kittens. Though so does Felix and everybody seems to love that

I like Robyn. Prefer Robin for a boy

Original poster
TiffanyAtBreakfast · 12/09/2017 06:49

Thanks for all the replies! V helpful. SmileIt's definitely staying on the list.

Funnily enough re: Tabitha, I have never ever actually met a cat with that name! They are always called Spot or Felix or Tiggy or something cute and twee. So I wouldn't discount Tabitha for that reason.

OP posts:
villainousbroodmare · 11/09/2017 20:34

Dully Irish-American to my ears, as it is an anglicisation of "a leanbh". "Leanbh" is a baby and the initial "a" signifies that you are addressing said baby. Bit like Colleen... an Irish name that Irish people wouldn't use. Also there's Alan. Alan! Alan!

BathTangle · 11/09/2017 20:31

I love Alannah - always makes me think of Alannah Myles' song "Black Velvet" - though that really dates me!!

Sophronia · 11/09/2017 20:27

I like Alannah for ah-LANN-ah and Alana for ah-LAH-na.

seven201 · 11/09/2017 18:07

A few days I had a dream I had a second child called Alana. I woke up loving the name but my when I told dh he was a solid 'no'. I was gutted which is ridiculous as I'm not even pregnant or tying to get pregnant! As I was writing it just now though I did realise it's just Alan with an a on the end which made it less special for me. I'm no help at all! Sorry.

Jellybeans90 · 11/09/2017 15:12

Spell Alana backwards..um

NannyR · 11/09/2017 15:12

Nice name but I would think that the two spellings would be pronounced differently - al-arn-a and al-Anna.

Fandabidozy · 11/09/2017 15:08

I love Alannah, it was on our shortlist with Erin and Francesca.

Also love Robyn but not keen on Tabitha although can't pinpoint why

SerfTerf · 11/09/2017 15:01

Tabitha is lovely.

SerfTerf · 11/09/2017 15:01

It looks like one of those men's names with an A tacked on, to me. Like Briana or Nigella.

MamehaSan · 11/09/2017 14:56

Be careful of the pronunciation - I think Alanna would be said ah-LAN-ah, rather than ah-LARN-ah. The double 'n' shortens the preceding 'a'.

spiderlight · 11/09/2017 14:52

I like Alana - it's unusual enough to be cool but not too unusual. Like Tabitha as well.

Lemondrop99 · 11/09/2017 14:46

I really dislike Alana, but that's just personal preference. It's a perfectly fine name to use.

I like Tabitha (but be prepared for MN to tell you it's a cat's name)

DuggeeHugs · 11/09/2017 12:49

Alana - excellent heroine name!

MammieBear · 11/09/2017 10:48

Wouldn't say it's for cats are like those that say Rufus is a dogs name, since they are HUMAN names before they where associated with animals besides I quite like that Tabitha is associated with cat's it gives you some very endearing Nn options like Kitty, Tibby etc.

SuperBeagle · 11/09/2017 10:40

Don't like it. It's very outdated to me, as I know several in their 20s and 30s.

Way prefer Tabitha.

Sequence · 11/09/2017 09:44

I like Alana. Not a fan of Tabitha.

ABCFamily · 11/09/2017 09:08

Brawne - Same!

Alanna is also the fiesty protagonist in the 'Song of the Lioness' series about a girl who becomes a knight.

So it's a yes from me.

BrawneLamia · 11/09/2017 08:24

I've always liked alana since 'the girl from tomorrow'

Nomoresunshine · 11/09/2017 08:24

Prefer Alanah. Tabitha is a cat's name. .

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 11/09/2017 08:21

Alanna.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.