Aaron

The Air on pronunciation reminded me of a joke I was told by a friend who got it from a nun. “Why do we think Moses wore a wig? Because sometimes he was seen with Aaron and sometimes without”
Yes, well what else would you expect from an elderly Catholic nun?

I grew up pronouncing Aaron air-on too and it wasn't until my friend had an Aaron (who's now 16) that I heard the other pronunciation. Now everyone says it that way.
I think they are fairly similar but not intrusively so. Anna and Andrew would be worse.
I think they are a similar style though. They are literally both biblical names.

Normal people generally give very little thought to names I wouldn’t consider the consensus of this board to be indicative of wider attitudes!

They are lovely names. It wouldn't bother me that they are similar.

Oh and definitely keep the traditional pronunciation.

I'm Scottish with a N.E accent. Anna is my favourite girls name. With a Scottish accent Anna and Aaron sound fine together .

Of course Anna originates from a Hebrew biblical name too (Hannah), like a lot of other traditional European names, eg John, Elizabeth, Mary/Maria. So not that different to Aaron.

Anna and Aaron are not hugely different styles, most people don't read into names in this way at all. Many certainly don't give a damn about religious connotations - modern or otherwise - they might have

If it were along the lines of Anna and Muhammed or Anna and Paizlyn then that might raise a few eyebrows, yes. However two fairly standard Western names will not be blinked at.

I would avoid Anna and Aaron though OP, I think they are too similar. Do agree with you that Arran is the nicer pronunciation!

Arran and Anna are a better match than Aaron and Anna. They don’t jar so much. It’s not really about religion, it’s more cultural difference.

In real life, they do. With two names of very different styles, many people would raise an eyebrow and think it’s slightly odd.

We will have to disagree then

I don’t think anyone would hear the names Arran and Anna and their first thought be that they are silly sibling names because they don’t have the same religious backgrounds.

Or maybe it’s just my social circle who wouldn’t have thoughts like that...

If someone had a Cleopatra and a Bob, that might seem odd, but I wouldn’t even bat an eyelid at siblings called Arran and Anna.

But people in real life don’t think like this.

In real life, they do. With two names of very different styles, many people would raise an eyebrow and think it’s slightly odd.

Anyway, Whichever way you say it, it doesn’t go with Anna at all. Anna is classic, Continental Christian. Aaron is Old Testament Jewish, Hebrew.

But people in real life don’t think like this.

I have a second son and I’m pretty sure when I’m asked his name they aren’t internally thinking, “How ridiculous that she called him that, it isn’t even Old Testament and Jewish like his brother’s name is.”

I would only ever pronounce Aaron as Air-on. The standard biblical way. Pronouncing it as Arran is very odd to me. Anyway, Whichever way you say it, it doesn’t go with Anna at all. Anna is classic, Continental Christian. Aaron is Old Testament Jewish, Hebrew.

I have an Arron - pronounced the same way you want to.

I didn’t want his name spelt like Aaron because I was dreading people calling him Air-ron.

I’m glad we made that decision because there’s a tv programme (comedy) and when it is advertised on the TV it includes a teacher doing the register and he says: “A-A-Ron” for a boy who is listed as Aaron

My son loves it and sometimes goes running around shouting “My name is A-A-Ron” - and no matter how many times I tell him that it doesn’t apply to him because his name isn’t spelt with two A’s he still finds it funny

Anyhow, back on topic: My cousin’s friend has got two children called Lucy and Lucas and their similar starting sounds doesn’t seem odd at all, I really like it.

I think Anna and Arran sound lovely together.

(FWIW - if we’d had a girl we were really keen on the name Anna) - you have great taste in names

Interesting that you say the Arran pronunciation is the traditional / Scottish one.
When I was growing up, any Aarons were Air-on. Then when I started teaching they were all Arran. I had always assumed that was the newer pronunciation.
In Frozen, Anna has a long Ahh at the start Ah-na.
Even if the names do sound similar, you can still have them. I know pairs of siblings Christopher and Christie (named after their dad...), Laura and Lauren, William (although known as Billy) and Willow. I did raise an eyebrow at each of those, but the kids are individuals and it's their name. They just sound a bit matchy when said together, but they will grow up and go out into the world on their own.
Your potential names are nowhere near as similar as those. If you love them, use them.

I think they’re fine together. Lovely names.

You need to do the shouting-up-the-stairs or across-the-park test and see if they are distinguishable in your accent. Given that vowel sounds tend to carry more easily over long distances I think they are potentially too similar but that’s just in my accent.

I think it's fine
Aaron and Anna work really well together
Can't see an issue here

Anna and Aaron is a bit matchy. At least you've lots of time to find another name!