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Baby names

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

Original poster

Alannah or Daphne

115 replies

Drunkenmonkey · 06/04/2021 21:42

I think I prefer one but the other one feels like it fits better with the sibling names which are both Irish. Which do you prefer? Any preconceptions of either name? The Scooby Doo thing doesn't bother me at all.

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AllanaghML · 30/05/2021 00:53

My name is Allanagh - a nightmare variation to spell out - so I'm delighted to see you're thinking of Alannah for the spelling. My father was Irish and chose the name for its meaning (from the old Irish language) of 'O, child', and for its later use as a term of endearment (equivalent to my darling), particularly popular from the late 18th century, especially in the Victorian period, and possibly used this way even today. So, although I still want to strangle my dad for the spelling, it's a very touching and loving name to give. Oddly, at no time in my life has anyone ever shortened it, other than a Polish friend who used a traditional pet form for girls' names, so called me Alanka, which was rather pretty. Also, nobody has ever said they thought my name was the feminine version of Alan; it doesn't sound boyish in the least. Daphne is equally lovely, and easily 3000+ years in use in Greece. If you chose this, just don't let any boy called Apollo come near her. That particular myth did not end well! Both your choices are charming...so, possibly I'm not being much help to you, but I do wish you well.

Original poster
Drunkenmonkey · 11/04/2021 22:04

Basically it's the elongated ah sound that becomes ar in my accent.
So my DH says Hannah exactly the same way as I do but he says Alannah with an 'ah' sound. I can't make that ah sound without it feeling very strange, so it becomes an 'ar' sound.
I don't think many people would say Alannah to rhyme with Hannah but I could be wrong.

OP posts:
Synchrony · 11/04/2021 16:02

My accent is non-rhotic but it still it makes no sense to me either in this case given the similarly of spelling to Hannah (no one says that "Har-nah"). I find the differences in pronunciation of words really interesting.

Joolsin · 11/04/2021 11:52

@Synchrony

I'm not Irish and I assumed Alannah was pronounced Al - AN - a. Not Al - AR-na. Fwiw.
You're correct. The AR pronunciation is in some areas in England where the speakers have a "non-rhotic" accent - a long A is given an R sound (it makes no sense to me!). No-one in Ireland would add an R to a name with no R in it!!!
Synchrony · 11/04/2021 11:38

I'm not Irish and I assumed Alannah was pronounced Al - AN - a. Not Al - AR-na. Fwiw.

Firebird83 · 10/04/2021 22:42

Daphne. I would pronounce Alana and Alannah differently. The double n changes the vowel sound.

Twiggywinkle13 · 10/04/2021 21:24

My name is Alana, yes, sometimes you have to spell it as there are different variants. I live in Scotland, no one here or really elsewhere mispronounce it - people with an English accent do because they pronounce it in an odd way with an r so ‘alarna’ but I think it’s just an accent thing.

Kitkat151 · 10/04/2021 21:07

There’s already about 6 spellings on this thread already 🙄

Kitkat151 · 10/04/2021 21:06

Choosing Alannah will Mean a life time of people misspelling your daughters name ( and mis pronouncing it)

DaffyDaffy · 10/04/2021 21:04

@whataboutthecat yes yes to “The Girl From Tomorrow”, I loved that program and decided I would name my future daughter Alana.

Op, both lovely choices! Alannah is slightly less popular here so i’d probably go for that one on balance.

Twiggywinkle13 · 10/04/2021 20:43

Allanah, best name going Wink

tiredmum2468 · 10/04/2021 20:37

@Drunkenmonkey
My little girl has a friend called Alanah and she's a lovely little girl and I work with one too also lovely

I'm not keen on Daphne I think Disney as in duck! 🐤

Trinacham · 10/04/2021 20:25

I've always liked the name Daphne so it's an easy pick for me!

IrishMamaMia · 10/04/2021 20:06

OP your DH is definitely correct on the pronunciation.

Original poster
Drunkenmonkey · 10/04/2021 20:04

@Lemonlemon88 I quite like it pronounced like that too but I get the impression most would pronounce it the other way. DH is adamant it is like Lana but with an A but then he pronounces Lana differently to me. L-ah-na like if you were scared and said 'ahhhhhh' Grin
Whereas Hannah or Anna is a short A.

OP posts:
IrishMamaMia · 10/04/2021 20:02

I should love Daphne as I adore mythological, classic names but I also have a soft spot for Alannah. Every Alannah I've met is special.

Lemonlemon88 · 10/04/2021 20:01

I pronounce alannah differenty to alana? Anna vs arna? I prefer alannah but only pronouncing it a - lanna like anna with a l in front.

Original poster
Drunkenmonkey · 10/04/2021 20:00

I'm not keen on the Alana spelling for some reason, it make me think of the name Alan whereas I don't think of that with Alannah.

OP posts:
Original poster
Drunkenmonkey · 10/04/2021 19:58

Ooo some more responses, that's good.

@Teatreat I loved Malory Towers and first heard the name in those books, loved it straight away too.
@AlwaysLatte the pronunciation depends on accent I think, but basically the same as how you would say the name Lana or Lara, so not like Hannah. My DH is Irish so it sounds like Ah-lah-na, whereas I say it more like Ah-lar-na.

I did wonder if it was perhaps a bit dated but I love how many nicknames it has and I think it has a lovely sound to it. I have to admit I do love the Irish meaning too and the fact it fits with other DC names. But you guys are making me lean towards Daphne now. I quite like the option of Fee as a nickname suggested above. It's the lack of nicknames that puts me off Daphne a bit but it is a name I've always loved so maybe I should go for it (if we have a girl!)

OP posts:
Teatreat · 10/04/2021 19:39

There's a Daphne in Malory Towers. I remember loving the name as a little girl, but knew it at the time to be very old fashioned. I'm so glad these lovely old names are being used again!
It's Daphne from me.

Ellmau · 10/04/2021 19:33

Daphne is a beautiful classic name.

Alannah feels dated to me (90s).

Kitkat151 · 10/04/2021 19:31

Daphne...love it

Alannah....don’t like it at all

AlwaysLatte · 10/04/2021 19:08

I think both are lovely, although I confess I don't know how to pronounce Alannah. Is it Uh-Larna or Uh-Lanna? Or Allan-a? I'm guessing the middle one as it's a bit like Hannah? I've never come across one in real life so I genuinely don't know, so there could be tedious correcting.

FASDE1517 · 10/04/2021 18:47

Daphne by a mile. I know one whose nickname is 'Fee'.

Troyhelena · 10/04/2021 18:46

Alannah's a bit "Shannon'. Dated without the classic vibe
YES! This!

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