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Baby names

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

Original poster

Anya?

47 replies

sleepypandaeyes · 18/01/2022 21:39

Love Anna but can't use. What do you think of Anya?

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Monkeytapper · 21/01/2022 19:12

How about Anja? Pronounced the same and means ‘grace/gracious’

SaxonMama · 21/01/2022 19:07

My daughter is called Aine, completely different origin to Anya. I grew up with a few Anja’s in my area (in Germany) and I think it’s a lovely name.

BaggaTDoubleTroubleDoubleG · 21/01/2022 18:59

I love it. It was my first choice for DD but DH didn’t agree.

Leslienope · 21/01/2022 18:37

Love it. Should be more popular!

Derrymum123 · 21/01/2022 18:34

A Polish friend of mine is called Ania. (Pronounced Anya) Love it.

Flocon · 21/01/2022 18:24

I love Anya. The one I know gets so annoyed with everyone typing Anna in emails though or on the phone I've no idea why people do it though they are clearly not the same.

UserBot999 · 21/01/2022 17:07

I agree, use it if you like it. I considered welsh, spanish, french and irish names.

RestingStitchFace · 21/01/2022 14:12

Love it!

SirSamuelVimes · 21/01/2022 09:23

@UserBot999

Its Russian i think
My name is old French. No french connection in my family. Who cares?
stormelf · 21/01/2022 00:51

I love it. Would've loved to use it for dd2 but it's too close to dd1 name

DramaAlpaca · 21/01/2022 00:28

Yes, I'm sure it's Russian originally.

It has nothing to do with the Irish name Áine, which is pronounced completely differently to Anya.

UserBot999 · 20/01/2022 23:47

Its Russian i think

PenelopePitstop79 · 20/01/2022 13:51

So it's from Aine which is Irish for Anne, I guess?

Tal45 · 20/01/2022 13:50

I love it and know of two. I much prefer it to Anna which I think is quite dull.

MumOfOne55 · 20/01/2022 13:43

I’m pregnant with a girl and I’m going to call her Anya 🙂

4kinell · 20/01/2022 10:25

I think it's lovely . Very simple but has a lovely sound to it

SummaLuvin · 20/01/2022 10:22

@Luredbyapomegranate

It’s ok.

It’s not especially different though - it’s quite popular, but not a classic like Anna, and it will dare. I think Hannah is a better bet, or find something completely different.

Hannah is dated though, not to the current babies, but to ones born in the early-mid ninities. Very few names are truly timeless IMO, not everyone on MN sees it the way I do, but I don't think classic=timeless.
Luredbyapomegranate · 19/01/2022 22:44

DATE not dare

Luredbyapomegranate · 19/01/2022 22:44

It’s ok.

It’s not especially different though - it’s quite popular, but not a classic like Anna, and it will dare. I think Hannah is a better bet, or find something completely different.

Leeloo1233 · 19/01/2022 12:14

It's lovely although I would expect Russian roots

PattyPan · 19/01/2022 12:13

It’s lovely!

Bluemamma · 19/01/2022 12:12

Very nice name. Simple, a little bit different but in no way made-up or out there.

wingsofabird · 19/01/2022 09:52

Absolutely love Anya .

Original poster
sleepypandaeyes · 19/01/2022 09:25

Thank you for the positive messages. I do favour Anna in some ways but like that Anya is so different.

Can't use due to an older family member being called Anna. She also has the same surname as baby will. So we don't want to use it.

OP posts:
IamnotwhouthinkIam · 19/01/2022 01:17

Anya is very pretty imo - feels slightly exotic, yet simple and not too unusual iykwim?

I do still much prefer Anna as it just feels more classic - but I can't use Anna myself either (but am wondering if I had a DD whether I could get away with Anna on the BC but always call her Anya as a pet name/nn to avoid confusion with the other Anna -the way they do in some Eastern European/Slavic countries).

I also think Anya is sometimes used as a nn for Antonia or Anastasia too if you like either of those?

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