Is this baby name ethnically neutral?

BrinaEds · 2022-11-02T12:53:15+00:00

Afternoon All, Our little one has finally arrived but we are stuck on a name for her and would love your thoughts on this one Out of curiosity, what ethnicity comes to mind when you hear the name Ayana / Ayanna. - White - Black - Mixed - Asian - Ethnically neutral - if other please specify xXx

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Snoopsnoggysnog · 05/11/2022 10:33

I know 2. One is Jewish and the other has an Indian background.

Ellmau · 05/11/2022 10:32

I wouldn't assume ethnicity but I would think a Muslim family background.

TheOtherWoman2 · 04/11/2022 21:55

oriental

luciaann · 04/11/2022 21:55

Sorry just re read and it's a different name 🤦🏽‍♀️

luciaann · 04/11/2022 21:54

The Anya I know is Indian

KirstenBlest · 04/11/2022 16:54

It's not necessarily dooming the DC, but it can be a PITA if the child is asked often about their heritage.
I know people with very 'traditionally british' names, who are mixed heritage, who are assumed to be white until they turn up.
I also know someone who is white british with a name that suggest that he's of african heritage, and often people assume he's west african and are surprised to meet a fair-haired chap.
I've guessed someone was female because of their first name. He was a man, and the name was unisex but far more often used for a woman.

SirChenjins · 04/11/2022 15:19

I completely agree - I’m just disagreeing with your timescale.

SudocremOnEverything · 04/11/2022 15:12

Well it’s not going to change if we tell people they’re dooming their kids if they don’t give them white British names, is it?

I didn’t say that racism wasn’t a thing.

SirChenjins · 04/11/2022 15:11

SudocremOnEverything · 04/11/2022 14:46

Things change. 20-25 years is a long time. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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20-25 years is nothing - attitudes have changed in my 50-plus years but nowhere near as quickly as they should have done. Far too many people are still discriminated against on the basis of their colour, religion, educational background, sex, etc etc. I’m not convinced 20 years will be enough to overcome this - it would be lovely if it were but for some it’s too ingrained.

SudocremOnEverything · 04/11/2022 14:46

AM453 · 04/11/2022 13:55

Current attitudes to race and ethnicity are likely to have shifted somewhat (in unknowable ways) by the time your baby daughter is looking for work. So your fears aren’t necessarily going to play out (however understandable they are).

LOL

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Things change. 20-25 years is a long time. 🤷🏻‍♀️

AM453 · 04/11/2022 13:55

SudocremOnEverything · 04/11/2022 13:08

I think it’s important to remember that:

Current attitudes to race and ethnicity are likely to have shifted somewhat (in unknowable ways) by the time your baby daughter is looking for work. So your fears aren’t necessarily going to play out (however understandable they are). The name may even turn out to be an advantage.
Choosing a name to fit in in the UK won’t help her if she’s applying for jobs outside the UK. And she may well be. You don’t know.

I’d say that choosing a name you love is more important.

Current attitudes to race and ethnicity are likely to have shifted somewhat (in unknowable ways) by the time your baby daughter is looking for work. So your fears aren’t necessarily going to play out (however understandable they are).

LOL

SudocremOnEverything · 04/11/2022 13:08

I think it’s important to remember that:

Current attitudes to race and ethnicity are likely to have shifted somewhat (in unknowable ways) by the time your baby daughter is looking for work. So your fears aren’t necessarily going to play out (however understandable they are). The name may even turn out to be an advantage.
Choosing a name to fit in in the UK won’t help her if she’s applying for jobs outside the UK. And she may well be. You don’t know.

I’d say that choosing a name you love is more important.

AmandaMirandaPanda · 04/11/2022 10:16

BrinaEds · 03/11/2022 12:12

Thanks everyone!

It's definitely not a made up name, it means beautiful flower.

So it seems the general consensus is that it sounds like a name with Asain/Arabic/Muslim routes. I really like the name but wanted something more ethnically neutral but having seen comments from @SudocremOnEverything and @slowquickstep there's probably no such thing.

The more I think about it, the more I think this is probably about wanting a name that when my DD goes into the real world of work she won't be overlooked because her name may suggest a particular background, as sad as that sounds in this day and age.

@PeterPomegranate we have so many Maya's and Mia's around us it's not an option unfortunately.

I think we're back to the drawing board 😩. But I really appreciate of your views ❤️

Sorry you feel you can't use it! But if the idea that it MIGHT hold your daughter back will bother you, it may not be "the" name for you.

In terms of similar names possibly more familiar in the UK without being super popular, how about Adriana, Annika, or Ariadne? Or if the initial A- isn't important, perhaps something like Diana, Hanna(h), Liliana, Mariana, Susannah?

Tiredalwaystired · 04/11/2022 08:25

Just another thing to consider to check you like it - my daughters friend called Ayaana gets called Yanna by her friends.

So check you like the shortened version too!

Vinylloving · 03/11/2022 13:22

@BrinaEds I would consider a beautiful sounding name that isn't so suggestive of an ethnicity that you have no connection with. What about Athena, Allegra, Ariella, Anya, Alexis, Annabelle, Audrey. Or away from A names, Sasha, Celeste, Cecily, Felicity, Jemima, Isobel, Laurel, Penelope

KirstenBlest · 03/11/2022 13:16

@caitlinrose , baby name sites are often unreliable.
@slowquickstep , I disagree too.

OKild09 · 03/11/2022 13:15

slowquickstep · 02/11/2022 14:43

Congratulations. Use whatever name you want to use, it is 2022 and no race ,creed or religion owns a name.

I'ts 2022 and you're still so ignorant wow.

Vinylloving · 03/11/2022 13:13

Black or mixed race

OnABreeze · 03/11/2022 13:12

slowquickstep · 02/11/2022 14:43

Congratulations. Use whatever name you want to use, it is 2022 and no race ,creed or religion owns a name.

I disagree.

KirstenBlest · 03/11/2022 13:09

overlooked because her name may suggest a particular background
Go for something 'safe' and fairly popular.
If the surname is unusual, go for a simple first name.
It is sad that we get judged on our names, but it happens,
just like we get judged on our age or looks.

Does it matter though, couldn't imagine being upset that someone thought my daughter was of a different heritage because of her name.
You might not, but others might mind being wrong, and your daughter might mind being asked yet again if she has a certain heritage.

caitlinrose · 03/11/2022 13:08

BrinaEds · 03/11/2022 12:12

Thanks everyone!

It's definitely not a made up name, it means beautiful flower.

So it seems the general consensus is that it sounds like a name with Asain/Arabic/Muslim routes. I really like the name but wanted something more ethnically neutral but having seen comments from @SudocremOnEverything and @slowquickstep there's probably no such thing.

The more I think about it, the more I think this is probably about wanting a name that when my DD goes into the real world of work she won't be overlooked because her name may suggest a particular background, as sad as that sounds in this day and age.

@PeterPomegranate we have so many Maya's and Mia's around us it's not an option unfortunately.

I think we're back to the drawing board 😩. But I really appreciate of your views ❤️

I would check that meaning again if it's important to you. I also saw that it means "flower" in Swahili but when I checked a dictionary it didn't come up.

Similar names:

Alana
Amaya
Amira
Alina
Ayla
Annabel

pinkpotatoez · 03/11/2022 13:04

Asian. Does it matter though, couldn't imagine being upset that someone thought my daughter was of a different heritage because of her name. Beautiful name btw

User2975976427 · 03/11/2022 12:43

The more I think about it, the more I think this is probably about wanting a name that when my DD goes into the real world of work she won't be overlooked because her name may suggest a particular background, as sad as that sounds in this day and age.

if this is your aim then I think you need a more traditional British name.

Closest to yours would probably be

anna
annabelle
alicia
alice
annaliese

Original poster

BrinaEds · 03/11/2022 12:12

Thanks everyone!

It's definitely not a made up name, it means beautiful flower.

So it seems the general consensus is that it sounds like a name with Asain/Arabic/Muslim routes. I really like the name but wanted something more ethnically neutral but having seen comments from @SudocremOnEverything and @slowquickstep there's probably no such thing.

The more I think about it, the more I think this is probably about wanting a name that when my DD goes into the real world of work she won't be overlooked because her name may suggest a particular background, as sad as that sounds in this day and age.

@PeterPomegranate we have so many Maya's and Mia's around us it's not an option unfortunately.

I think we're back to the drawing board 😩. But I really appreciate of your views ❤️

OP posts:

GlassDeli · 03/11/2022 10:23

I'm guessing Hispanic.