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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is this baby name ethnically neutral?

109 replies

BrinaEds · 02/11/2022 12:53

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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17caterpillars1mouse · 03/11/2022 09:45

Black or Asian. I have known one of each ethnicity

southlondoner02 · 02/11/2022 19:41

I know an Ayana with a Black African heritage. Haven't seen it spelt the other way though

TakeMe2Insanity · 02/11/2022 18:56

Arabic, muslim name.

SuperCamp · 02/11/2022 18:13

Arabic / Muslim Aisian

Thisisnotmyname2 · 02/11/2022 17:53

Pretty name but I think Arianna may be easier for her as everyone will know how to spell/say it.

Ayanna is nice though and I would assume white european but that's because I know a white (non British) Anya and the name written down made me think of her.

Congratulations!

caitlinrose · 02/11/2022 17:47

babyfrenchie · 02/11/2022 17:44

The baby name Ayana is of Swahili origin and means “beautiful flower”. This female name has become a multi-cultural baby name and is common across several African countries, Japan, and America.

I'm wondering if this is correct because I checked it in a Swahili dictionary and that meaning didn't come up.

I tried "ayana", "ayanna", "aya", "ay", "yana", "yanna", "yan".

babyfrenchie · 02/11/2022 17:44

The baby name Ayana is of Swahili origin and means “beautiful flower”. This female name has become a multi-cultural baby name and is common across several African countries, Japan, and America.

NiceTwin · 02/11/2022 17:39

Asian.

caitlinrose · 02/11/2022 17:36

With Ayana I could imagine that it might be Japanese because I know several Japanese women named Aya as well as an Ayano and an Ayako and an Ayaka.

Ayanna looks made up to me. I wouldn't expect a certain ethnicity but I would expect younger parents (possibly teenagers).

I personally really like the look of Aiyana but wouldn't use it as I find it too made-up looking.

Beautiful3 · 02/11/2022 17:21

Not white.

mishmased · 02/11/2022 17:20

I would also say ethnically mixed as it is used in various languages. Lovely name.

mishmased · 02/11/2022 17:18

Ayanna is also a Swahili name.

LoveMyCats1 · 02/11/2022 17:15

I know a very similar sounding name of a child who has an English mum and Albanian dad. The childs just a little white girl. It wouldn't automatically make me think of anything though if I heard it.

ladycarlotta · 02/11/2022 17:12

The people I know with this name are from the Caribbean/have Caribbean heritage so I might assume any Black background that draws on names from Islam, or maybe a Muslim from another background. However, it's pretty and seems like the sort of name that would travel well so I don't think I'd be overly surprised by a white non-Muslim having this name.

BryceQuinlanTheFirst · 02/11/2022 17:10

I'd assume Arabic

PeterPomegranate · 02/11/2022 17:08

If you’re looking for an ethnically neutral name have you considered Maya?

NoraLuka · 02/11/2022 17:05

I have a friend with this name and she's mixed white European/Chinese, so that's what I'd immediately think of, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was used in other cultures too.

AmandaMirandaPanda · 02/11/2022 17:03

No assumptions about a baby Ayanna, but I know an Ayanna in real life (anecdotal: sample of one!) who is (US) American and black. Her parents are from Ethiopia and apparently the name is traditional there. Her family are Coptic Christian, not Muslim.

For what it's worth, there's currently a lead character in Law & Order: Organized Crime called Sgt. Ayanna Bell; she's black/African-American.

Purely an impression, but the double n (Ayanna) feels more African/American/Caribbean to me, while Ayana perhaps feels more Indian/South Asian.

xPeaceX · 02/11/2022 16:59

maddiemookins16mum · 02/11/2022 13:12

Middle east/Arabic. Not white british.

I'd assume this

1POTUS · 02/11/2022 16:58

IVflytrap · 02/11/2022 14:19

I wouldn't make any assumptions if heard it in passing, but if someone pressed me on it, I would think it sounds more culturally Arabic/Middle Eastern or possibly African American. It makes me think a of names like Aisha/Ayesha, which are common in those cultures.

It's a nice name though, and I don't think it leans strongly in any cultural direction.

I agree with this

1POTUS · 02/11/2022 16:57

I love it. Which pronunciation Ay-ar-na / Ay-an-nah / eye-ar-na / eye-an-nuh

All are pretty - would think maybe white or Asian

TenoringBehind · 02/11/2022 16:55

I would probably think Asian and Muslim but wouldn’t be surprised to discover it was any other ethnicity.

Tiredalwaystired · 02/11/2022 16:43

Definitely female and of Arabic heritage. My daughter’s friend is Ayaana.

Guavafish1 · 02/11/2022 16:37

I have a white polish friend called anya

AM453 · 02/11/2022 16:35

FireFLYing19 · 02/11/2022 16:28

Only because some of you haven't heard of it before doesn't mean it's made up Hmm

Exactly. sound v ignorant saying that. That name has been around forever.