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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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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

NairobiGal · 02/11/2022 16:27

I'm black and I would automatically think white. Kinda up there with ariadne, Ariana etc.

Zezet · 02/11/2022 16:27

Middle East

tara66 · 02/11/2022 16:25

It sounds very ''made up'' like in an old fashioned romantic novel.

snakeitoff · 02/11/2022 16:22

Never heard of it

wannabeamummysobad · 02/11/2022 16:19

@BrinaEds It would be pronounced Ay-yaa-nuh

With that pronunciation I'd definitely say black (American/Caribbean) name.

MakkaPakkas · 02/11/2022 16:09

I've taught a lot of children and university students and I wouldn't be able to guess the ethnicity of Ayana. I'd be roughly guessing not white English, but then again she could be.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 02/11/2022 16:03

Arabic

TheOrigRights · 02/11/2022 15:29

Asian - India specifically.

LolaSmiles · 02/11/2022 15:29

I would be surprised if the child and family were white European, and would probably assume one or both of the parents had black heritage.

Notmytiep · 02/11/2022 15:25

containsnuts · 02/11/2022 15:16

Reminds me of a youtube family I used to watch that had a daughter with this name. They were white, vegan, hippies that lived on a bus!

hahahaaa I use to watch this too

Marblessolveeverything · 02/11/2022 15:24

It is a name of a resort / hotel I stayed in Bali so I would think parents may have been there.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 02/11/2022 15:24

Arabic for me.

misteriosa · 02/11/2022 15:23

I'd think Black because of Ayanna Pressley and a handful of other African-American women I've heard of named Ayanna or Ayana.

I've never heard of it in the context of Arabic or Islamic names -- though I am definitely not an expert in that area. I'm just basing that idea on the Arabic names I've encountered personally or read.

containsnuts · 02/11/2022 15:16

Reminds me of a youtube family I used to watch that had a daughter with this name. They were white, vegan, hippies that lived on a bus!

Dreamingcats · 02/11/2022 15:12

I'd guess Indian if I had to, but not strongly enough that I'd be surprised that they are white British. Blends in with all the Eliana, Ariella, Elena type names.

orangeisthenewpuce · 02/11/2022 15:07

Generic made up name

CannibalQueen · 02/11/2022 15:03

Disney.

RHOAD · 02/11/2022 14:57

Meltfown · 02/11/2022 14:47

No idea really but I'd probably lean to Asian.

I'd have not a hope of being able to pronounce it.

Its pronounced Ahhh- yaan - na
Very common & popular name in the Black Caribbean/African American culture.
I don''t know it's definitive origin though.

User2975976427 · 02/11/2022 14:48

DuchessOfSausage · 02/11/2022 13:53

I'd think Ayana was not of white british heritage

This

Meltfown · 02/11/2022 14:47

No idea really but I'd probably lean to Asian.

I'd have not a hope of being able to pronounce it.

Luredbyapomegranate · 02/11/2022 14:45

Arabic maybe?

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.

Navyandgolden · 02/11/2022 14:41

I would guess black African.

SheepDance · 02/11/2022 14:38

Never heard of it, so I wouldn't think anything in particular apart from how do you pronounce it!