Lana - moral dilemma

I had a tricky surname pre marriage (I’d already altered the spelling by deed poll to alleviate some issues, in my teens).

I was mindful of how shitty kids can be when choosing a name for my daughter so Lana was one that was crossed off the list. This would be 9 years ago so “Lana backwards is anal” has not suddenly landed in the general public consciousness.

That said - I absolutely wouldn’t message your colleague to let her know. The baby is named, you are not even friends never mind close. Just leave it.

Just because you find the name awful doesn't mean you're right

She never said it was awful, just that the parents might not be aware of a potential issue with the name. A previous poster mentioned they named their daughter Lana and didn't realize it until a few issues came up. I personally think the name's nice but when it was pointed out to me on previous threads here it put me off ever considering the name. It is a weird thing to bring up with someone you're not that close to and I wouldn't say anything. Children though can be cruel and it might not result in anything but for me, it's something I'd avoid. Obviously, others can choose for themselves.

There's nothing wrong with the name. No one needs to point anything out.

You're acting like the name is objectively awful which it is not. Many women live happily being named Lana, it's a pretty name to many people.

Just because you find the name awful doesn't mean you're right.

Secondary schools are harsh.

The rise of porn means anal and pornstarts such as Lana are widely known. I wouldn't use this name for a girl.

This was on my list until I realised….put me right off if I’m honest. Kids can be so mean that it just felt like ammunition.

Namechanged so real names don't get linked with my usual username.

My DD is called Lana, it took us 5 years to realise. Down the beach with grandma and DD is writing her name in the sand.

"I'm writing my name backwards" and suddenly Grandma is pissing herself at the 2 foot high ANAL in the sand.

We had another fun stage about a year later when a McDonald's happy meal box told her that her superhero name was her first name spelt backwards with another word based on the first letter of her surname. She spent a week telling everyone who'd listen that she was a superhero called Captain Anal.

It took her until 13 to realise herself. Happily sat on the sofa and out of nowhere an explosion of "Why the hell did you name me that?"

She's had very little grief for it, I'm only aware of one kid who took the piss a bit last year. She may not have told us if theres been anything else, but she doesn't tend to suffer any bullying and doesnt have any issues with her name.

I think we'd probably have liked it pointed out. We did the Homer Simpson check "Aart, Bart, Cart, Eart.... Yeah we're fine" but didn't think to do the backwards thing.

Fucking hell OP, that says more about you than you know!

Don't say anything op but I'm sure someone else might point it out for her and do that job for you

What??? No one in their right mind immediately thinks to spell names backwards. Says a lot about those who do.

Lana is a beautiful name. I know beautiful people who own it

Oh for goodness sake it's not hypocrisy or a double standard at all. Hundreds of thousands of people post on MN. Did it occur to you that you'll have different people commenting?

And yes the anal thing is weird. It wouldn't have occurred to me.

I have a friend called Lana and I have never made the association, though I have seen the odd joke about the name. I wouldn't mention it. She'll probably find it really odd if you do.

It would never occur to me!

This reminds me of someone who told my friend her child Edie would be teased because her name sounded like the abbreviation for erectile dysfunction. Bonkers.

I remember being about ten and we all spelt our names backwards as a ‘code name’.

I meant to add that I agree with the consensus that it's not something to mention and it would be weird to do so. I'm not sure at what stage I would say something - maybe if the initials were BJ or the name and surname were something like Iona Dick.

It's interesting how different responses can be as I remember the previous thread on this name and most were pointing out the spelling backwards and saying the child would be bullied and it shouldn't be used etc. I'm like you OP and once it was pointed out couldn't unsee it. It's like the name Iona used to be a fav of mine but when it was pointed out it sounds like "I own a.." it just doesn't work for me anymore (especially with our surname).

I think bullying for your name is over-exaggerated on here anyway. I've never come across a child who I thought was bullied for that alone. At my school the people most bullied had such standard names.

It's a normal name OP. Yes kids at school might comment on it but kids at school always find something to comment on. For me it was curly hair. We don't need to be terrified that kids might snigger a bit, that will happen regardless.

I've never understood the stress on here about the spelling of Lana backwards. I know quite a few, from age late 20s to about 5, and they all seem to like their names. I did once ask one in her 20s if it had ever been an issue (thanks Mumsnet) and she looked at me as though I had two heads.

You're ridiculous.

I would think there was something wrong with anyone who looked at the (perfectly normal) name Lana and thought "OMG! Anal!!"

Even more so if they contacted the parents to say it.

Until I saw a similar name in balloons reflected in a mirror this never occurred to me and I'm so bloody old and used to work in a job where I saw thousands of names. Leave her alone.