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Baby names

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

Original poster

How would you pronounce Zana ?

438 replies

RoseApp · 18/09/2024 18:38

My friend assumed people would pronounce her child’s name Zana like Zah-nah as in Suzanna but several people have pronounced it as Zar-na

OP posts:
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BarbaraHoward · 18/09/2024 19:55

You know the way some boards have a warning above the top about the topic they're in etc?

I think baby names needs one discouraging the use of the letter R when attempting to write names phonetically. Grin

OP I'd guess zah-na but would happily be corrected to zanna-rhymes-with-Hannah, or zay-na.

JumperStripes · 18/09/2024 19:53

Zane-a/Zay-na.

JaffaCake70 · 18/09/2024 19:53

My Grandaughter's middle name is Zana, in her case it's pronounced 'Zay na'.

Firsttimebabymummy · 18/09/2024 19:50

Brobdingnagian · 18/09/2024 18:41

If I saw it written down, Zane-a.
If I was told how to pronounce it then I would say it that way.

Same here

rosesareredvioletsareblueaimverytiredandsoareyou · 18/09/2024 19:49

NoUseForAN4me · 18/09/2024 19:35

but Lana and Jana are pronounced with an R sound? Or have I misunderstood your post?

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La-na, Ja-na, definitely not Lar-na or Jar-na. There is no r!

rosesareredvioletsareblueaimverytiredandsoareyou · 18/09/2024 19:48

Undisclosedlocation · 18/09/2024 19:35

100% Zar-na

my best friend at school was named Zana and pronounced it that way so it wouldn’t occur to me there were any other way of pronouncing it

Why are you adding an r?

Guavafish1 · 18/09/2024 19:47

Zay-na

TeabySea · 18/09/2024 19:47

If I knew it was a nickname, I'd err on the side of caution with "zanner" (North London pronunciation). If I saw the name as a standalone, I'd go for "zah-ner".

Original poster
RoseApp · 18/09/2024 19:45

Thank you for an the responses. Sorry if I confused things on the phonetic sounding bit but you clearly got the gyst I will pass the comments on.

it seems to be a name used in several languages which I think might cause some confusion. I looked it up and in sound places it is used instead of Jane and in others it’s short for Suzannah.

My friend never mentioned anyone saying Zay-na so that’s interesting ( I personally quite like that one)

OP posts:
Limelimb · 18/09/2024 19:44

Zay na
Or possibly Zah-na/Zahr-na

For it to sound like Suzannah I would have guessed it to be spelt Zanna or Zannah or Xanna maybe. With two Ns like Suzanna, Hannah, Anna, Annabel etc.

Beautiful3 · 18/09/2024 19:42

Zah-nah.

LifeZ · 18/09/2024 19:41

The two I know both pronounce it to rhyme with can-uh. London.

Twistybranch · 18/09/2024 19:41

Zah Na

LaLaflower · 18/09/2024 19:39

I would pronounce it as Zah-na or Zay-na.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 18/09/2024 19:36

Zarna

NoUseForAN4me · 18/09/2024 19:35

rosesareredvioletsareblueaimverytiredandsoareyou · 18/09/2024 19:23

It needs an r to be ZaRna though.
It's possible to get the 'anna' sound with one n e.g. Lana, Jana, Tana.

Edited
Show quote history

but Lana and Jana are pronounced with an R sound? Or have I misunderstood your post?

StormingNorman · 18/09/2024 19:35

Like Zara with an n

Undisclosedlocation · 18/09/2024 19:35

100% Zar-na

my best friend at school was named Zana and pronounced it that way so it wouldn’t occur to me there were any other way of pronouncing it

Daffyyellow · 18/09/2024 19:34

To rhyme with Hannah. Zan-ah.

NoUseForAN4me · 18/09/2024 19:33

I read it as Zar-na, like Jana and Zara.

ArcticBells · 18/09/2024 19:33

If you have to ask how to pronounce a name please don't saddle your child with it as they will also be asked for ever more!

WithnailOnTour · 18/09/2024 19:32

Ber-tee.

Persiancarpet · 18/09/2024 19:29

Zaynah

FacingTheWall · 18/09/2024 19:25

CurlewKate · 18/09/2024 19:03

I would say it like Zara but with an n.

This.

rosesareredvioletsareblueaimverytiredandsoareyou · 18/09/2024 19:23

Mikunia · 18/09/2024 19:06

This. It needs a double consonant to achieve the pronunciation your friend wants, in English.

Show quote history

It needs an r to be ZaRna though.
It's possible to get the 'anna' sound with one n e.g. Lana, Jana, Tana.