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Baby names

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

Original poster

Anna?

121 replies

NameHelp2020 · 22/11/2024 16:22

Thoughts on the name Anna? We wanted a short name that works in many countries but someone said it’s boring and dated.

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30percentoffatCosta · 24/11/2024 10:38

Pleased to see all the Anna love on here! I have a 12 year old Anna & she is an absolute delight.

I don’t think it’s as popular as it was 20+ years ago. There are far more Hannahs than Annas & the only thing that mildly irritates my daughter about her name is the way people “try & put H’s around it” 😀

We were warned about the AnnaBanana thing when we named our daughter & I’ve never heard it once.

I think it’s beautiful, classical & undated. You can be Anna at 3, Anna at 23, Anna at 83.

Great choice OP. Hope all continues to go well 🙂

CoffeeAndPeanuts · 24/11/2024 10:16

NameHelp2020 · 23/11/2024 11:05

You are 100% right! Suggested Kadie for a girl and Killian for a boy. Hopefully they don’t use mumsnet as this is outing them!

Edited
Show quote history

Well that tells you all you need to know about their opinion!

Anna is lovely, don't let them put you off.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 23/11/2024 20:25

It's a beautiful name, I'm so sad I couldn't use it for my DD.

Original poster
NameHelp2020 · 23/11/2024 20:25

Thank you so much everyone for reassuring me :) and for those named Anna and for those whose DDs are called Anna - awesome name!

OP posts:
RuthW · 23/11/2024 20:17

Lovely

MerryChristmasToYou · 23/11/2024 19:54

I think it compares to something like Catherine. Not trendy when I was young but it hasn't ever felt dated. Kathryn was popular then, and it hasn't aged well.

Whatsitreallylike · 23/11/2024 19:46

My DD is 2.5 and is called Anna 🥰 I think it’s the most beautiful girls name. It’s timeless, delicate, works well when they’re children and adults and travels well (we travel a lot). I get comments all the time about how beautiful her name is

annaspanner18 · 23/11/2024 18:45

TheWayTheLightFalls · 22/11/2024 18:39

Love it. You need to be happy with Banana as a nickname, it’s basically mandatory!

Or Spanner 😉

MyNameIsAnna · 23/11/2024 17:00

LadyGabriella · 23/11/2024 14:42

Frumpy with a capital F.

I beg to differ.

MerryChristmasToYou · 23/11/2024 15:59

Of the top 100 in 2022, 46 % ended in a -uh sound (-a, ah, -er, -or), 29 % end in a -y or -ie sound , and 25 % ended in something else.

Irishdragon · 23/11/2024 14:43

Love it, very classy indeed and will be lovely throughout her life.

LadyGabriella · 23/11/2024 14:42

Frumpy with a capital F.

RitaIncognita · 23/11/2024 14:40

it's a beautiful name, OP. It's certainly not "dated." It's a timeless classic name.

ethelredonagoodday · 23/11/2024 14:15

TheWayTheLightFalls · 22/11/2024 18:39

Love it. You need to be happy with Banana as a nickname, it’s basically mandatory!

We have one, and this is indeed true! 🤣

You'll never please everyone OP, that's why we told no one until we'd actually named our children.

Nodlikeyouwerelistening · 23/11/2024 14:08

It’s classic and completely inoffensive. There’s no way of taking issue with it unless there was an Anna you didn’t like, but that’s more about the person than the name anyway!

More importantly you love it. So go for it.

Original poster
NameHelp2020 · 23/11/2024 14:02

Scorpion84 · 23/11/2024 13:50

I loved it but my husband said lots of people would confuse it with Hannah 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

we chose Ella in the end which has a similar vibe to it but I still love the name Anna . I like simple classic names

Ella is such a nice name! One of my favourites, but I have a cousin called Ella who we see often so could do it!

OP posts:
Scorpion84 · 23/11/2024 13:50

I loved it but my husband said lots of people would confuse it with Hannah 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

we chose Ella in the end which has a similar vibe to it but I still love the name Anna . I like simple classic names

Blueberrymuffin8 · 23/11/2024 13:44

It is lovely but I think I prefer Annie.

FennelFan · 23/11/2024 13:36

International Girl Names www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/5006044-international-girl-names

This thread might give you some ideas for other internationally used names.

MerryChristmasToYou · 23/11/2024 13:23

The only thing I will say is that a lot of popular girls names end in -a at the moment.
You have a point. Here's the top 30 from 2022:
Olivia
Amelia
Isla
Ava
Lily
Ivy
Freya
Florence
Isabella
Mia
Willow
Sienna
Poppy
Sophia
Elsie
Rosie
Grace
Millie
Emily
Sofia
Daisy
Evelyn
Evie
Phoebe
Ella

lolly792 · 23/11/2024 13:01

@NameHelp2020 they suggested Kadie and Killian - so obviously they'll think Anna is boring. I'd be worried if they liked Anna when they clearly have crap taste

CrispWinterSunshineBright · 23/11/2024 12:51

Boring to me.

MerryChristmasToYou · 23/11/2024 12:28

Kadie would have a lifetime of 'no not Katie' and Killian is a bad spelling of Cillian. Neither names aren't particularly vibrant.
Anna is simple and classic.

Original poster
NameHelp2020 · 23/11/2024 11:05

CoffeeAndPeanuts · 23/11/2024 10:51

It's not boring or basic.

its classic.

i know Anna's of all ages.

i bet the person saying it likes unique names & non standard spelling of names. Ignore!!

Show quote history

You are 100% right! Suggested Kadie for a girl and Killian for a boy. Hopefully they don’t use mumsnet as this is outing them!

OP posts:
SnowFrogJelly · 23/11/2024 10:52

Lovely