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Baby names

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

Original poster

Jayna, Jaina

29 replies

Chaptertwobegins · 13/03/2025 15:21

I'm naming my baby Jayna.
And wondered if anyone on here has the name, and if so, do you hate it or like it?
And have you met anyone else in the UK with it

Also, I've been told i should spell it Jaina, "as it looks classier." 🙄
Maybe it does look "classier", but Jayna seems pretty and light hearted to me. it's also unlikely to be mispronounced, whereas Jaina could be pronounced J-eye-na, and i know kids can be spiteful

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shoopshoopdedoo · 13/03/2025 21:30

I think the Jayna spelling is clearest in terms of your intended pronunciation. I’d also presume Jaina was an Indian name because it is close to Jain/Jainism. Like others, I prefer Jane, possibly with Jayna as a nickname.

Original poster
Chaptertwobegins · 13/03/2025 21:30

It's really interesting it's so popular in india.

I first heard the name from my grandmother who's best friends at school were Jayna and Eileen. she slso knew a Jayna much later on. But I had never heard of it before. my grandmother says she'd hadn't given it thought at the time, she just figured it was a variation of Jane. And she's always liked the name.

But now i wonder where they got it from, considering it's so popular in other parts of the world. Although I think it has a different meaning in India. In English it has the same meaning as Jane.

OP posts:
Quercus3 · 13/03/2025 20:18

I like it. I knew a Jayna at uni, she was Indian

Onlyvisiting · 13/03/2025 19:45

I've never heard of it.
I've know of a Jana (said yah na)
Is yours Jay na or yay na?

Fridayfeeling77 · 13/03/2025 19:17

I haven’t heard of it but also prefer Jane or Janie.

Moreteaandchocolate · 13/03/2025 19:16

I’ve never heard it before but I really like it!

Sunshine2131313 · 13/03/2025 19:15

many years ago I worked with a (much!!) older lady called Jana. (Pronounced Jayna)

sunshine2025 · 13/03/2025 19:13

Jayna is a relatively common Indian name

YourAmberFawn · 13/03/2025 19:09

EcruCardigan · 13/03/2025 19:07

Jaina - Wikipedia

@YourAmberFawn , does that help?

Help what exactly? You can dislike a name without bringing classist terms such as “chavy” into the debate.

I have no strong opinions on the name, I do have a strong opinion on casual classism.

EcruCardigan · 13/03/2025 19:07

Jaina - Wikipedia

@YourAmberFawn , does that help?

YourAmberFawn · 13/03/2025 18:57

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 13/03/2025 17:19

Jayna is chavvy.

Snob.

What did you name your children?

Original poster
Chaptertwobegins · 13/03/2025 17:34

wizzywig · 13/03/2025 16:44

I'm used to seeing it for an Asian child. Didn't know if that was your background

No, I'm not Asian. But that's interesting. I wonder if it's a common name in Asia, and if there's a variation in the meaning.

OP posts:
Original poster
Chaptertwobegins · 13/03/2025 17:30

Thanks all, Im happy Jayna seems to be the preferred spelling. I think some felt the Y in Jayna made it less classy than Jaina, But some names genuinely need a Y, like Lynn, Joyce and Jayna.
It's not like I'm calling her Juliet but spelling it jullyet or something.

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 13/03/2025 17:23

The Jayna spelling is nicer.

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 13/03/2025 17:19

Jayna is chavvy.

unlikelywitch · 13/03/2025 17:02

Jayna is beautiful! I’ve only ever met one. Jaina doesn’t look right and Jane is beyond dull.

username462025 · 13/03/2025 16:52

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

SometimesCalmPerson · 13/03/2025 16:50

Jayna is lovely. I really like it.

In names the ai spelling is sometimes used to make the igh sound rather than ay, so it could be read in a way that sounds too close to vagina for me.

wizzywig · 13/03/2025 16:44

I'm used to seeing it for an Asian child. Didn't know if that was your background

LegoAirlines · 13/03/2025 16:43

I've not heard it, but I like it! I like the look of Jaina best, but I'd probably go with Jayna for the pronunciation issues pp mentions

InMyMNEra · 13/03/2025 16:39

Jenna is lovely too, OP. Just an idea

InMyMNEra · 13/03/2025 16:25

I’ve never heard of it, and I quite like it.

I think I would spell it “Jayna”, to avoid confusion with pronunciation

Zeldasie · 13/03/2025 16:23

Jayna definitely

EcruCardigan · 13/03/2025 16:21

Jayna seems the clearest option. i'd think Jaina was an indian name or maybe said as Jigh-na (not great and might lead to teasing).

I like Jane much more to but it's not my baby being named.

Jade520 · 13/03/2025 16:15

I think Jayna looks better, I don't know how Jaina is classier. Definitely not Jana - I would think that was pronounced Janner which is really not a good thing if you're in the South West.