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Baby names

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

If I, as a British person with no connection to the USA, named my daughter

74 replies

helloagainhowareyou · 22/08/2014 15:54

Dana (pronounced day-na) would you think it was weird?

I love the name but I've never met or heard of a British person with the name before. All the fictional characters named Dana that I can think of off the top of my head are all American and the only two Dana's I've met in real life were both American.

I mentioned the name as a possibility to my mum and she looked at me like this Hmm. A friend who I told also seemed to raise her eyebrows slightly.

Is it really that out there or weird?

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Chennai · 22/08/2014 15:55

I've always thought it was pronounced dar-na but may be wrong!

PeterParkerSays · 22/08/2014 15:57

It just reminds me of the 1970s Irish singer, rather than an American name. I wouldn't chose it, sorry.

girliefriend · 22/08/2014 15:58

Don't really like the name (for a little girl just think its not very pretty) but I don't think it is weird or out there!!

Mondaybaby · 22/08/2014 15:59

It is a pretty name but I would pronounce it 'Daa na' not 'Day na'.
If you really like it then go with it!

juneybean · 22/08/2014 15:59

I wouldn't think it was weird, a lot of "american" names creep over.

I just don't rate it as a name generally.

mrsnec · 22/08/2014 16:00

we're English and dh wanted it and had it on his shortlist. I said no but only because I can think of some much better names. He's a massive x files fan though.

It's not out there or weird imo.

GlacindaTheTroll · 22/08/2014 16:00

Yes, I'd find it weird because the (well established) UK and Ireland pronunciation is Dah-na.

It's not a particularly fashionable name right now (in terms of frequency of use) but it's definitely not a new US import.

Are you OK with the prospect of pointing out the different pronunciation to everyone who reads it and uses the trad one?

helloagainhowareyou · 22/08/2014 16:04

Chennai, I've never heard it pronounced dar-na before - I'm thinking Dana Scully, Dana from Ghostbusters and the oldest daughter from Poltergeist - all day-na. Both the women I met with the name were day-na's too.

Although from doing a quick read around it appears day-na is also the American pronunciation and that most British people would actually pronounce it dar-na or dan-na (hard d). Now I'm getting worried that I'm going to have to be correcting people on how to pronounce it all the time Confused

OP posts:
SconeRhymesWithGone · 22/08/2014 16:05

In the US, it is almost always pronounced Day-na. I know several, but I am in the US.

The one with the broad/long a sound would be Donna in the US.

And Dana in the US can be a man or a woman's name.

WiggleGinger · 22/08/2014 16:05

I know a Dana &. Dayna!
Both are pronounced the way you will choose to.
We are in England.

Lunastarfish · 22/08/2014 16:09

I don't think it is particulalry American. I thought you were going to say something like Chuck or Mary-Ellen!

I like Dana. I know a Dayna.

Andcake · 22/08/2014 16:22

I think of it to be Irish tbh - ok name- not a personal favourite but not horrible !

KatoPotato · 22/08/2014 16:25

My DH worked with an American man called Dana - (pronouned DAYNA)

also Dana the animated tv series spin off from Beavis and Butthead.

I like it

Floop · 22/08/2014 16:27

I like it. Would pronounce it Day-na.

Hassled · 22/08/2014 16:28

If you're very old you'll remember "All Kinds of Everything" by Dana (Dar-na)- the winning (?) Irish Eurovision entry of the early 70s. So older people will think Darna, I reckon.

But it's easy enough to correct people, and it's pretty either way.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 22/08/2014 16:32

I have met a Dayna and a Danna, both spelt Dana.

KittenOverlord · 22/08/2014 16:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DoubtfireDear · 22/08/2014 16:38

I only know of one Dayna in Scotland amd its spelt Dayna and pronounced so.

I wouldn't think it was strange or out there, I actually think its' quite pretty for a girl and like tye Dana spelling, though I wouldn't pick it because the one I know of is from a Scottish TV show and it would have very negative connotations as a result.

EdithWeston · 22/08/2014 16:49

I'd pronounce it Dar-na (like both Dana, the Irish eurovision winner, or Dana International, the Israeli one).

ShadowStar · 22/08/2014 17:34

I'd pronounce it Dar - na too.

But it doesn't feel particularly American to me.

Michonne · 22/08/2014 17:47

I like it pronounced Day-na, but I think most people in the UK would assume it's Dar-na. That would annoy me too much, personally, always having to correct people.

MrsBungle · 22/08/2014 17:51

I thought it was Irish and I eitjd pronounce it dah-na. I like it either pronounciaton though.?

MrsBungle · 22/08/2014 17:51

That's supposed to say "I would pronounce..."

PickledPorcupine · 22/08/2014 18:01

Anyone who ever watched the x-files would pronounce it Day-na. I would love to use it but as I was x-files obsessed as a child/teen I think I'd get a lot of Hmm.

Great name, go for it!

Bunbaker · 22/08/2014 18:18

I had a friend at school called Dana - pronounced Daa-na. Also there was Dana the Irish Eurovision song contest winner and Dana International who also won the Eurovision song contest - both pronounced Daa-na.

I have never heard it pronounced Dayna before, but I don't watch much American TV.

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