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Baby names

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Original poster

Hanna/Hana/Hannah

45 replies

Heavenlymermaid · 01/03/2019 07:29

Hello,

I am new here so please bare with me.

I emigrated from Germany to London a couple of years ago and am expecting my first child- a girl.

I want to call her Hanna, but a close friend of mine has told me that I should spell it Hannah as Hana/Hanna is a very ethnic spelling.

But she has also told me that Hannah/hana/Hanna is generally very popular with the Muslim population and she would not consider it an “international” name anymore.

I don’t know if this is just a London thing? I don’t have any children so I can’t really judge myself.

Is Hannah very popular where you live? Would you say it is attached to a specific ethnic demographic.

This is in no way meant to be racist at all, I am just not aware how names are viewed in the UK.

Thanks

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GreenJellyBeans · 01/03/2019 07:36

I think of it as a "timeless classic" type name in the UK, and quite like that it works across a number of different cultures.
If I was you I would use the spelling that reflects your heritage.

HK20 · 01/03/2019 07:36

My name is Hannah and I believe it's still very much an international name!

GaraMedouar · 01/03/2019 07:37

Definitely spell it Hannah. I know 2 Hannah's - one 8 years old, one 5 years old - both 'white British'. But then I don't live in an area with a Muslim population - I live rural , probably 98% white population.

I like the name. Was on my list for my DD.

Ciwirocks · 01/03/2019 07:38

Nope not attached to any specific ethnic demographic here. Hannah would be the assumed spelling, I know Hanna as a surname so possibly some confusion but no big deal. It’s a lovely name

OMGithurts · 01/03/2019 07:38

I know English and Irish Hannahs, an Indian Haha, and a Hanna of Scandinavian descent. I think you'll be fine. I would expect a Hanna to come from some kind of Germanic speaking background as Han Na sounds subtly different to Hah Na.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 01/03/2019 07:44

Your ‘friend’s’ attitude is odd. What does it matter if others assumed ethnicity based on spelling anyway? If Hanna is the usual German spelling then use it. There’s one each of Hannah, Hanna and Hana that DD1 knows at her school. First is Australian, middle is English and last is Malaysian though not Muslim. It’s a very nice name.

Disfordarkchocolate · 01/03/2019 07:50

It's a very lovely name (it would have been my eldest's name if he had been she). My preferred spelling is Hannah but Hanna is good too.

gambaspilpil · 01/03/2019 08:00

My DD is a Hannah. We know a couple of other girls with the same name, I have a lot of friends from many different parts of the world and religions and I have not heard of Hannah being a ‘muslim’ name. I am in London too

123Flopsy · 01/03/2019 08:06

I much prefer Hanna!

The additional h is not necessary imo.

ramonaquimby · 01/03/2019 08:07

it’s also a japanese girls name meaning ‘flower’. (or nose!)

ramonaquimby · 01/03/2019 08:08

i’ve seen spelling of Henah but not quite the same name. really doesn’t matter does it? it’s 2019

Decormad38 · 01/03/2019 08:10

My dd is a Hannah. I like it not sure she would have chosen it herself.

DarkLikeVader · 01/03/2019 08:13

I’m a Hannah and definitely wouldn’t have chosen it myself, it’s a dull name. Hana is the Muslim version I think and Hannah the biblical version. I dislike Hanna as it looks unfinished!

MrsJayy · 01/03/2019 08:14

Hanna means happiness in Arabic so maybe that is what your friend is talking about I think Hanna(h) is a namethat can be used by all.

ContessaIsOnADietDammit · 01/03/2019 08:30

I know all three variants; one of them enjoys telling people that she's 'Hannah without the h'. She says they have an obvious moment of thinking 'Annah?!' before clicking Grin otherwise I've never heard her complain!

It's a nice easy name to say anywhere in the world, which is a plus....

kaytee87 · 01/03/2019 08:35

It's lovely. I also know someone who's called Hanni which I think is nice even though I'm not one for 'unusual' names

BlueMerchant · 01/03/2019 08:41

I would'nt say it's attached to Muslim demographic. Only ones I personally know are British.
I actually prefer 'Hanna' to the usual here- 'Hannah'.

bluebabydinosaur · 01/03/2019 08:59

Hannah is a lovely name. I havent heard it in years. Is there a German version on it? If so spell it like that. If not the English version is Hannah. I dont know about the Muslim demographic as I dont really know any. You could always pop into a London School. A school teacher would know for sure.

goldengummybear · 01/03/2019 09:29

Spell it the German way. People in London cope fine with foreign spellings like Jakob (and learn to pronounce it correctly too 😂)

RayaJambalaya · 01/03/2019 10:11

My middle name is Hannah and I love this spelling as I like that it's the same backwards! Looks very pleasing to the eye. I'm white British... I would say its definitely international!

MikeUniformMike · 01/03/2019 14:27

Hannah

Icklepup · 01/03/2019 14:29

Hannah

SueGeneris · 01/03/2019 14:32

I like it. Spell it your way - you have a reason to. My DD has a friend Panna, also a lovely name, no-one bats an eyelid that it's unusual. Among girls in the UK, I find, even in fairly traditional rural/small town/village areas there is a wide variety of names outside of the core popular names.

SueGeneris · 01/03/2019 14:34

My sister also used to have a friend named Hania, which I also liked.

123Flopsy · 01/03/2019 16:11

In German it would be Hanna. I prefer that spelling.

I also like Anna.