Is Anya a good choice?

[dejhunt]

Hi, everyone. I'm new here. Just joined after using some other forums and being told that the forum here is way more honest. I'm expecting a baby girl and my favourite name is Anya, however I heard a comment from someone on the name and now I can't unhear it. What do you think of Anya Hunt? Would you add a second name to it? (Hyphenated or not) If so, what would you suggest? If not, does it stand on it's own? Do you just not like it? I really want to make a good choice. Thank you.

I have a friend who grew up with Undy and has dealt with some jokes. I mean, we all survive. But I'd rather avoid it if too many people think something else when hearing it. Thank you!

Bookaholic73 me too! Demon Anya was awesome. As was most of Buffy, especially Spike.

Sorry op, probably not relevant to you!

Me too @Bookaholic73, one of the best characters. We also considered the name Anya pronounced as in Buffy but knew everyone would pronounce it as Ann-ya so decided against it.

Still love the name though

Haha it's fine! Fell in love with it because of a character too so definitely understand it!

Lovely name with a slight touch of the exotic.
I also like Anitra

@dejhunt

Arn-ya!

Thanks. I think that's how they pronounce it in Buffy but wasn't sure if it was different in UK and US.

Beautiful name, do it!

Not gonna lie, I would never have thought of "on ya hunt" or anything like that. Anya is beautiful, and I agree, so underrated! Please don't hyphenate it with anything though!

@ladymary86

Beautiful! I really love the spelling Àine though

No, Áine isn't a differently spelled version of Anya. It's pronounced quite differently. Oh, and you've got your fada the wrong way round.

OP, yes Anya is nice. It's pretty and a bit different.

I like it. Don't know any.

I like it, pronounced either way. It’s a classy name.

I like it. I pronounce it Ann-ya, not Arn-ya, which sounds very wrong to me. I know two.

It’s lovely and the arnya pn is lovely and even less likely then to be turned into ‘can ya’ jokes.

I agree with @TildaTurnip, the Arnya pronunciation is less problematic with Hunt.

Sonya
Anna
Anita
Tania

Please do not name your child Anya.

Love it, really beautiful name

People are overthinking this, I can’t see it being a massive issue. I guess the surname is always open to the potential of a slip up, same as when a journalist called Jeremy Hunt, Cunt.

@ittooshallpass

That’s what I hear too! I though maybe it was just my foul mouth as no one else mentioned it.

I personally wouldn’t pair it with a Hunt for that reason.

I don’t like the Arnya pronunciation. Annya is much nicer.

I like it but would automatically pronounce it ann-ya, obviously once I'd been corrected I would say it correctly but just be prepared for possible pronunciation issues

TBH the surname Hunt is surprisingly fraught with difficulties anyway. Do you remember the Jeremy Hunt interview on R4 a few years ago? On the Today programme I think.

OP, as long as you don't call DD Mike, she'll be fine.

Anya is a lovely name. My friend's daughter is named Anya - my friend is veh veh posh and pronounces it exactly halfway between An-ya and Arn-ya, if that makes any sense.