Ahana? Still undecided...

[Monsoon31]

We were looking at similar names to Anoushka and Anjali yesterday and came across Ahana, which has only added to the confusion as we love this one too! What does everyone think? Thanks :)
Swaying a bit more towards this one as Anoushka isn’t as Indian as Ahana & Anjali. I prefer the sound of Ahana to Anjali, it’s a bit softer.

It's - just a couple of sounds. There's nothing to it. It sounds absolutely made up, another 'girl' collection of vowels. Don't!

To me both sound too fussy, too complex to be strong.

Anna would be stronger than both. Elegant, short, universal the world over.

OP wants an Indian name. Why would she choose Anna?

@YoniAndGuy

It's - just a couple of sounds. There's nothing to it. It sounds absolutely made up, another 'girl' collection of vowels. Don't!

Wow!

Much prefer Anjali and Anoushka. OP I'm Indian myself and definitely know of at least 3 Anoushkas who are Indian. Its definitely a name that your parents and grandparents generation will recognise.

You might like Anaya? I know someone who just called her baby girl that and I think it's lovely.

I love Anjali, we had a girl named that at school a few years ago and I've always thought his beautiful it is...

HOW BEAUTIFUL , ffs.,.

It makes me think of Alan Partridge. Aha!
What about Anya?

So it's pronounced like "uh-Hannah"?

I would have rhymed it entirely with banana.

It's my least favourite of the three. I don't find it attractive, it lends itself to inane "aha!"-related banter, it will be mispronounced... I've never heard of it either, which may not matter to you but if you do want a recognisably Indian name (to non-Indian people) then this may not be it (though I also see Anoushka as Russian).

Ahana is a beautiful name.

I like Ahana.
Sounds pretty.

Hate Anoushka, looks really ugly written down.

Makes me think of Lilo and Stitch.
Ohana means family.

You were right to drop it for Anjali and Anoushka, two lovely names!

@Luckyelephant1 Thanks for reassuring!! I keep hearing that it sounds Russian which throws me off! Anaya is a nice name!
@LadyMonicaBOOddingham Thank you!!
@Benjispruce2 I like Anya but again I wonder if this is more European sounding than Indian although I know a lot of Indians use this name!
@bourbonne Thank you! I don’t think we will go for Ahana anymore because like you said, it could lead to mispronunciations and possibly teasing etc
@LochJessMonster I agree! I really don’t like how Anoushka looks written down! I like it when I say it out loud though
@SionnachRua Thank you!! I think it’s the right decision!

I like Anoushka

Not keen sorry. I just keep seeing A-Ha

Also OP I have to say I really admire your dedication to replying to every comment! Rare to see that. It must be time consuming.

@SionnachRua haha thanks! I just appreciate the time people put in to give their opinions, it’s really helpful :)

Is the emphasis on the first syllable with Anjali? I love Anoushka, soooo pretty.

@GwendolineWindowlene It’s a similar pronunciation to Angelina, just without the “na” ending

That's nice too. Are you any closer to deciding? Which goes best with your surname?

Ahana is gorgeous beautiful name

I dont mind Anjali but it doesn't grap me the way Ahana does

It means “he/she panted” in French, which would put me right off.

@Monkeytennis97

A-ha!

Sorry but it's too Partridge-esque for me.

This!

Ahana, no, like pp's I thought of "sneeze" straight away.
Anjeli, nice, but will become "Ange" as in diminutive of Angela.

Anoushka is lovely. A favourite since reading Chocolat, and Anoush is nice as a diminutive.

Have you considered Asha? It’s a classic Indian name with a lovely meaning (hope , wish), and similar sounding to Anoushka .