Alannah Alana or Alanna

[Sausagedog1]

Just that really... Which spelling is best?
Alannah seems to be more common in Ireland and Alana more common in the UK.
We are living in the UK and have chosen the name for the meaning in Irish (darling child I believe)

@YoniAndGuy I would do that but the trouble is everyone says banana differently as well so I would still have the same problem.
'This is banana to rhyme with farmer not pyjama' see?

I knew an Alana pronounced A-LAY-na

Isn't Banana a boy's name?

Pyjama and farmer rhyme with each other but not with banana.

Thanks for all your answers people.
Despite all the confusion over pronunciation I still love it and think it's beautiful either way.
I will keep mulling over the spelling, it's clear from all the responses that either spelling is fine it's just personal preference.
Possibly Alana is better for the pronunciation I'm looking for.

@KirstenBlest

Isn't Banana a boy's name?

Pyjama and farmer rhyme with each other but not with banana.

Whereas to me, banana and pyjama rhyme (bananas in pyjamas are coming down the stairs...) but farmer is nothing like them.

The -ma and -na don't rhyme

Yes obviously the consonants are different, but the vowel sounds are the same which is what's being discussed here.

I sat Pyjama as Puh-JAH-muh and Farmer as FAH-muh.
Banana as Buh-NAH-nuh.

I know a boy who isn't really called Banana but his DM and DSib call him
Firstname-Banana, and it really suits him.

The middle and last As in banana and pyjama are the same for me - all the same as the A in apple, more or less. The middle one is a bit longer or more stressed, but there's no aaahhhhh going on like in some English accents.

My accent is rhotic, so farmer has absolutely nothing in common with Alannah, banana, pyjama, Alana or any other words discussed on this thread.

Alannah definately

Alannahs in pyjamas
Coming down the stairs

Love the name Alana. The one we know rhymes with Ana (as in Ana from Frozen) not Anna. Prefer the spelling ‘Alana’ for that pronunciation. We’re in the South East.

A beautiful and modern sounding name yet with an element of mystique and old age glamour to it.
Some meanings are:
‘cherished’, 'beautiful', ‘darling child’, ‘harmony’, ‘serene’, ‘little rock’ (beautiful to look at and rare but also strong, tough and unbreakable like a precious gemstone or jewel)
The name has multiple origins. It can be derived from the Old High German word for ‘precious’ or from the Irish language term “a leanbh” for ‘child’ or from the Goidelic/ Hawaiian community meaning ‘fair’, ‘beautiful offering’. In Gaelic ‘Alanna’ is the term for ‘beauty’ or ‘serenity’. Depending on the interpretation the name's roots can therefore be Old High German / Hawaiian / Irish / Gaelic.
The Alana I know was named after a great-great-grandmother of Dutch and French heritage called ‘Anna’ (pronounced ‘Ana’ like one of the lead characters in the Frozen film).
Characters with the given name: Alana (a royal mermaid princess in King Triton’s court), Alana Yarn (famous author in the Storybook Rainbow Magic Fairies series), Alana (protagonist main character from the ‘Alana Dancing Star’ series by Arlene Phillips), Alana of Trebond (fictional heroine in the Tortall novels), Alana (sporty, kind main character from the cartoon Dora the Explorer)
Some people with the given name: Alana Blanchard (American surfer), Alana Curley (American dancer), Alanna Nash (journalist), Alanna Nobbs (historian), Alanna Schepartz (scientist), Alanna Kraus (Canadian skater), Alana Aoun (bridal & couture designer), Alana Spencer (British business woman & Apprentice Winner).

@Firebird83

I would pronounce them differently. Alannah and Alanna like “a-LAN-a” and Alana “a-LAH- a”

I prefer Alannah.

This only I prefer Alanah.