Ariana?

[maxma]

What do we think about Ariana / Arianna?

I quite like Anna... which I think could be a nice nickname or shortening as needed. But Ariana is maybe a bit more interesting, yet still easily recognisable / pronounceable?!

DH loves the subtle Harry Potter connection, but we're both a bit nervous about the Grandé connection if people are likely to make that.

For context, neither of us are Persian! And we have a very Irish Mc... surname.

Actually origins online seem to range from Italian, Welsh, Hebrew, Old English, and Greek!! 🙈

It's definitely not a Welsh name. Some baby name lists aren't reliable.

Grande was definitely my first thought, but it is a pretty name.

@DacwMamYnDwad Yeah I guessed that! 😂🙈 I've seen a few listings for it now as Welsh (meaning silver apparently!) But hard to know which sites to trust on this one as there doesn't seem to be a clear majority consensus.

We don't have any Welsh heritage and don't live in Wales, so wouldn't be using it for that anyway, but just would be nice to know where the name is from - it seems very mixed on all the name sites! I think likely Italy or Greece to be honest.

@Emelene Can't decide how long I think Ariana Grande is going to be relevant for 😂🙈 I suppose you could pick another name and a new pop star then emerges with that name. Or worse.... I did also like Alexa pre- Amazon device!

I do like Ariana but you’d also get the nickname “arna” so you have the Frozen element to consider too.

It's really pretty (and I thought Dumbledore before Grande!)

Lovely for a little girl, but not silly for an adult. Multiple sensible shortening options. I'd go for it.

I love this name, especially the Ariana spelling. Very pretty name.

I like Ariana I think it's pretty but not cutesy if you see what I mean. I do first of all think Grande but as you say she won't be popular forever.

Are you going to pronounce it A-ree-arrr-na or A-ree-anna?

Oh @sadpapercourtesan you've really encouraged me thinking Dumbledore before Grandé! 😂❤️

@Aria20 It would be A-ree-Anna here in local / regional accent... I think by default for most people - I can't even say the other option!

@LadyCatStark Is Frozen not just Anna? I quite like Anna as a nickname and think there's so many Anna's that I don't default to Frozen? Am I missing something? I don't know that I'd shorten Ariana to Arna in a local accent either, maybe to do with different pronunciation though!

I first heard it as the name of someone from one of the mediterranean countries and with two Ns - maybe Arianna H*ffington.

It would be a strange name in Welsh as arian is money and silver, in the way that brass is a metal and money in English.

Another here who thought of Harry Potter before the singer! Beautiful name, I say go for it

@rooarsome oh excellent!! 🥰

Love it - but i love all 'arna' names

#dumbledore

I think it's lovely. Go for it! I would suggest the Arianna spelling just to differentiate from Ariana Grande/HP, but both are nice.

I would think the derivation was an Italian version of Ariadne.

I believe Arianwen is a Welsh name.

I have an Ariana! Not many people have associated with Grande, she mostly is a Nana now tho (pre schooler age) but I'm sure that will change as she gets older!

I'd default to pronouncing Ariana as a-ree-are-na and Arianna as a-ree-anna, fwiw (SE England). I think it's pretty. It doesn't make me think of any particular nationality.

[quote maxma]@Emelene Can't decide how long I think Ariana Grande is going to be relevant for 😂🙈 I suppose you could pick another name and a new pop star then emerges with that name. Or worse.... I did also like Alexa pre- Amazon device! [/quote]
Ariana Grande will be relevant to the end of time. Stunning voice.

I like Arianna
Also
Orianna
Rhianna
Maryanna

Lovely.

I also have an Ariana (nearly 10). For me, the name came from a book I read years ago.
We pronounce her name as Ari-anna (we have a Spanish/Greek background) but, be warned, loads of people will repeat it back to you (& continue to pronounce it) as Ari-arna.
I've become used to it now, but it's still sometimes like someone is telling me I don't know how to pronounce my own daughter's name!

@Synchrony @doodlyfiddly I can't figure out the A-ree-arna pronunciation at all 😂

I keep trying to say it, but I can only do it if I put on a really strong SE English accent - I guess maybe it's a regional thing in terms of accents! I really don't think anyone I know could say it like that if they tried lol

Love the name. It was in my top three.

@DizzySquirrel90 I mean I don't disagree she has a great voice! But not many current artists manage (or want!) a career spanning decades!!