Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Is this name too out of style?

75 replies

jasminesunflower · 12/05/2023 10:45

My DH suggested Luana the other day. I like it, pronounced loo-ah-na.

I also thought of Luanna, pronounced loo-ann-a and think it's quite pretty.

Which one do you prefer and why? Would you pronounce them as I would?

Now we've been getting a lot of negative comments, saying that it is downmarket and 50s and out of style in a bad way. Do you agree or should we just not listen to these comments?

Middle names we like: Marie, Aveline, Juliet.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
user4750 · 12/05/2023 11:44

I know a Luann (70s born). I think the downmarket comments are probably due to similarity in sound to the American red neck "Emmy-Lou" type names that are stereotype names for that demographic.,

Beetlewings · 12/05/2023 11:45

I knew a Lou-Anne which always sounded a bit hillbilly to me, not that that's a bad thing but maybe that's where the 50's sounding aspect comes from.

riotlady · 12/05/2023 11:47

I can't work out the difference between the two pronunciations, Loo-ah-na and Loo-ann-a are the same to me?

WotNoUserName · 12/05/2023 11:47

It made me think of King of the Hill, there is a Luanne in that.

DuchessOfSausage · 12/05/2023 11:48

It makes me think of Louanne, which seems dated.
Luana will blend in with all the other L names currently popular and will probably get mixed up with Luna and Lana

tara66 · 12/05/2023 11:59

Everyone will say -''what?'', ''what?'', ''WHAT?''.

Mañanarama · 12/05/2023 12:01

Luisa or Louisa is nicer. Or Luna.

Louisa Juliet is a gorgeous name!

honeylulu · 12/05/2023 12:02

I think it's pretty. I prefer the lu-ah-na pronunciation though both are nice. I knew a lu-ann-a in my youth and I thought it a really pretty and unusual name. You will get people pronouncing it lu-ann-a either way and having to correct them but I could live with that. It does remind me of Moana but that's not necessarily a bad thing! It's a good film!

GeraltsBathtub · 12/05/2023 12:06

riotlady · 12/05/2023 11:47

I can't work out the difference between the two pronunciations, Loo-ah-na and Loo-ann-a are the same to me?

Ann-a is a short a, ah-na is a long a like in Moana.

Midwinterblues · 12/05/2023 12:14

I used to work with a Luana, pronounced Lu ar na, and she was Italian so I always assumed it was an Italian name?

Nursemumma92 · 12/05/2023 12:14

riotlady · 12/05/2023 11:47

I can't work out the difference between the two pronunciations, Loo-ah-na and Loo-ann-a are the same to me?

Luanna is loo-ann-a and Luana is loo-ar-na.

Pemba · 12/05/2023 12:16

I don't think anyone can say Luana or Luanna are out of style, more very unusual, since I never heard of either before (and I'm really into names). They're fine. I note that when I started typing Luana it came up on autocorrect, whereas Luanna didn't, so possibly you've just now invented it? I think they're actually a bit nicer than Luna which is currently quite popular.

I really like the middle names Juliet and Marie and Aveline is OK.

GeraltsBathtub · 12/05/2023 12:16

Before anyone with a rhotic accent comments, PPs mean long a with ar, there’s no rhotic r in it

Wrongsideofpennines · 12/05/2023 12:17

I like both Luana and Luanna. I'd pronounce them like you and I don't know anyone with those names.

I don't like Luna. I think its odd to call your child moon, and it's asking for it to be followed by 'tic'.

riotlady · 12/05/2023 12:25

Nursemumma92 · 12/05/2023 12:14

Luanna is loo-ann-a and Luana is loo-ar-na.

Show quote history

Gotcha. In that case Luanna is much nicer imo

lavagal · 12/05/2023 12:31

I actually really like it and would pronounce

Loo- ana

NeedToChangeName · 12/05/2023 12:32

How about Louella?

A name that's difficult to pronounce is a burden

jackstini · 12/05/2023 12:42

I would pronounce them the same way as you
Very pretty, and I prefer Luana

Biscuitea · 12/05/2023 13:01

Never heard of it either. I prefer Juliet from your choices.

love Gloria as pp suggested, that’s due a comeback.

YoDood · 12/05/2023 13:07

Do you mean like Lou-Anna? Which does sound like a traditional Southern US name.

Lianne or Lianna are nice alternatives.

Original poster
jasminesunflower · 12/05/2023 13:11

Thank you all so far.

I'm a bit surprised that some people claim it is a burden or so difficult to pronounce.

I find the ah-na or ann-a thing no more complicated than Cassandra or Alexandra or Sara which can be pronounced san-dra or sahn-dra, xandra or xahn-dra, sair-a or sah-ra.

As for Luana and Luanna I think they are very easy to explain as they combine common sounds. Way easier than Isla would have been to explain before it became common or Jacqueline.

But this is interesting and giving me some food for thought! Thanks again. I just like it so much right now, but of course I don't want to burden her with a difficult name either :(

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 12/05/2023 13:12

I've never heard of it either-and I am really old! Why not go for Laura? Same vibe, very unusual and without the loony associations of Luna.

LadyJ2023 · 12/05/2023 13:25

Never heard of this name and don't like it anyhow sorry

billycat321 · 12/05/2023 13:51

I wouldn't wish on any child a name that always had to be explained re pronunciation or spelling. Irish ones are the worst. How on earth do you pronounce Aoife? If it's Eefy then spell it Eefy is what I say. As for Luna or variations, she will be called loony at school

Peridot1 · 12/05/2023 13:55

Seriously @billycat321! Aoife is the Irish version of Eva. And pronounced Eefa. Why should Irish people spell it any other way?

Swipe left for the next trending thread