Is this name too out of style?

[jasminesunflower]

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.

Luella could be another option.

"How on earth do you pronounce Aoife? If it's Eefy then spell it Eefy is what I say."

Next time I need an example of English exceptionalism I will look no further than this post!

I think it might pose difficulties with spelling and pronunciation and would get mixed up with Luna tbh! I initially read Luana as 'LOO-ih-na' possibly because Luan (meaning Monday in Irish) is said more like 'Loo-in'... so wouldn't have known how to say it. Agree that people won't know if it's Lu-ah-na or Lu-ar-na, so I would go for Luanna of the two of them.
But tbh I much much prefer Juliet or Aveline for a first name, think they're both beautiful! Marie is nice too. Luanna is slightly 50s sounding I think just because it reminds me of the Lou-Anne, Peggy-Sue sort of vibe.

@billycat321
*How on earth do you pronounce Aoife?
You could have searched for the answer. aoi is ee, the fe is fuh. Eefuh. Eva

If it's Eefy then spell it Eefy is what I say. It isn't. It's an irish name and that's how it spelt. Would you prefer Matthew to be spelt Mathu and George as Jorj?

@Peridot1
Aoife is the Irish version of Eva. it's not

I've never heard of it, but would assume it to rhyme with Moana - anything with the one n generally does - Lana, Dana, banana. Spell it with 2 n's to guarantee the pronunciation you want.

** that should have said like Eva but with a ph instead of a v

i Know one that is 18 not a great name and she hates it.

Spell it with 2 n's to guarantee the pronunciation you want.
In theory, but some people will use the Luana and Luanna pronunciations interchangeably.

She'll be called Loo - are you OK with that?

It’s a lovely name. I know of one. I’d say Luana with an ah sound in the middle. It sounds much nicer than the Anna sound.

I'm not bothered as there are what feels like millions of Louises and Louis and they don't get called loo either.

I have a friend called Luana. She is Scottish and in her 50s. I think it's a lovely name. We're in the same running club and no-one there has ever had a problem with pronouncing it properly. A few very close friends call her Lulu, but she's usually known as Luana.

Well blow me down with a feather @DuchessOfSausage. I always thought it was. How embarrassing. Especially given I AM actually Irish! 😩

I thought it was too, until I read it on here, then checked.
Aoife - Wikipedia

I heard Luana (with the ahh in the middle) for the first time today. I think the family is Italian. I thought it was beautiful.

I don't like Luanna (basically Lou-Anna). It's very American South and I can only imagine saying it with a drawl.

2 totally different names!

I once knew a Luana pronounced Lou-Anna. She went by Lu and it suited her perfectly. I didn’t think of it as old fashioned.

Luana is okay though I prefer Louella and Llewella.

Luana has one n.

Luana Juliet
Luana Mary

Sounds made up

It’s not

Never heard of Luana, and I don't immediately love it.

Lisanne is a similar name, which I do like. Marie and Juliet are both nice.

Llewella is awful. I've heard of the welsh name Llywela, but it doesn't sound like Louella.

Never heard it before, Luanna looks the better spelling. I know a Luella, which I prefer.

@hot2trotter lovely. All names have been made up and created.

I like Louanna/Luanna. It's way nicer than Luna which is faddy now. I also love Louella, and Louisa.