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Original poster

Sanna or Zanna

61 replies

Frankiefarr · 27/12/2023 19:33

We’ve been told Sanna isn’t really used over here as a shortened form of Susanna and we would be better calling DD Zanna.

We’ve had a few negative comments from family members this side of the channel on how it looks written down.

Just wondered if this was the case?

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FriedasCarLoad · 27/12/2023 21:58

I think it's a cute nickname if she has the option of using Susannah, having it on a BC.

If you go with Zannah, have a hunt for a book I remember where the main character has that name. It was a book I bought in the USA in 1990. Zannah was a short haired jeans-wearing modern girl who ended up travelling back in time up I think a an Amish farm, or something like that. The cover had a picture (reasonably realistic style) of her, and maybe a pink frame around the edge. Maybe your little one would be pleased to read a story about a girl with the same name as her (well, in several years time...!)

IAteAllTheCake · 27/12/2023 22:03

Typical rude ignorant and intolerant mumsnetters 🙄 Sanna is a very popular Pakistani / Arabic girl's name meaning Lilly.

Maddy70 · 27/12/2023 22:04

I have a lovemy friend called Suna. Have you considered that ?

kitsuneghost · 27/12/2023 22:07

Sorry I just see sanny pads

Delassalle · 27/12/2023 22:08

Sanna the spanner. Please don't.

QueSyrahSyrah · 27/12/2023 22:09

I know a Sanna (Scandinavian, not short for anything). None of the above links or connotations have ever occurred to me. It's just her name.

HoHoHoliday · 27/12/2023 22:24

I know a few Nordic people named Sanna. It's a lovely name! Works well as a shortening of Susannah or in its own right.

JamTartLover · 27/12/2023 22:31

Sana ( pronounced Sah-nah) is a popular Pakistani / Arabic name

SquigglePigs · 27/12/2023 22:43

It's not common in England as a shortening but I went to university with a girl who was half Dutch, half Portuguese called Sanna and it sounds just fine in English.

Sadwren · 27/12/2023 22:49

Sanna to me is the stunning Ardnamurchan beach

Daisybuttercup12345 · 27/12/2023 23:58

Both awful.
Sound like sanitary products and medicine.

Islandermummy · 28/12/2023 00:12

Sanna is a lovely name. There are Pakistani Sannas and Scandinavian Sannas. Fairly surprised you were told Zanna is more usual as I have never heard it (I'm British)

Islandermummy · 28/12/2023 00:17

IAteAllTheCake · 27/12/2023 22:03

Typical rude ignorant and intolerant mumsnetters 🙄 Sanna is a very popular Pakistani / Arabic girl's name meaning Lilly.

On a quick google it seems the Scandinavian Sanna has the same root.

Such a nice name: soft, fairly unusual, but classic.

Re people saying "spanner"... presumably Anna and Hannah are out too? I knew a Sanna and no one called her spanner... do kids these days even use spanner as an insult anymore? (Genuine question)

I don't think it sounds like feminine products either

Forgetaboutme · 28/12/2023 00:26

Wish I hadnt come across this thread haha. I go by the nickname Sanna which is short for my name Susanna. My family is from Sweden originally but I have always lived in the UK. I've never had an issue with my name although after reading this its clear people think its horrible 😂

Peoplemakemedespair · 28/12/2023 00:29

Marcipex · 27/12/2023 19:43

Sanna doesn’t sound very nice to my ears. It has connotations of sanitary.

Zanna didn’t make me think of Xanax because I first saw it written rather than heard it, but of course I hear it now.

Susie is very pretty and uncommon. Could you use that?

First thing that crossed my mind was sanitary towels

DramaAlpaca · 28/12/2023 02:00

I'm not too sure about Sanna, but I really like Zanna/Zannah. It's unusual and, to my ear, really pretty.

ShippingNews · 28/12/2023 02:03

Sanna - a brand of sanitary towels. It's a no from me.

Fourcandleforkhandle · 28/12/2023 02:20

My Daughter has a name similar to Zanna. She is named Zaina- Arabic name meaning beautiful...suits her beautifully!

Original poster
Frankiefarr · 28/12/2023 08:07

OH is Swedish, we have been living outside the UK we didn’t think about calling her Sanna (as a nickname) until UK family said we should change it to Zanna when we moved back :(

OP posts:
ImCamembertTheBigCheese · 28/12/2023 08:10

Zanna makes me think of Xanadu but that's probably just my age.

Original poster
Frankiefarr · 28/12/2023 08:10

I think I should have made my initial post clearer sorry. Her name is Susanna. We call her Sanna because OH is Swedish and it’s just a common shortening where we are but we are moving back full time to the UK and family are saying better to change it to Zanna over here to stop her getting bullied

OP posts:
LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 28/12/2023 08:15

I don’t think she will be bullied for Sanna. Children will just accept it as her name and the only negatives I am hearing here are about sanitary products which children don’t know about anyway.

if she really wants she can always change to suzi at school but I doubt there will be an issue with Sanna.

QueSyrahSyrah · 28/12/2023 08:16

After the update, your in-laws are being absurd, you can't change her name! Sanna is fine, people (especially children!) will simply accept it as her name.

Would they also want you to change it if you'd named her Wilma because of the Flintstones, or Vera because of Coronation Street, or Stella because of the lager, or Nova because of the car? (all in the current top 50 Swedish girls names).

Whiskerson · 28/12/2023 09:51

Frankiefarr · 28/12/2023 08:10

I think I should have made my initial post clearer sorry. Her name is Susanna. We call her Sanna because OH is Swedish and it’s just a common shortening where we are but we are moving back full time to the UK and family are saying better to change it to Zanna over here to stop her getting bullied

Ah, I didn't realise this was an existing child! She's not going to get bullied, and if she does get teased then she at least has the full name to fall back on, or can choose to spell it Zanna. Zanna is clearer pronunciation wise.

Peoplemakemedespair · 28/12/2023 10:32

I think sanna probably will lead to bullying. Out of the two I’d go with zanna. Though there are nicer ways to shorten susannah imo