Name advice | Mumsnet

Buzzybee321 · 2024-08-05T07:32:08+00:00

our Little girl is 6 days old and we chose a name for her before she was born which is Anna (Annie nickname) Anna pronounced ann-a. wasn’t till a few days in after announcing name that I realised she has Poliosis which means she has a gorgeous white streak in her hair and her right eyelashes are white too. I can’t help but think that she will get linked to Anna from frozen (even tho it’s pronounced differently) because of the white streak. someone has mentioned ‘Anna from frozen’ already which I’m not keen on as it makes her name choice unimaginative and cliche. do you think I should change her name completely or call her Annie more, especially when she goes school etc. as I am scared of bullying/ Annoying comments etc. i do like name Nina but husband doesn’t like it help a hormonal sleep deprived postpartum mum out please. It could be all irrational worrying.

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MistyHazelFox · 05/08/2024 08:53

Don't worry, you won't care several months after she's born and its such a no-thing.

Firsttimebabymummy · 05/08/2024 10:06

I really like Anna (and Annie) and much prefer this to Nina.

I wouldn't worry about it.

If it does really bother you, you could use a longer name on BC but honestly it's fine. X

Firsttimebabymummy · 05/08/2024 10:14

Also, massive congratulations!

BoleynMemories13 · 05/08/2024 10:23

Congratulations. Anna is a lovely traditional name.

Anna from Frozen doesn't even have white hair, that's Elsa, so I don't understand the link/problem?

I think it's very normal to have a name wobble so early on, when you know it's still possible to change, but you chose Anna/Annie for a reason. Own it!

reabies · 05/08/2024 10:33

@BoleynMemories13 Anna has a white streak where she is hit by Elsa's magic as a child (my toddler is in a Frozen phase 😅) so if OP's daughter has a streak then it's very on the nose for Anna.

OP can you lengthen the name, Annabelle or Annalise or something? Or if you are going with Annie for day to day then I don't think it's a huge issue. But I do think if someone finds out she is called Anna then you will likely get a comment. Up to you whether you are bothered by the comment. My DS has the name of a Disney character, doesn't bother me when people make the connection.

BoleynMemories13 · 05/08/2024 10:44

reabies · 05/08/2024 10:33

@BoleynMemories13 Anna has a white streak where she is hit by Elsa's magic as a child (my toddler is in a Frozen phase 😅) so if OP's daughter has a streak then it's very on the nose for Anna.

OP can you lengthen the name, Annabelle or Annalise or something? Or if you are going with Annie for day to day then I don't think it's a huge issue. But I do think if someone finds out she is called Anna then you will likely get a comment. Up to you whether you are bothered by the comment. My DS has the name of a Disney character, doesn't bother me when people make the connection.

Sorry I missed the streak thing, I just saw white hair. I'm not big on Disney but I don't see this white streak in pictures of her. Is it that well known or obvious? I mean, to someone like me who doesn't know the story inside out, it's definitely not obvious that Anna has a white streak. Even if it was obvious, it's still a total non-issue imo.

OP - excuse my ignorance but is it even possible for Poliosis to be diagnosed for certain at 6 days old? At that young I'd just presume their appearance is likely to drastically change over the coming weeks and months anyway, as with all babies. Even if it is certain she will always have a white streak, I still see it as a non-issue. If it really bothers you though, just stick with calling her Annie on a day to day basis rather than Anna (which still sounds different to Ar-na anyway - God I hate that pronunciation!). As I said, you chose it for a reason.

ladycarlotta · 05/08/2024 10:58

I think this is kind of magic tbh!
I wouldn't worry too much - you're pronouncing Anna differently from the Frozen character plus you were intending to nn Annie which is another step removed, so on the whole I think it's different enough.
I know Frozen still has a bit of a chokehold on cultural imagination (saying this as the parent of a 5yo) but it came out 10 years ago and by the time your Anna is old enough to be particularly aware, there will have been another big princess movie and Princess Anna will have faded a little more into the general princess pantheon rather than being a standout. I don't think she will necessarily spring to mind so quickly.

ladycarlotta · 05/08/2024 11:00

BoleynMemories13 · 05/08/2024 10:44

Sorry I missed the streak thing, I just saw white hair. I'm not big on Disney but I don't see this white streak in pictures of her. Is it that well known or obvious? I mean, to someone like me who doesn't know the story inside out, it's definitely not obvious that Anna has a white streak. Even if it was obvious, it's still a total non-issue imo.

OP - excuse my ignorance but is it even possible for Poliosis to be diagnosed for certain at 6 days old? At that young I'd just presume their appearance is likely to drastically change over the coming weeks and months anyway, as with all babies. Even if it is certain she will always have a white streak, I still see it as a non-issue. If it really bothers you though, just stick with calling her Annie on a day to day basis rather than Anna (which still sounds different to Ar-na anyway - God I hate that pronunciation!). As I said, you chose it for a reason.

Edited

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it's a significant part of her storyline but you'd probably have to have watched the film to know.

BoleynMemories13 · 05/08/2024 11:20

ladycarlotta · 05/08/2024 11:00

it's a significant part of her storyline but you'd probably have to have watched the film to know.

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Oh I've seen it but it doesn't stick with me so maybe not as obvious as some think? I know the scene people are referring to, but I don't remember it leaving her with white hair.

I guess it's like anything, something which seems obvious to some is totally passed by by others. Something which someone thinks is a significant issue, someone else will see as a total non-issue.

I've even looked up pictures on Google after this as I assumed I was missing something obvious. A feint white streak is apparent in a few pics (but not so that you'd notice unless you were explicitly aware it was there). In others many others, it can't even be seen at all which explains why I've never noticed it before until actually told it's there. When someone says Anna from Frozen, my first thought isn't that she has a white streak in her hair. Therefore the association OP fears is obvious wouldn't be obvious to me.

Moreteaandchocolate · 05/08/2024 11:23

I don’t think it matters - especially if she goes by Annie day to day. It wouldn’t put me off using the name I loved, personally. Anna / Annie is a lovely name - simple and classic. Frozen isn’t a big association with the name (to me) because it’s pronounced differently in the movie, and because Anna is a very well-known name with lots of other associations too.

PleaseletitbeSpring · 05/08/2024 13:58

You are going to call her Annie though, so it's not a problem. Once she's a teen she will probably dye her hair to match and use mascara, so it won't be obvious. My DGD has albinism, but with a bit of makeup, nobody realises. Your DD may love and want to embrace her special features though.

HettyCletter · 05/08/2024 19:22

Anna is a beautiful name (much nicer than Nina IMO). I wouldn’t make the Frozen connection and I’ve seen Frozen approximately 80 billion times (I have an 8yo DD!).

user1492757084 · 07/08/2024 06:20

Anna was a beautiful name way before Frozen was made.

Congratulations on the birth of Anna.

WickieRoy · 07/08/2024 06:51

Anna is a gorgeous name. I have to say I did make the connection as I read your post (have a Frozen obsessed 4yo). I don't think Frozen will be fading any time soon, Frozen 3 is coming.

I'd just lean into Annie for now, which is also lovely. When she's older she can choose to go back to Anna. Or indeed once her hair has grown in the streak may not be that obvious.

WickieRoy · 07/08/2024 07:07

Btw, I'd make the connection as an adult but I don't think my DC would.

Charlotte120221 · 07/08/2024 10:29

Anna is a great name - but not sure there are 2 different ways to pronounce it really?

If you're calling her Annie then totally not an issue anyway

WickieRoy · 07/08/2024 10:31

Charlotte120221 · 07/08/2024 10:29

Anna is a great name - but not sure there are 2 different ways to pronounce it really?

If you're calling her Annie then totally not an issue anyway

It's a difference in the first A. In the UK it tends to be more like apple. In Scandinavia (I think) it's longer, like the ahhhh sound you'd make opening your mouth. Both uses are common in the US.

Anna in Frozen uses the Scandinavian pronunciation, so different to OP's DD.

Original poster

Buzzybee321 · 28/10/2024 13:14

Hey thank you all for the really supportive and helpful responses. 3 months in now and she definitely suits her name and glad we didn’t change it.

OP posts:

sel2223 · 28/10/2024 13:17

Great update OP, didn't realise it was an old thread and was about to say it is a perfect name and please don't change it!

VioletCrawleyForever · 28/10/2024 13:18

Anna is beautiful. Stick with it

AndBreatheeeee · 28/10/2024 13:20

I don't think it matters. Don't change her name. And congratulations! 🥳

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 28/10/2024 13:22

Just seen this thread. Glad you didn't change her name, OP!

TheMummyJade · 29/10/2024 01:57

I totally agree with some of the comments that it's not something to worry, but I also understand that if I were you I'd have second thoughts... With that in mind, I'd like to suggest what someone else mentioned, similar names... e.g. Annie, Annabelle, Arabella, Aria, Anne-Marie