Jana

[Icouldor]

How does everyone feel about the name Jana (jan-uh)? Unsure where and when I first heard it but I’ve been a bit obsessed with it lately. I can’t quite get DH to like it as much as I do. According to him, it sounds like the name of an uptight and serious woman. We already have a Margaret (which I think sounds much more serious).

@Icouldorits spelt with 2 no’s Janna which is nice but I know one and she is always having to spell it out as people assume she is saying Jenna

It sounds very Eastern European to me and quite harsh and grating (not suggesting those from Eastern Europe are obviously!)

I don’t like it to be honest. Margaret has that vintage style which is fashionable now.

With that pronunciation I hope you don't live in Plymouth!

It's pronounced Yaana. Anything else is just wrong. It's the germanic version of Jane and equally safe but maybe less dated. DS was nearly Jana apart from he's DS!

I would pronounce it Yarna too.

totally different style to your dd.

Also a popular German name, you’ll find a lot of Jana’s in Germany, pronounced Yana.

Could go with Jada or Dana?

I know a Jana, prounoinced as Jan-uh. She is in her 40s, and a lovely, kind person if that helps!

I know a Janna (pronounced somewhere between Jan -ah and Jan - uh .... I guess that depends a bit on your accent).

She says people struggle with it - she gets Jenna, Jan, Janette, Janet.

She is the only one I have come across.

I'd always think Yana, as it's a common central European name.

OK, this kid is going to have to go to school. I'm a teacher. Willing to bet money it'll be pronounced v-jan-uh. Come on.

When I saw the heading of your post I thought it would be pronounced "Jarner", so you might want to take that into account…

I worked with a very bubbly Australian woman who spelt it like Jana and pronounced it Jay-na

DS would have been Jana if he'd been a girl. But pronounced Yarna.

I’d also probably pronounce it yana or jannah

I have known girls called Jana pronounced like Jahn-a (all Arab). I'd also ask on first reading if it was Jahn-a or Jayna-a. Ya-na also wouldn't surprise me.

If DH isn't on board though sounds like you might want to look at similar options? I do think Margaret sounds maybe more serious.

I know one, a Muslim girl, pronounced somewhere between Janna and Jahna (with a J not a Y)

I love the name. I named one of my dogs Jana. We pronounce it Yana. One of my friends has a wife with the same name. Waaaay nicer name than Margaret which I don’t like at all, lol.

I know a Jana (German, pronounced Yarna) she is wonderful so I love the name.

I also know a Janna (rhymes with spanner) and she’s a dick so I’m not keen.

Jenna is nicer. Or good old Hannah. Or how about Anya?

I would presume it’s a mis-spelling of Joanna. Which us a much nicer name imho

Quite harsh to my war sorry. Also makes me think of two-faced Janus, god of the door, which isn't a good association.

I'd pronounce it Yana.

I don't think it goes with Margaret at all.

I don’t understand PP saying that the OP should pronounce it as ‘Yana’. Naming your child Jana and pronouncing it as ‘Yana’ when you’re British with no Eastern European heritage (assuming that the OP is British as she’s given no suggestion otherwise) is a tad pretentious and somewhat strange, surely?!

It’d be like naming your child Jean and pronouncing it the traditional French way, ‘zhahn’, when you and the child’s other parent have no connection to France or the French language. An odd choice.

I’ve met 3 boys now named ‘bleu’ pronounced Blue. Spelt French but not. I don’t get it.

With Margaret, I think Jane would be perfect.

Jana is YAH- nuh.
Others ..
Joanna
Hannah
Anne
Bridget