Baby Names

my friend considered this name while she was pregnant, and she pronounced it "eye-ah-nuh".
she also spelled it with only one n. according to babynames.com this is an african name meaning flower blossom, so maybe it's not just made up. but it really looks like it. it's pretty if you're ethiopian, but if you're not, it doesn't make sense.

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so it doesn't make sense to use names from other countries/regions?

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no, i don't think it really doe, in some cases. unless it has a special meaning to you and you know the full cultural background behind it, then it's perfectly fine. but if not, it could be kind of disrespectful. i know people who won't even wear certain clothes of other cultures, not because they don't like them, but out of respect. names can often be spiritual things in some cultures, it might not be very respectful to use another country's very spiritual name on your child, just because it sounds pretty. i'm not saying no one should name their child something from another culture or anything, i'm just saying people should be careful about it. i think a lot of african and native american tribal names are really beautiful, but i wouldn't use them on my child unless i was going to make sure the culture the name came from was a part of my child's life and sense of identity. otherwise it wouldn't seem right. i don't want to accidentally misuse someone's meaningful name. if the original poster is familiar with the background and any possible spiritual and cultural meanings for the name aiyanna/aiyana, then by all means they should use it if they want to. but if they don't, i'd say it's probably not the best idea.

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my son has a Gaelic name (that is very popular here in the US), & while i am part Irish, but we don't celebrate any Irish holidays, etc. is that okay? my next child might possibly have an Muslim name, i've found a few very beautiful ones with beautiful meanings. my mother is very strict Muslim, along with almost all of her friends, but i am not religious at all.

was it wrong to use a Gaelic/Irish name, despite not really celebrating my Irish roots... would it be wrong to use a Muslim name, when i am not, even if my mother is Muslim?

i'm not being mean, or anything, i'm curious because i haven't spoken to anyone with that point of view & i'm curious. lol

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haha i don't mean to start a debate or anything.
i don't think it was wrong to use a gaelic name for your son. i don't think it's really the same thing as if you were to use an ethiopian name (assuming you're not at all ethiopian), because you are part irish. but even if you weren't irish, i don't think it's wrong. i don't think it's wrong to use another culture's name. i'm just saying that there could possibly be a sensitivity that some people overlook. i think it's a good thing to share ideas and things, including names, with other cultures. diversity is great. it's just important to make sure it is respectful sharing, and not stealing an idea (such as a name) from a culture and using it in ignorance, without knowing the meaning. i'm sure no one would be hurt because you used a gaelic name for your son. and i think that using a muslim name probably wouldn't be bad either, because you most likely know enough about it from your mom to know how to be respectful about it.
and there is a possibility that the child would not identify well with a name from a culture they know nothing about. my name is russian, and i am not russian, and know very little about russia, and my name feels very awkward on me and i do not feel it fits me (though for more that reason). i think my mom just picked it because she thought it was pretty, and didn't give much more thought to it than that. i'm pretty sure my name doesn't offend, but i still feel a little strange to be saddled with it. just something to take into consideration.
it's not wrong to use another culture's name. it's just a sensitive area and people should take more into consideration than "it's pretty", is all i'm saying. if that makes any sense. i hope i didn't offend you or anyone else.

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qalanjo.livejournal.com

Well, "African name" doesn't really mean anything. It'd be like saying it's an "Asian name" or "European name." There is no African language, since there are an estimated 2,000 languages spoken in Africa (many of which aren't even related). For example, there are around 84 different languages spoken just in Ethiopia alone. So, if Aiyanna happened to be a, say...Xaasongaxango name from Mali, an Ethiopian using the name would be borrowing it from a completely different culture. So by all of this I mean to say...I don't totally trust babynames.com! ; )

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haha very true. babynames.com isn't incredibly reliable or informative. it did specify ethiopia, but that of course doesn't tell us what tribe or culture. hopefully the original poster will do some research on that name to find out, or maybe she already knows. :)

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Aiyanna - Aye-ah-na, usually.

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eleanorgrace.livejournal.com

I guess Anna/Ana would be a good nickname for that, then. Aye, if you wanted to be different.

Cultural meaning aside, I don't care for the sound of the name.

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I really like Declan. That's a great name. No idea about nicknames, however, just thought I'd add my two cents.

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We named our son, soon to be 7, Declan. No one used it then. I still love it. We call him "Dec" sometimes. It wasn't a conscious choice, but it rolls off the tongue nicely.

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What a fabulous name!
I'm far too young to have kids, but I'm jealous that you got to use the name. It's marvelous.

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Thanks:) We were and are SO happy with it. He loves it, too. He's only met one other Declan. Granted, it seems to be rising (nowhere near the top pick, though, so maybe we're okay).

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Is it rising?
Ahh, I don't think I've ever met a Declan in my life! Can I ask where you got the name from?

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It is rising. The year we used it, 2000, it wasn't on any lists. In 2003, it made the list at 425. Now it's around 350. So, not ridiculously high. When my son was about 4 months old, Cyndi Lauper had a son and named him Declan. There was also a short-lived show on TV called "Mysterious Ways" with the lead character named Declan. Last year, we saw one episode of "Kyle XY" and there was a guy on there named Declan...so yeah. :) My mom was right, no matter how unique you think you are, it'll probably become more popular after you use it. Still, I'm pleased that it's still really uncommon. We got it from a movie, actually. "The Matchmaker"...not because we liked the movie that much, it was okay, but once we heard the name, neither of us could get it out of our heads. It's Irish, it means "Man of Prayer".

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Oh, dang. I hate it when you discover a brilliant name, only to find out it's starting to get popular. Luckily, though, a name that great hasn't been discovered by many parents. Let's pray it won't!

Mysterious Ways, I love that show. I find the lead character absolutely gorgeous, that's how I found out about the name.

Tell me though, does the name Declan suit a little baby though?

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We thought so:) I think it's one of those names that's unusual and interesting, while still sounding not that odd. I can see it on an old man, a grown man and a small baby, those are my requirements. We're having a time picking a name for this boy! We had a girl's name picked, but now that we know it's a boy, I find myself always comparing it to Declan. I think we're good now, though:)

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Yeah, a name not so odd the kid would be teased on the playground. It's odd enough without standing out, you know? I think it's great that way.

Ooh, what have you picked?

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LOL I'd be afraid to say it on this group. I just read, I don't post my name ideas:)

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Ahaha, ohh, sorry. :)

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nobodynomore.livejournal.com

Most of your names can't be turned into nicknames unless you got crazy creative.

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bornto-fly.livejournal.com

I like Emerson with one m. Two seems weird to me for some reason.

I also really like Porter, Declan, and Logan for boys.

I'm not a huge fan of your girls' names, especially Devlynn. Most of them look made up to me and like 2 or 3 names combined into one.

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colson could be cole. you might like colton, too, it's similar to colson.
london could be lonnie...but it's kind of a stretch.
declan could be lannie...but that's even more of a stretch.
is denica like danica? why not use danica/danika and call her dani? or nikki?
aiyanna...anna, i guess. there are so many better names with anna in them, though.
devlynn...i've never seen this name before, are you sure it's a real name? i've seen devlin, but as a boy's name. it sounds a lot like devil, which may or may not bother you. you might like devon, too. there aren't really any nicknames for this, though.
devera...uh...vera? never heard of this name either.
and i LOVE esmee. definitely the best name on your list. it's classy and cute at the same time. can't really think of any nicknames...ezzy or mimi, but those are a stretch.
have you thought of maybe just giving your child a name that doesn't need a nickname and then waiting to see what pet names you come up with for your child? like maybe if he/she has curly hair he/she could be called curly, or if s/he has a lot of energy, zippy or jet would be cute.

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