Aina

[rowan-belle.livejournal.com]

A woman came into my work to return something - so we had to take her name and phone number. When asked for her first name she didn't even try to say, it she just spelled it out: A-I-N-A. My co-worker was like Anna?? The lady said it was pronounced Eye-nuh. Like Isla but with an N in there. I think it's so pretty, and I've never heard it before. WDYT?

Comments

[th3-unicorn.livejournal.com]

I've heard it before, also in the Ajna variant (not Anja).
I think I've seen it predominantly among muslims.
Not my style.

[sarahness.livejournal.com]

I've never heard it before. I kind of like it.

[loanwords.livejournal.com]

The spelling is nice, I think. But it's too much like Ina for me, and I have a severe dislike of the lady on the Food Network (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ina_Garten) with that name.

[th3-unicorn.livejournal.com]

but...but...then there's Ina May Gaskin!! :D

[therachel.livejournal.com]

my thoughts exactly...

[hwar.livejournal.com]

'Aina means "earth" in Hawaiian. Maybe she grew up there or has family from Hawaii?

[soundofbusiness.livejournal.com]

Not really my taste.

How is Isla pronounced? I don't think I've ever heard the name said aloud.

[cielamara.livejournal.com]

Aina is a Finnish name, from "aino", which means "the only one". It's from Finnish mythology, and I ADORE it.

[frost.livejournal.com]

I know it's a legit Japanese name. It's not my style.

[spaceandclouds.livejournal.com]

I think it's really pretty, actually. I had only heard of Aine, which is an Irish/Gaelic name, but that's pronounced like An-ya.

[starskye.livejournal.com]

I think it's pretty, but probably would not use, due to confusion/pronounciation/always being called Anna issues.

However, Isla is one of my favorites. I don't think this would be as confusing, as most people are familliar with saying island. I think people would be more likely to understand the way Isla is pronounced more so than Aina. I would expect though, if you are named Isla, you would get called eye-sla at least once. In my opinion, with Isla, more people would get it right. With Aina, I'd say you have a better chance of getting that one wrong.

[lorielizabeth.livejournal.com]

Don't really care for the name.

[smallandneedy.livejournal.com]

It's a normal scandinavian name.

[limelilac.livejournal.com]

I kind of like it too.