Opinion on this Indian name?

[Anonymous]

Hi,
What's your opinion on the name Raina for an Indian baby girl? Have you heard this as an Indian name before or does it sound non-Indian to you (if it does, what ethnicity does it make you think of)? Do you prefer any of these names more than Raina...Layla, Mia, Sarina, Mira, Anya? Thanks in advance!!

[Anonymous]

It's more of a last name than a first name. I have a number of friends with the last name Raina.

[Anonymous]

I think it's beautiful.

I think of Queen Rania of Jordan.

[Anonymous]

Love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Love it.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's more of a last name than a first name. I have a number of friends with the last name Raina.

It is a common first name as well. Many names are 1st and last. Thomas, Jordan, etc. There is a marcek superhero with that name. I think it's beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a middle eastern name, not Indian. Maybe Indian Muslim but not a Hindu name.

[Anonymous]

It's a lovely name. Means night. Not likely to get too messed up in pronunciation here either.

It is a common Indian last too though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like a middle eastern name, not Indian. Maybe Indian Muslim but not a Hindu name.

It is a Hindu name.

[Anonymous]

I think Raina is a beautiful name. I didn't know it was used in India (same with Anya, which sounds Eastern European to me) but I tend to like multi-ethnic names that work many places!

From behindthename.com:

Raina is Bulgarian, a version of Rayna (which can be Bulgarian or Yiddish). Similarly, Reina can be Yiddish or Spanish (Reyna is another spelling). Rania/Raniya is Arabic.

[Anonymous]

I love Raina, Jiya, & Haya

[Anonymous]

I know a 10 year old Rayna and just love it.

[Anonymous]

It's fine. I know a white woman from Kansas with that name. I would not pick it for my child because for some reason it makes me think of pee, but it's fine.

[Anonymous]

Very pretty. I would not associate it with any particular ethnicity because I've never known anyone with this name. The other names you listed are all nice as well. Of those, I like Sarina best. But Raina is nicest in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

I know a non-Indian Rayna and also think about the Spanish word for queen "reina" so fine and culturally-varied associations for that name. About your other names:

Layla - Ok. I think of the Eric Clapton song. Spelling "Laila" would seem more Indian to me.
Mia - Ok. Associate with Mia Hamm.
Sarina - My least favorite on your list, but still fine. I bet would be often misspelled as Serena.
Mira - I like this name which I associate with Maya and Miriam and like better than both of those BUT it being the Spanish word for "Look!" turns me off.
Anya - Ok. Could also seem Eastern European or Russian.