to PP who wrote this: "The girl will really correct everyone her entire life. It's not even a pretty name, very common (both pronunciations) and not worth it. Pick something else."

I have an uncommon name and have to correct people all of the time. I still love my name.

I don't think Anna is that complicated either way it is pronounced.

OP: no need to pick a new name.

Spell it Onna and you won't have a problem.

I have a Spanish name and EVERYONE pronounces it incorrectly. I have gotten used to this (sort of), but if I were you, I would avoid the pain for my little girl.

My sister in law is European and her name is Anna. It is pronounced Ana or On-uh. Her nickname is Anya. Common in Russia and other European countries.

I'm considering Anna and struggling with this too. In my family (originally from Austria, but I'm American), the name is pronounced OP's way. But I know it would be pronounced the English/American way here. I like it the American way too, and wondering if I should just pronounce it the American way to make it easier. Or just pick another name

Anna is also an Italian name and it is pronounced Ahhn-nuh. Like the "Spanish" pronunciation with the "n" sounded twice. Yep.

You live in America. And unless the person saying the name is of spanish, italian, german, russian descent, they are not going to give a damn and they will americanize it no matter how you spell it and they will pronounce it like "a" in apple. The girl will really correct everyone her entire life. It's not even a pretty name, very common (both pronunciations) and not worth it. Pick something else.

My daughter is Anna with the usual pronunciation. People only rarely call her On-ah.

Anonymous wrote:Help us out, OP. How do you want the pronunciation?

Like Anya (Ana with a tilde on the n?)
Like Onna?

On/Awn-na. Think Anna Faris instead of Anna Nicole Smith. Frozen is another example.

Thanks everyone for your input!

I'm an adult Anna and I'd say I get 50/50 on pronunciation - Anne-a or Ahna. Go with the spelling you like.

Anonymous wrote:They are pronounced the same

+1

Lewis Black would have a field day here at DCUM. He could probably get an entire show's worth of material here.

Anonymous wrote:You can do whatever you want, but that doesn't make it practical.

I know someone named Anne who pronounces her name Annie (apparently it's a German thing?). It's impractical IMHO to do this if you live in the US surrounded by Americans.

Anne in German is pronounced "Ah-neh" (more or less). If you are a German in America, then expecting Americans to pronounce it this way may be impractical, but it's not pretentious.

You're taking your love for Frozen a bit too far, OP.

I knew a girl like this.

I know an Anna pronounced Awna and she hates it and everyone is confused. I vote Ana.