Message: "Dana" - Behind the Name

[Opinions] Dana

by Lily (Destry)

11/30/2009, 2:40 PM

I liked this a while back and just fell in love with it again. I used to like it pronounced DAN-nah but now I really like DAH-na. For some reason I was never fond of the DAY-na pronunciation which seems to be most common.

How would you pronounce Dana? Do you think I could get away with pronouncing it DAH-na instead of DAY-na? And do you like DAN-na?

Do you see it as dated? It seems to have been quite common in the 60s. How many do you know? How did they pronounce it? Do you know any younger ones?

Oh and I read somewhere (I think on this board) that it was also a Hebrew name but behindthename doesn't say so. Does anyone know? And if it is, what does it mean?

#Dana

Replies

- Just Jonquil

12/1/2009, 3:52 AM

I like Dana (DAH-na). I know an Israeli Dana and that's the pronunciation, so you're on safe ground. It's the feminine of Dan.

- Buttons

12/1/2009, 12:31 AM

I say it Day-na. I don't think i've ever actually met a Dana, I've met a Danika though (Dan-ee-kuh).

I don't particularly like any of these pronunciations - but I guess Day-na is the most tolerable for me. Dah-na is actually ok as well.

- Anneza

11/30/2009, 11:43 PM

In South Africa, or in Afrikaans-speaking South Africa, Daniel is pronounced DAH-nee-el and Dana, pronounced DAH-na, is a common nn. I've seen a couple of references to South African girls named Dayna and I know a couple of Danikas (a high-school girl and a grandmother, not related), but I've certainly never met a girl Dana!

- Llewella (penguiny7) +3

11/30/2009, 3:45 PM

I pronounce it DAY-na and that's the only pronunciation I've ever heard. In the US that's the one that's most commonly used. I don't like DAH-na because it sounds the same as Donna, and I don't like DAN-na because it sounds like someone saying Dani funny.

I think it feels a little dated, but not terribly so. I've known a few female Danas and all pronounced it the way I do. They were all about my age. I like it pretty equally on boys or girls.

- Lily (Destry) +2

11/30/2009, 4:03 PM

Oh really? I don't pronounce Dana and Donna the same at all. Donna sounds more like DAWN-na while Dana is DAH-na. I hear a really huge difference when I say them out loud.

- Chanel

12/1/2009, 8:08 PM

In my accent, DAWN-na and DAH-na sound EXACTLY the same...

- Llewella (penguiny7)

12/1/2009, 6:30 AM

In my accent

Donna is DAH-na. DAWN-a would be like Dawn + a, which isn't really a name I suppose.

- Andromache (Hannah Ruth)

11/30/2009, 3:34 PM

I really like Dana, but I pronounce it 'DAY-nuh'. I'm not keen on 'DAN-uh'/'DAH-nuh'.

- Sofia

11/30/2009, 3:04 PM

As is mentioned in the link here, Dana is used as a nickname for Daniela in Slavic countries, so that would be the Hebrew connection.
All Danas I know pronounce it DAH-nah, but then they're all Croatian.

- Pie

11/30/2009, 2:58 PM

If I'd never seen it before, I'd pronounce it DAH-na, but Dana Scully has confused me. :) I've never met one irl, and the only other Dana I can think of is former cheesy 60s singer and Irish politician Dana Scallon. She pronounces it DAH-na, I think. I'm sure you could use that pronunciation in Europe with no problems.

This message was edited 11/30/2009, 2:58 PM

- -Violetta Lavender- (-Julia-)

11/30/2009, 2:42 PM

I would pronounce Dana DAY-na at first sight, but I like DAH-na better. You might get away with pronouncing it DAH-na, but I'm really not sure. :/

I don't see it as dated, but some people might. I don't know any.

I don't know if it is a Hebrew name, sorry.

(I doubt that Dana is a Hebrew name.)

- New_Chloe

11/30/2009, 2:42 PM

I think if you wanted it said "Danna" you should spell it Danna. Spelling it Dana is just asking for constant mispronunciation. Most people will automatically say "DAY-na".

I don't see it as dated (I know a young twenty-something Dana, and that's it) but I do see it as a little dull.

The Hebrew thing is probably related to the name Daniel or Dan.

This message was edited 11/30/2009, 2:43 PM

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