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Help[Opinions] Anastasia
Our last name is McKenna, so I'd been trying to stay away from first names ending with A, so too many A-s?.
Too Disney?
Too Russian, especially with such an Irish last name? (we are both Irish, and have some other European in us, but no Russian.)
Too stripper?
Too fake-snotty?
Also, how would you pronounce it? We say it Anna-st-asia, although I do also like the Ah-nah-stah-zee-ah and A-nah-STAY-SHA as well. I think they are all valid prononciations, but I have second thoughts about a name I'm not sure how to pronounce, and am not sure how others would pronounce.
On the upside, I can't believe my husband and I actually AGREE on something, it isn't overused, isn't way out there to me, and shortens to Ann/Anna, which would honor a loved one. One site mentioned it as a more unusual alternative to Alexandra, which I liked.
All thoughts appreciated. Especially thoughts on other names, and the (in?)suitability of first names ending with -a with our last name. Our naming style leans toward the traditional (I might have said "classic" but I've read the other threads and see that term is a bit controversial :) )
Once again, thanks!
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Replies
Too Disney? Nope
Too Russian, especially with such an Irish last name? No, I don't think so
Too stripper? NO!
Too fake-snotty? No
I love this name, and Anastasia McKenna sounds very pretty. I go back and forth between ah-nah-STAS-ee-ah and ann-ah-STAY-zha. I like both.
I'd go with ann-ah-STAY-zha, because most people will say it that way and correcting them constantly could be a pain.
Too Russian, especially with such an Irish last name? No, I don't think so
Too stripper? NO!
Too fake-snotty? No
I love this name, and Anastasia McKenna sounds very pretty. I go back and forth between ah-nah-STAS-ee-ah and ann-ah-STAY-zha. I like both.
I'd go with ann-ah-STAY-zha, because most people will say it that way and correcting them constantly could be a pain.
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I think Ana McKenna sounds cute, but you could always call her Stasi or Ani in order to avoid too many a's.
on a side note: having the "ee" sound at the end of a nickname is possessive in some cultures, so if you decided to call her, for example, "Ani" it would translate into "my Ana".
on a side note: having the "ee" sound at the end of a nickname is possessive in some cultures, so if you decided to call her, for example, "Ani" it would translate into "my Ana".
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Anastasia is fine. I don't think it would be assotiated with the Disney film, more with the Russian crown princess or the singer.
The problem with it is that with your last name it has too many As. Anna, the nn you plan to use, sounds even worse with McKenna, sorry.
My personal impression about the name that it is trying too hard to sound classic and being unique at the same time, but I'm not sure if this is a general opinion.
Budgerigars, ceiling fans, the Times of India are all part of the luggage I brought into the world... Blue Jesus leaked into me; and Mary's desperation, and Joseph's revolutionary wildness, and the flightiness of Alice Pereira... all these made me, too.
(Midnight's Children)
The problem with it is that with your last name it has too many As. Anna, the nn you plan to use, sounds even worse with McKenna, sorry.
My personal impression about the name that it is trying too hard to sound classic and being unique at the same time, but I'm not sure if this is a general opinion.
Budgerigars, ceiling fans, the Times of India are all part of the luggage I brought into the world... Blue Jesus leaked into me; and Mary's desperation, and Joseph's revolutionary wildness, and the flightiness of Alice Pereira... all these made me, too.
(Midnight's Children)
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I like this name and I think it's pass the point of being "too Russian" and/or "too Disney"... I also thought of Anastasia with several different Irish surnames and I think it sounds good. The world has become much more internationally aware and because of that people are using names from other cultures so much more (lol I accidentally combined those two words at first to form the word "mure" lmao I had to share because it really had me laughing lol), that it's become a lot more acceptable and not as odd.
Plus Anastasia is a really pretty name :-) I personally like the pronunciation ah-nah-stas-ee-ah best but ah-nah-stay-szha is nice too. And there are so many nns you can use!
Ana, Asta, Asia, Ia, Stasia, Stas (stay-ss), Ace, Asi, Isa, Nasa, Andy, Annie...
"Chan eil tuil air nach tig traoghadh"
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds - Half of writing history is hiding the truth.
- Serenity
Plus Anastasia is a really pretty name :-) I personally like the pronunciation ah-nah-stas-ee-ah best but ah-nah-stay-szha is nice too. And there are so many nns you can use!
Ana, Asta, Asia, Ia, Stasia, Stas (stay-ss), Ace, Asi, Isa, Nasa, Andy, Annie...
- Serenity
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Although popular in Russia, Anastasia is actually a Greek name that means "resurrection." Do you happen to have any Greek blood between the two of you? No matter. I don't think one has to be of the same ethnicity to enjoy and use a name. And as far as Anastasia McKenna goes, it's a little long but I actually prefer it to Ana/Anna McKenna.
Other questions answered:
1. It's not too Disney or Dreamworks. Wasn't it Dreamworks?
2. It doesn't sound like the name of a stripper. It sounds refined and elegant to me.
3. Anastasia doesn't sound snotty, just cultured and princessy.
4. I pronounce it ah-na-STAH-see-a. In the US, I would think ann-a-STAY-sha would be the most common pronunciation, but I really think it depends on where one lives. And there are several "valid" ways to pronounce the name. Don't worry about that.
If you love it, go for it. ;-)
Other questions answered:
1. It's not too Disney or Dreamworks. Wasn't it Dreamworks?
2. It doesn't sound like the name of a stripper. It sounds refined and elegant to me.
3. Anastasia doesn't sound snotty, just cultured and princessy.
4. I pronounce it ah-na-STAH-see-a. In the US, I would think ann-a-STAY-sha would be the most common pronunciation, but I really think it depends on where one lives. And there are several "valid" ways to pronounce the name. Don't worry about that.
If you love it, go for it. ;-)
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I say it a-na-STAY-zha, but I have also heard a more of see-ah at the end. I'd be hard pressed to ever say your particular one & I see Ana as a nn where I find Anna to be a bit stretchy.
As for the flow, I find it a bit much with all the as, but that really doesn't bother me. Pronounciation is a big thing with me, one of my favourites Lila has sort of fallen by the wayside because of the various spellings & pronounciations throughout the world and I see Lily as a nice & simple alternative without the hassle. My husband feels very strongly that if you constantly have to correct the spelling & or pronounciation of a name, that its too much of a hassle & a burden to place on a kid. While I'm not as firm on that, I do see his point & think that how much you love a name & your particular pronounciation or spelling should be weighted against that extra work.
Our second wedding anniversary
As for the flow, I find it a bit much with all the as, but that really doesn't bother me. Pronounciation is a big thing with me, one of my favourites Lila has sort of fallen by the wayside because of the various spellings & pronounciations throughout the world and I see Lily as a nice & simple alternative without the hassle. My husband feels very strongly that if you constantly have to correct the spelling & or pronounciation of a name, that its too much of a hassle & a burden to place on a kid. While I'm not as firm on that, I do see his point & think that how much you love a name & your particular pronounciation or spelling should be weighted against that extra work.
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It's nice. I personally wouldn't use it because I think it's too formal for everyday use and I don't care for the nns. But if you like Anna than good! I pronounce it the same as you. I don't know where you are, but if you're in the U.S. like me, I think any other pronunciation would sound pretentious.
I think it's fine with your last name. I'm willing to bet some -a names would sound weird and others sound fine. I don't think there's a hard and fast rule about avoiding them all together. Just no McKenzie / McKinley / McKaitlyn stuff!!
I think it's fine with your last name. I'm willing to bet some -a names would sound weird and others sound fine. I don't think there's a hard and fast rule about avoiding them all together. Just no McKenzie / McKinley / McKaitlyn stuff!!
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