Leda is searching for the perfect name for her daughter:
She writes:
"I would like to give her my mother's name (Anna) but I'm a bit reluctant to do so as her surname is quite common where we live and there must be quite a few Annas with that surname already! So I was therefore thinking of Anais and was looking for a second name that preferably has a Greek origin. We are currently considering the following-
Anais Cleo
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Anna is such a lovely name to use as an honour name, as is Anais. I wonder whether Anna feels more common to you than it actually is because of its "classic" status. It has not been in the top 50 in England and Wales since 2004 and has been on a steady decline since. In 2015 it ranked at #70. In other words, only 2 in every 1000 girls born in 2015 were named Anna.
Anais is an equally lovely choice. While it is true that Rose is the most common middle name for girls in Britain at the moment, Rosalind is quite uncommon. An Anna Rosalind or Anais Rosalind would certainly stand out from the crowd.
In terms of pronunciation, the world is getting smaller, and school registers are filled with an array of multicultural names. Anais is recognisable from the perfume Anaïs Anaïs which many Brits would recognise. Yes, there will always be some who pronounce it wrong -- in a doctor's waiting room, or a roll call -- but speaking as someone with a traditionally "British" name to whom this happens often -- it really isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
If pronunciation bothers you most, go for the lovely Anna. If individuality is more important, go for the exotic Anais.
One other option is to go for Anna as a middle name, thereby still honouring your mother in full. Iris Anna is a beautiful combo.
All this said, there are plenty of other ways to incorporate Anna into a name:
Anna Variants:
First let's look at the other names which belong to Anna's etymological tree:
Anya – One of the most accessible Anna variants; intuitive to pronounce and spell but with a similarly uncommon and exotic style that Anais has. It currently ranks at #172.
Annika – Just as exotic as Anais, Annika is a Scandinavian diminutive of Anna. It's pronunciation is slightly more intuitive that Anais, though the spelling is less uniform: Anika, Annika, Anneka, Annica have all been used in Britain.
Anka – While Annika is the Scandinavian, Anka is the Slavic and Polish diminutive form of Anna. Easy to spell and pronounce with an exotic twist.
Anoushka – In Russia, Anoushka is the go-to Anna diminutive
Nancy – Meanwhile, for centuries in Britain, Nancy has been one of our favourite diminutives for Ann (alongside sweet Annie). Not only is Nancy a relative of Anna, it also shares the same vintage charm as Iris.
Anneliese – In Germany, Anna has been combined with Liese (Elisabeth) to create the lyrical Anneliese. In Britain, it is more commonly found in the simiplified Anglicised spelling Annalise (#412).
Anna-esque:
They may not all be etymologically linked to Anna, but the An-a sound is clear. Homophony [the principal of choosing a name because it sounds like something which the bestower wants to commemorate] has been used to connect like-sounding names (or names to meanings) for centuries. If you said to anyone -- "This is my daughter, Anisa. We named her after my mother, Anna" -- no one would question it. The intention is obvious.
Annis / Annice – In the Middle Ages, Annis, Anise and Annice were not uncommon medieval forms of Agnes which never fully died out and was picked up again by the Victorians. Today it is rare, but combined the sweet sounds of Iris with the sounds of Anna.
Annora – A variant of Honora, used since the Middle Ages through to the present day. With its meaning of "honour," its rarity (only 4 girls were named Annora in E&W in 2015) yet its accessibly pronunciation, Annora makes its link to Anna clear.
Ananda – An exotic spin on Amanda, Ananda is a Sanskrit name meaning "happiness, bliss, joy."
Anisa – A pretty name taken from the Arabic word anis "friendly, affable."
Anjali – Another gem from the Indian subcontinent is the mellifluous Anjali meaning "divine offering."
Julianna – Julianna or Juliana was a common medieval name thanks to a popular early saint. Now it is uncommon, with an elegant stately style.
Susanna – Sweet Susanna is a ladylike Biblical name meaning "lily."
Arianna – Ariana (Arianna) is the Italian form of the Greek Ariadne -- famous in myth as the daughter of King Minos -- which means "very pure."
Lilianna – A Latinised form of Lilian whose roots lie with classic Elizabeth.
Anna as a Nickname:
If Anna feels the right name for you, but not distinct enough, how about using Anna as a nickname for a more adventurous longer form.
Anastasia – A lyrical and romantic name. Well known but not common. And the best part? It ticks the box of being a Greek name to boot.
Andromeda – Another Greek-heritage choice, taken straight from mythology, with a stately yet adventurous feel.
Amarantha – To the Greeks, the amaranth flower was the sacred plant of Artemis, and its name, in Greek, means "unfading." In the 17th century, Richard Lovelace used the name for the heroine of one of his poems, giving the name a romantic and glamorous feel.
Angelica – Another name coined in literature for a romantic heroine meaning "belonging to the angels." Uncommon but widely recognised.
Antonia – This upright and ladylike Roman name makes a great longer form to get to Anna.
Greek Middle Names for Anais:
Anais Calantha
Anais Calista
Anais Cassandra
Anais Charis
Anais Corinna
Anais Cressida
Anais Delphi
Anais Delfina
Anais Dido
Anais Electra
Anais Eleni
Anais Eulalia
Anais Evadne
Anais Evangeline
Anais Helena
Anais Hermione
Anais Iliana
Anais Kassiani
Anais Larissa
Anais Lyra
Anais Marina
Anais Melina
Anais Melita
Anais Nicolina
Anais Ophelia
Anais Penelope
Anais Persephone
Anais Petra
Anais Philippa
Anais Phoebe
Anais Sapphira
Anais Selene
Anais Thalia
Anais Theodora
Anais Varvara
I hope this has been helpful. Best of luck with the name hunting.
