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I don't care for it. It sounds... I don't know, the two schwa or schwa-adjacent sounds are just not pretty to me, and the LAH in the middle? Not for me.

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Alaina I can handle more, the LAY sound is prettier. That said, I'd choose Elena over Alaina every day.

(sorry I'm late) I like Alana (pronounced uh-LAHN-uh). It sounds brave and mysterious in my opinion. I might pair it as Alana Rae or Alana Valerie.

This message was edited 8/14/2022, 7:46 AM

When pronounced "ah-LAHN-uh" (rhyming with llama) (as opposed to "ah-LAYN-uh," or "ah-LANN-uh", rhyming with Elaine or Atlanta, respectively), I like the name. I don't like the other pronunciations all that much. I'm biased because it is my actual name. I don't view it as a filler name, and the other Alana / Alanna / Alannah / Allanas with this name have all seemed to like it. It's unique enough that you won't find too many other people with it, but occasionally you'll find it in popular culture or meet someone else with the name and it's an automatic bonding moment. The trouble with the name lies in the different spellings and pronunciations. If you name a child this, they will most certainly have to correct people occasionally. It's a mild annoyance, but I seem to be surviving it well enough.

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Alana Celeste
Alana Elodie
Alana Eloise
Alana Genevieve
Alana Claire
Alana Grace
Alana Violet

It's fine. Could also depend on the preferred pronunciation.

It's ok

Alana, Elena and similar to me all speak of one thing: basic filler name. I don't hate it, but it's just so generic and boring. I remember once reading online from an Alanna mom who even felt the same way and said she regreting giving her daughter something so boring because she couldn't think of something better at the time. Alana and her variants are the types of names where "they'll do the job" but why would one want them to? Just imo.

I like the sound; appearance-wise, I prefer Alannah. For an Irish vibe, Alannah Bridget or Alannah Colleen; Alannah Saoirse?

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I wouldn't use it, because I prefer Alan for a boy. But it's a good name.