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ArchivesRe: Viana information
in reply to a message by la-petite-rachel
Thanks for the information. Interesting that it's a place name in Spain, Portugal and Brazil - that matches up with the info on the BtN submitted entry. It also makes sense that it would be a form of Viviana. Thanks again.
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Viana is definitely a Portuguese surname, derived from the place name (Viana do Castelo being the major city with that name). I've definitely never heard of it as a first name.
I suppose Viviana (which is a somewhat modern name, Bebiana being the traditional form) could be shortened to Viana, but it sounds counterintuitive: imagine calling a Maximilian, Milian. The associations with the place are just too strong.
Nevertheless I doubt very much the woman in question was Brazilian or Portuguese, since it would be very unlikely for a person (especially a scientist) to go by a nickname in a professional context.
I suppose Viviana (which is a somewhat modern name, Bebiana being the traditional form) could be shortened to Viana, but it sounds counterintuitive: imagine calling a Maximilian, Milian. The associations with the place are just too strong.
Nevertheless I doubt very much the woman in question was Brazilian or Portuguese, since it would be very unlikely for a person (especially a scientist) to go by a nickname in a professional context.
This message was edited 2/5/2014, 10:30 AM
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Thanks for the info. I just went back and looked through a transcript of the radio show and it turns out the woman's name is Viviana after all. I'm not sure if I misheard or if they called her Viana (I agree that seems like kind of a backward nickname and unlikely to use in a formal setting). Either way, I appreciate your comments. Viana caught my attention because I thought it sounded pretty, but the fact that its not used as a first name (and as my hubby pointed out, it reminds him of Rihanna) makes it lose its appeal for me. Thanks!
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