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ArchivesRe: Ayanna and Aiyana
in reply to a message by Amandine
The first reference I have found to Ayanna meaning "flower" (actually "beautiful flower") is in "The Book of African Names" by Chief Osuntoki, published in 1970, where it is just listed as "East African."
Ayana does seem to turn up as a name for both men and women in Ethiopia. However, it is unclear what its derivation is. There is a male Amharic name Ayyänäw which means "we saw him", and there is an Oromo word "ayana" which is a term for spirits who mediate between the high god Waka and human beings in the indigenous religion of the Oromo people. But I have no idea if either of those is really the origin of the Ethiopian name.
I would assume Aiyana is just a respelling of Ayanna.
Ayana does seem to turn up as a name for both men and women in Ethiopia. However, it is unclear what its derivation is. There is a male Amharic name Ayyänäw which means "we saw him", and there is an Oromo word "ayana" which is a term for spirits who mediate between the high god Waka and human beings in the indigenous religion of the Oromo people. But I have no idea if either of those is really the origin of the Ethiopian name.
I would assume Aiyana is just a respelling of Ayanna.
This message was edited 10/17/2023, 1:42 PM
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Thank you! That was very helpful!
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