This is a Persian name. You are probably thinking of the other Dana, which is commonly used as a feminine name in English-speaking countries. Not all names ending with "a" are feminine, you know.
Donella "Dana" Meadows (1941 – 2001) was an American environmental scientist, educator, and writer. She is best known as lead author of the books The Limits to Growth and Thinking In Systems: A Primer.
Danu, or Dana, in Celtic religion, the earth-mother goddess or female principle, who was honoured under various names from eastern Europe to Ireland. The mythology that surrounded her was contradictory and confused; mother goddesses of earlier peoples were ultimately identified with her, as were many goddesses of the Celts themselves. Possibly a goddess of fertility, of wisdom, and of wind, she was believed to have suckled the gods. Her name was borne by the legendary Tuatha Dé Danann (“People of the Goddess Danu”), the Irish company of gods, who may be considered either as distinct individuals or as extensions of the goddess and who survive in Irish lore as the fairy folk, skilled in magic.
Dana International (real name Sharon Cohen) is an Israeli singer who represented her country in 1998 and 2011 with the songs "Diva" (1998) and "Ding Dong" (2011) In 1998, she won the whole show bringing the show to Israel the next year. However in 2011, she did not make it past the semi final.
In 2018, 39 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Dana who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 295th most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.
― Anonymous User 10/17/2018
1
I don't care for this name for a boy or girl. It always reminds me of that child star who was hooked on drugs. Most of the people I know with this name are trash.
― Anonymous User 9/28/2018
-11
All the girls I knew named Dana were like Dana Plato in more ways than one. The boys named Dana were usually effeminate and got made fun of in the schoolyard.
― Anonymous User 7/4/2018
0
I have chosen to go by Dana (I pronounce it day na) which is my middle name. I love it!
― Anonymous User 5/12/2018
2
Okay, it is pronounced DAH-naa not dayna. And the name is dutch, just saying.
― Anonymous User 9/21/2017
-4
This is such an ugly name that reminds me of a caveman.
In Persian Dana (دانا) (pronounced DAA-naa) means "wise".
― Anonymous User 5/18/2014
1
I like this name a lot pronounced as DAH-nah, it is like an alternative to the overused Donna. I think I will name a book character this. I don't like it pronounced DAY-na, that to me is a last name (Any one else remember the Dana Girls Mysteries?)
― Anonymous User 4/22/2013
2
Dana Wynter (pronounced DAH-na), born Dagmar Winter, is a German-born, British-raised U.S. actress.
I was ALMOST named Dana (Dana For A Day, my mom always says) and I wish I had been. Instead, I got stuck with Megan, which is overly popular and I hate it, a lot. I'd much rather be named Dana, it's very pretty and I don't know anybody who goes by it.
It's not a Polish name at all. There's "Dania" which is the diminutive form for "Danuta" but Dana and Dania are quite distinct and not at all the interchangeable.
The pronunciation written here works for Czech, too. [noted -ed] One famous Czech bearer is Dana Zátopková, athlete, who won on the Olympic games in Helsinki 1952 - just like her husband, Emil Zátopek, did.
Dana Scallon represented Ireland with "All Kinds of Everything" in 1970 and won the Eurovision Song Contest. She had a couple of more hits throughout the 1970s. A famous bearer is also late Dana Hill, star of "European Vacation (1985)" with Chevy Chase.