Does this really come from Tawny? Amazing, in a weird kind of way. I don't get what's wrong with Tawny, though, since it's a nice name and not popular enough for us to start spelling it differently (not that I'm aware of any kind of benchmark; I just noticed that the most popular names tend to have alternate spellings.
This name is not rare in Australia. I've met quite a few girls born in the 80's and early 90's called Tahnee, all of whom pronounce it Tah-nee. It makes sense to me that it's a Polynesian name as a girl I know named Tahnee is part Polynesian and the other Tahnees I know of have a Pacific Island or Aboriginal look. I think it sounds cute and pretty but is a bit ditzy and suits a child better than it does an adult.
This cannot be pronounced TAW-nee; it's spelt TAHN-ee. Whatever way I say it, it doesn't sound like Tawny. I wonder what genius came up with this diabolical "spelling" of a nice, but slightly common, name. The word in English is "tawny", so why spell it any other way? It looks like a nickname for "Tan" or something; could lead to the singing of the surprisingly catchy "Come out ye black and tans". (That's what I would immediately think of.)
― Anonymous User 3/10/2009
0
It looks like an unintelligent and immature spelling of a ditzy name.