So I have a new name crush but as you can see… I have no idea which spelling to choose. The preferred pronunciation I’m going for is [name_u]SHAY[/name_u]-na. I’m leaning slightly more towards the spelling [name_f]Shena[/name_f] as I feel like it leads the reader to pronounce shay-na instead of shaw-na (which I dislike)
The meaning of the name is Gaelic is “little and wise” (from what I’ve found so far at least)
Which spelling do you prefer?
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you like the name [name_f]Shana[/name_f]/[name_f]Shena[/name_f]/[name_f]Shaina[/name_f]? I think [name_u]Shay[/name_u]/[name_m]Shey[/name_m] is a super cute nickname.
[name_f]Shena[/name_f] I would pronounce like She-nah. I think the best choice would actually be [name_f]Shayna[/name_f] and if not that then [name_f]Shaina[/name_f].
I love the name, but I can see where the pronunciation would be tricky. I agree with pp that [name_f]Shayna[/name_f] is least likely to require constant correction. I really like the look of [name_f]Shana[/name_f] if the clarifying wouldn’t bother you too much.
I really like this name! It seems at once grounded and spunky. In terms of spelling, they all pass the visual appeal test, but I would recommend [name_f]Shaina[/name_f]. Of the three, this is by far the most intuitive for the pronunciation [name_u]Shay[/name_u]-na, at least in my opinion. I would probably pronounce [name_f]Shena[/name_f] as She-na, and [name_f]Shana[/name_f] as [name_u]Shaw[/name_u]-na. However, I’d pronounce [name_f]Shaina[/name_f] as [name_u]Shay[/name_u]-na because of the “ain-,” like in [name_u]Ainsley[/name_u].
Either [name_f]Shaina[/name_f] or [name_f]Shayna[/name_f], although I much prefer [name_f]Shaina[/name_f]. I’d say [name_f]Shena[/name_f] like SHE-nuh and [name_f]Shana[/name_f] as either [name_u]SHAN[/name_u]-uh or [name_u]SHAW[/name_u]-nuh.
I only know of the [name_f]Shaynna[/name_f] spelling which it a bit OTC! I would say [name_f]Shana[/name_f] bc where I’m from it would only get the correct pronunciation (we don’t have [name_f]Shawna[/name_f] coming from this combo of letters). But with a possible confusion, why not spell it phonetically - [name_f]Shayna[/name_f] or [name_f]Shaina[/name_f]?
I like the [name_f]Shena[/name_f] spelling better, but with the pronunciation you want, I find [name_f]Shayna[/name_f]/[name_f]Shaina[/name_f] the best. [name_m]Shey[/name_m] is an adorable nn.
I’d pronounce [name_f]Shena[/name_f] “Shen-na” or “She-na” but never “[name_u]Shay[/name_u]-na”. So I think this would be the most confusing spelling. I’d pronounce [name_f]Shana[/name_f] and [name_f]Shaina[/name_f] as “shay-na”. But [name_f]Shaina[/name_f] might be the safest spelling. I’d prefer [name_f]Shana[/name_f] though.