How do you pronounce Gianna?

Rileypie

One of our favorite names for our baby girl is Gianna Rose. Problem is how people pronounce it, it makes me think I choose something less ethnic. I'm Italian, DH is not but baby will have both last names (I know I know I am one of those people... As a teacher you would think I would know better!.). Anyway the proper way to say it is JAHN-na, not the seemingly American way of saying it gee-AH-na. How do you pronounce Gianna? Should we just pick the name we like and deal with it or choose something more simple? Our back up is Layla/Laila Rose. Thanks for your thoughts ladies! Naming a a tiny human is so hard!

SuperMom17

I know several and all pronounce Gee-On-Uh. Fwiw, I am just not a fan. If it ere pronounced as John-Uh I wouldn't mind it so much.

==N==

I love it but I would say gee-ahna

diamondduck13

You'll get a lot of gee-ahn-a in the US

Only you can know how much it will annoy you to correct everyone

nittanyllama

I would say gee-ah-na, sorry. 

brooksidebride

I pronounce it the "Americanized" way... Gee Ah Nah. And I love it!

JAHN Na is so pretty too, though! And since that's correct and that's how you like it, I'd go for it and just know you'll have to correct people and she will too when older. To me, that's not a big deal. For people who are in her everyday life, you/she will tell them once. For one time acquaintances and encounters... It's just once too!

If I came across this name "on paper", I'd say Gee Ah Nah, but as soon as I was corrected, I would be conscious of it and say JAHN Na from that point forward.

Layla is fine, but I like Gianna soo much more (both pronunciations).

Rileypie

Thanks for the input ladies. It won't annoy me to correct people since we are in the US and I can't expect people to say an Italian name the way I would, I am just not sure I want to have to correct everyone outside my family...which is looking like I would have to.

sunflowermama42212

I've just never ever heard it pronounced any other way then
gee-ana and I think a lot of people will pronounce it that way so you might be setting her up to constantly correct people. If that doesn't bother you then go for it

sulsa78

I automatically say Gee-AH-Na. Gorgeous name! Too bad our last name is Irish...that would've been my 1st choice!

aprilbaby2014

As a preschool teacher, I have had three Gee-Ahn-Na's ... Two of which were full Italians . I have nothing against the "Correct pronunciation" but in America, it will be "Americanized"

BleubirdOnAWire

It's the same with Giovanni. Well, it comes down to how much correcting you can bear. I'd also weigh in the pronounceability of the last names. If it's all prone to mistakes then it may be really too much.

Luna C

I know many very Italian families who have used this name and every single one of them pronounces it gee-AHN-a

Helenahhandbasket

Jahn-ah, though both of the Giannas I know say it the "wrong" way.

I am of Italian heritage, FWIW.

plus12012

NittanyMama said:

I would say gee-ah-na, sorry. 

This is definitely how I'd pronounce it.

nflan16

My top choice for a girl is Gianna. It goes nicely with my Italian last name. I will be pronouncing it the 'American' way, as that's the only way I've heard it and love it. Gee-ah-na.

kleigh926

I say it Gee-ah-na too. I think Gianna Rose is gorgeous! I guess you just have to decide what you're comfortable with.

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JaysonandKristin

Good lord, do my aunt and uncle know they pronounce my cousin's name incorrectly?

She is Gianna, and we were told to call her Gee-Ahn-Uh.

Helenahhandbasket

JaysonandKristin said:

Good lord, do my aunt and uncle know they pronounce my cousin's name incorrectly?

She is Gianna, and we were told to call her Gee-Ahn-Uh.

Yeah, they do.  My cousins do it as well to their DD.

runningyogimama

I'd say it the Americanized way. One of my best friends in middle school was Johna, though, but spelled that way.

BulgariHeart

JuNNa, as in the word "just".

coopsbaby

I say JAHN-na. And it's so much prettier that way!

magsugar13

i have a gianna

pronounced jahn nah by most of my italian family

most others pronounce it gee ah nah

i do not care...i love it and so does she...she is older than most other giannas

BulgariHeart

bromios said:

BulgariHeart said:

JuNNa, as in the word "just".

Umm... not in Italian. Where are you getting that from?

I am Italian. I'm saying what you ladies are saying only I'm putting emphasis on the double N which often gets un-pronounced.

Mimaloo

I have a crap ton of students named Gianna Rose - no joke - and they all pronounce it Gee-AH-nuh