Comments on: Name of the Day: Dinah

By: Baby Name of the Day: Cleon | Appellation Mountain

Baby Name of the Day: Cleon | Appellation Mountain — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 08:03:42 +0000

[...] next big thing. But if you live in the kind of ‘hood where hipster babies named Roscoe and Dinah play, Cleon might be one to [...]

By: Shannon

Shannon — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:08:13 +0000

I think Dinah’s a very good name, and underused too. I think of Dinah Shore when I hear it, and yes, the song… the slavery image not so much. But I don’t think today’s children will have any of these associations. I know if I asked my 14-year-old about the song, he would have no idea what I was talking about and he’s probably never heard of the name. The Dinah in the Bible – don’t know if her name would be pronounced to rhyme with China or like Deena. It’s used in Israel and often written as Dina. I think usage of Dina or Deena in the US is actually not related to Dinah.. it’s sort of a nickname name (like Tina) that became an independent name.

By: JNE

JNE — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:58:37 +0000

Oh, and I forgot to say – any association with Philadelphia Story or Katharine Hepburn is always a big plus in my book!

By: JNE

JNE — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:57:12 +0000

I absolutely adore Dinah! It’s a great name!

For me, the most strong association is the song (I sing it to my daughter quite a bit). When I was looking at Lily name, Delilah briefly came up, and there’s something similar there, but Dinah is way better. (Plus I’d rather someone sing Dinah won’t you blow than Why why why Delilah anyway).

Dinah’s sassy and sweet and an altogether great name!

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:07:57 +0000

I first came across Dinah in Enid Blyton’s ‘The adventure series’, the characters were Philip, Jack, Dinah and Lucy-ann as I recall and I was as charmed by her then (aged 10ish) as I am now! She reminds me of Eliza or Nora and Clara as Verity has mentioned. I love how she sounds old-fashioned but is totally wearable and I also love how she is short but doesn’t for one minute sound unfinished as so many short names can.

By: Nessa

Nessa — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:50:55 +0000

Lola, sounds like a plan to me, let’s do it!

I can see having a problem with the “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” song, it hadn’t occured to me, but “Dinah won’t you blow, Dinah won’t you blow my horn” could be unfortunate in junior high. However, I doubt that many kids born now will even know that song, or at least it won’t be common enough that they’ll think of singing it to a little Dinah… I could be totally off base there though, I don’t know.

By: Bek

Bek — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:39:21 +0000

I really like Diana, and Dinah is charming, and I’m a little surprised at her ratings.

I can’t help but sing “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” when I hear it though… Which, for me, makes it appear on the “I wouldn’t use it list”… I know I wouldn’t want people always singing at me, so I try to think of that (my poor friend Ronda… oh man, Beach Boys are the bane of her existence)…

Also, makes me think Diner, but that’s probably because I’m from the Land of Diners

By: Lola

Lola — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:29:48 +0000

Nessa, you have a Dinah, I’ll have a Jemima and together we’ll blow the lid off that “slave” thing!

By: Lola

Lola — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:28:38 +0000

I love Dinah! I have a younger cousin named Deena and I can recall curling my lip at the name (I think I was 11 when she was born) and saying to my Mom “eww, why didn’t they go with Dinah”? *This is part of the cheesy ABCDE family we’ve got there*. So I’ve had a fondness for Dinah for a fair while! I think she’s lyrical; light & pretty. One of the very few names I like with that ‘h’ on the end, too. I remember Dinah Shore in the 70′s (I was betwen 3 & 12 in the 70′s) and the Dinah show was one my Mom probably watched, sparingly. That might be where I heard it first. I was not an “Alice in Wonderland” fan until I was well into High School. I hadn’t even read it until senior year (Ken still makes fun of me for that fact: “Shakespeare at 4 but Alice in Wonderland at 17? You’re weird”" So I rarely make the cat assocation. I had that Dinah Mite doll! (One of the very few I didnt blow the head off of, she had gorgeous, orangey blonde hair!) and I loved that purple jumpsuit. There’s a doll for every girl, and Dinah Mite was mine. (Funny too, my brother never had Action Jackson that I know of). Because of Black Canary (who I always forget about), she may fly past him. Any surperhero name is fair game, in this house. The more obscure, the better. (It’s how I get Arthur past him, who’s cooler than Aquaman?) :
)
Dinah’s warm & charming, soft and feminine but in just the right amount. No fluffy princess, she! I thoroughly like Dinah, she gets a huge :thumbsup: from me. Nessa, you’ve got a winner with Dinah! (and thanks Verity, this was a great read!)

By: Nessa

Nessa — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:17:06 +0000

I think Alice’s cat is what introduced me to the name, I remember watching the Alice in Wonderland TV show and loving the name Dinah. I’m so surprised at the rankings! How is it possible something so recognizable could be so unused? That’s fascinating. It’s a shame about the house slave thing, but I could get over that. I’m really surprised it’s not more common, you’d think some of the “Diana” parents would use Dinah, they do sound quite similar, but to me Dinah is so much sweeter. All in all I just love her, I’d absolutely love to meet one, but now I realize how unlikely that is! I’d certainly use her myself, and I think you’ve bumped her up a couple spaces on my list!