Aoife for a girl?

[Jennifer8787]

My partner and I were born and raised and currently living in the UK. We both really like the name Aoife (pronounced Ee-fa) which is an irish name and we are thinking of using this name if we have a daughter in the future.

The only thing is, neither of us are Irish, nor do we have Irish heritage!

I'm wondering if it would be too random of us to call our child this given these circumstances. I'm really interested in other people's opinions on this!

[LokisUnderpants]

Aoife is lovely. It's a classic Irish name. Doesn't matter that you've no Irish connection, we're reeeeeeally close neighbours. In fact many a day I've seen the coast of Wales from a beach near Dublin

[enchantmentandlove]

I think it's a really pretty name, I don't personally think it matters you're not Irish

[ScarletSienna]

I really like the name but whenever I suggested it, my husband would say, 'E for What? Elephant? Elizabeth?' ...

[OhFuds]

I like it, I have a Niamh and I'm not Irish

[DramaAlpaca]

It's a really lovely name.

Just be aware that English people (myself included!) generally find it difficult to pronounce properly. We are inclined to say Ee-fer, when it should be Ee-fah.

I'm in Ireland and always have to think about how to say it correctly when I meet an Aoife - and I know loads of them, it's so popular here.

[ddrmum]

It's a beautiful name, not at all random. It doesn't matter where it's from

[MakingBaconPancakes]

I'm sorry to say (and I'm probably in the minority) but when I read the title from the corner of my eye, I read Adolf (!?)

Pronounced Eefa sounds lovely though. And no need to be irish to use an irish name. I like Róisín.

[CockneyViv]

I would assume an Aoife is Irish as I would assume a Luigi is Italian but that doesn't mean you can't use it. My dd has a foreign name and whilst occasionally I'm asked if we're from the country that it originates from, no one seems to bat an eyelid when I say no.

[KlingybunFistelvase]

Lovely! Doesn't matter if you aren't Irish imo. All names start somewhere don't they? Richard is French, Emma is German, Rachel is Hebrew etc.

I know at least three English-born Aoifes. It's a lovely name.

[hohohoholdon]

Love the name.

My dds have Irish names. My eldest used to spell her name out for people from about 2.5 yrs(she obviously had heard me do it so many times!)

When viewing a prospective nursery, the manager said that she didn't know why us foreigners had to have such complicated names and why couldn't we go for something nice and English like Emily or Jane. We didn't pic that nursery!

[sparechange]

My friend has an Aoife (she is Irish) but spends a lot of time correcting/clarifying the pronunciation
My favourite mispronounciation is 'Oo-fee' but it's a lovely name

[HerOtherHalf]

I love Irish names. However, having a name that you have to constantly either pronounce for those reading it, or spell for those hearing it, would personally drive me crazy.

[Mummymummymummyhi]

I personally love it. First time I heard it was not that long ago and its completely different to the kind of names I'd usually go for, but it sounds so sweet. My DD has an irish name, although it's fairly common.

[atticusclaw2]

I like it but....

The girl at school called Aoife was called "Ea for Easy" the entire way through secondary school. Wouldn't wish that on anyone.

[Justwhy]

It was our favourite name for our DD. We didn't choose it though because we live in the SE of England and she would spend her whole life telling people how to spell/pronounce her name. I don't think not being Irish is a problem. It's just everyone else around her!

[OrianaBanana]

DH is Irish and I would love to use a traditional Irish name for DD when she is born. Aoife was a strong possibility, as was Ailis (my grandma was Alice and it's my middle name). But I am worried about pronunciation and her always having to spell it and correct pronunciation. If we lived in Ireland I totally would. We might go for Caitlin, but there are still spelling issues. Might have to be Catherine!

[KlingybunFistelvase]

oriana I think Ailish is an accepted spelling of Ailis. Another lovely name!

[OrianaBanana]

oriana I think Ailish is an accepted spelling of Ailis. Another lovely name!

It is! But DH then pointed out that it made him think of Peter Baelish the brothel-owner, so I can't get that out of my head either.

[OrianaBanana]

PS I don't think lack of Irish connection is a problem when going for an Irish name btw, names come from all over!

[KlingybunFistelvase]

Oh no oriana! Yep, that would put me off too.

[courtwood]

Oriana, if you want an irish version of Catherine the usual translation is Caitriona ( Cat-tree-na or Cat-tree-uh-na)
Caitlin is generally translated as Kathleen

[OrianaBanana]

I wasn't thinking direct translation really, I just prefer Catherine to Kathleen or Catriona

[Jennifer8787]

Your comments over all have been really positive, so that's reassuring!

[Onemorewonthurt]

Beautiful name!