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Original poster

AIBU to think my DH has gone mad over this baby name?

419 replies

kweefa · 21/01/2025 10:19

So, I’m currently 37 weeks pregnant with DC2, and DH and I are still arguing over the name. For context, we have a DS(4) called Oliver (family name, everyone loved it, no issues there). But this time, DH has got it into his head that we should name DD something, frankly, ridiculous.

He wants to call her Nevaeh. Yes, “Heaven” backwards. He says it’s “unique but meaningful.” I think it’s chavvy and will age terribly (sorry if that offends anyone). I mean, can you imagine a 50 year old Nevaeh filling out her pension forms?

I’ve suggested plenty of other names Sophie, Amelia, even Freya but he keeps turning them down as “too common.” Meanwhile, he’s vetoed names I love (Florence, Ivy, Matilda) because he “knew a girl in school with that name and she was annoying.” 🙄

WWYD? Am I being unreasonable or is DH completely deluded?

P.S. Posting for traffic!

OP posts:
Poppet10 · 24/01/2025 21:58

kweefa · 21/01/2025 10:27

That’s actually a lovely suggestion, thank you! I do like Niamh, but I’m worried about people constantly mispronouncing or misspelling it. We live in an area where Irish names aren’t very common, and I can just imagine her having to correct people all the time. Do you think it would be an issue, or am I overthinking it?

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I have a Niamh, most people say it correctly. You get the odd one who (mainly doctors!) who struggle but not many.

RedHelenB · 24/01/2025 21:12

Frugalgal · 24/01/2025 21:07

That name is very common now and terribly silly, how is it even pronounced?

Nuh vay uh

Orchidsunlight · 24/01/2025 21:08

i actually quite like the name!!

Frugalgal · 24/01/2025 21:07

That name is very common now and terribly silly, how is it even pronounced?

Bertielong3 · 24/01/2025 20:48

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Lyn348 · 24/01/2025 20:44

Awful OP and widely considered a chavvy name. Tell him the problem is it's 'younique' not unique.

OffTheWall90 · 24/01/2025 20:39

And to add to this, I thought the name we picked a few years ago was "uncommon" but it recently got into the top 100 and more unusual spelling too, so you never know 😂

OffTheWall90 · 24/01/2025 20:33

Hope this helps...
www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/datasets/babynamesenglandandwalesbabynamesstatisticsgirls
Table 6 is all names.
Re the name Neveah, I have heard it pronounced for a child in our village as "Nu/Na-vay-a" previously I thought it was like Niamha/Neeva so maybe depends on your preference... I think it has become more popular last year in England/Wales it was 99 in the top 100 (that's in one of the tables on that link too)... Seems on here its a marmite name but you have to go with what you both like! We went through thousands of names (there's 7000+ on that table link) on Office of National Statistics you can see every name registered even down to where it has only been used once. We found it helpful and although we've met other children with the name we chose there isn't another child with the same name in the school. Weirdly in the previous school which was much smaller there was a child with a similar name in his class and that is one of the only others weve met with similar ... So yeah deffo worth trying ONS for ideas and see popularity etc. But ultimately go with what you like, unless it's something that could get them bullied ... Turned to my FIL for possible nicknames and he couldn't think of anything for this one 😂 so that helped! Good luck and have fun picking a name x

Aspire2Iron · 24/01/2025 20:32

Ooh, there are lots of very pretty names that mean heaven. Many nice choices with that meaning.

I know two Nevaehs. They are lovely young women, so I don’t have those negative associations. But if you hate it, surely you’ve got veto power, just as he does.

ZoeDavoMCR · 24/01/2025 20:30

Na-vay-ah

ZoeDavoMCR · 24/01/2025 20:28

There’s loads of Niamh’s now, there were 2 in my daughters class I’d say most people know how to spell it x

QuickFinch72 · 24/01/2025 20:25

A few years ago I taught a child and her name was Neave - alternative spelling to Niamh and closer to Nevaeh

Linux20 · 24/01/2025 20:25

Eyesopenwideawake · 21/01/2025 10:23

Niamh (pronounced Neve) might be an alternative?

Was going to suggest the same.

Whotenanny · 24/01/2025 20:23

Nevaeh is a future drug addict's name.

Signed,

A person who knows two drug addicts named Nevaeh

Horsemadlady1234 · 24/01/2025 20:22

I actually really like that. Sorry!

Terfarina · 24/01/2025 20:21

Chavtastic. You have to do the pregnancy and birth so the name is up to you, please don't burden her with that. What names are you thinking?

Alina3 · 23/01/2025 17:55

MadKittenWoman · 23/01/2025 17:34

Legna means wood in Italian (the stuff made from trees, not a small forest)!

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Hence the term 'col legno' (with wood) in string instruments, which means to use the wood of the bow rather than the hair :)

MadKittenWoman · 23/01/2025 17:34

Streetsofkenny · 21/01/2025 10:47

Firstly, it's not unique. Far from it. In my own circle of friends and extended family, I know of 3.
Secondly, it's bloody awful! Why on earth would anyone want a made up name that was another word spelled backwards? You wouldn't call a baby Legna (angel spelled backwards) would you, for example? So why does Heaven have to be singled out for the backwards treatment?
Sorry, I hate it.

Legna means wood in Italian (the stuff made from trees, not a small forest)!

DinosaurMunch · 23/01/2025 17:12

I know one spelled novaeh. Nova for short. Sisters are called Tegan and aurora...does he like either of those?

Disagree about the chavvy. Better chavvy than yet another Amelia or Olivia in my opinion. That's a bit contradictory. But if he wants unusual, how about Brenda, Barbara, Dorothy?

Scammersarescum · 23/01/2025 17:11

I have an unusual name and it's a total fucking nightmare.

Not that his suggestion is unusual. Just tricky to spell and pronounce.

Just veto it and tell him that as its you taking the risk of growing and birthing a new human, he can suggest what he likes but you will have the final say.

Fountofwisdom · 23/01/2025 17:05

kweefa · 21/01/2025 10:27

That’s actually a lovely suggestion, thank you! I do like Niamh, but I’m worried about people constantly mispronouncing or misspelling it. We live in an area where Irish names aren’t very common, and I can just imagine her having to correct people all the time. Do you think it would be an issue, or am I overthinking it?

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I’m Irish, living in the UK and can guarantee that 99% of English people cannot pronounce or spell Irish names. Niamh is pronounced ‘Neev’ by the way. So your child will have a lifetime of people mis-spelling and mispronouncing it. Personally I find it odd to use names from another culture that you have no connection to, whether Irish, French, African or whatever.

CatInABulkyBomberJacket · 23/01/2025 16:54

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 21/01/2025 11:20

The shop was called Anavrin, not Nevaeh.

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Oh god 🤦‍♀️ You’re right, of course it was nirvana backwards, but for ages, every time I see Nevaeh I think of that shop - whoops!

MissTrip82 · 22/01/2025 07:32

Oh I thought this was an urban myth!

Niamh is pretty though.

I wouldn’t worry about spelling, I have one of the most common girls names in the western world and have to spell it every time. Every time. It’s really not a big deal.

Han86 · 22/01/2025 07:21

I don't get this...if he likes the name Heaven why not just use that. I don't understand turning it backwards. Could you not just pick any word that sounds nice and do that...oh I will love my child, so let's call them Evol as it's love spelt backwards.

If you want an unusual name I suggest thinking back to your own childhood and going round the class. These are the names that are unusual these days but were popular at the time.
Lots of names that are 'normal' but uncommon now: Hannah, Lucy, Emma, Sarah, Louise, Rebecca/Becky, Kim/Kimberley, Jessica, Amy, Kate, Victoria, Lindsey, Rachel, Michelle, Zoe

JMSA · 22/01/2025 02:03

YANBU!!! 😱