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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Irish Baby Names- it doesnt spell right!

56 replies

Takingbabysteps · 06/08/2011 21:46

Recently, my fiancé and I were discussing baby names, due to alot of our friends being pregnant and beginning to have babies.
When the topic came up of what we would name our babies, I suggested a couple of Irish names for a girl. Being Very proud of my Irishness (I should be the poster girl of Dublin- bright red hair, pale skin, cute freckles on the nose) I realised that when I moved to Surrey for my English partner, my Irishness came out multiplied by 100!
So I suggested Caoimhe. My fiancé liked it......until he asked the spelling. Unfortunately I dashed his idea that it was spelt K E E V A. It didnt go down well. He believes that his (english) friends would find our name very bizaare, especially because we would have to spell it phonetically.

Has anyone else gone through this dilemma. If so, who gives in?!

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MaryMotherOfCheeses · 06/08/2011 23:10

I know someone who would talk to people on the phone at work and say "My name's Llinoswouldyoulikemetospellthatforyou?"

GwendolineMaryLacey · 06/08/2011 23:08

People would learn. This country is full of people with all different backgrounds and all sorts of weird and wonderful names. Should they all change their spellings to accommodate people who can't be arsed to think outside of Peter and Jane? It's a lazy, tired argument.

rushofbloodtothefeet · 06/08/2011 22:55

Niamh and Aoife are pretty familiar here in deepest South East, noone seems to have a problem with them. I know a Saoirse too, I guess you only need to be told once about the pronunciation.

Bunbaker · 06/08/2011 22:52

"I'm kind of with him (though i wouldn't give two hoots what friends think) I think it must be quite annoying for a child growing up with a "difficult" name. Having to explain it, spell it. Of course in Dublin, it wouldn't be considered difficult. But if you're staying in England, well, it probably is."

I agree. I have never come across this name before and had no idea how to pronounce it, and I consider myself to be pretty cosmopolitan and well educated. How about Siobhan or Niamh which us English oiks are more familair with.

MrsOzz · 06/08/2011 22:52

You will only have to tell people how to spell/say it once. It's a gorgeous name and if you want to honor it's irishness you need to keep its irish spelling. Changing it to Keeva makes it too English!!

My little girls middle name is Niamh and we spelled it that way because that's what it is! Neeve is easier to say and spell but then it feels like a different name and loses it's charm.

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 06/08/2011 22:47

Well, i'm not sure it's a question of who gives in. You both need to agree on a name for your child (though presumably you wait until it's not hypothetical before really working on this).

I'm kind of with him (though i wouldn't give two hoots what friends think) I think it must be quite annoying for a child growing up with a "difficult" name. Having to explain it, spell it. Of course in Dublin, it wouldn't be considered difficult. But if you're staying in England, well, it probably is.