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Baby names

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

Original poster

Niamh or Neve????

58 replies

plumblusher · 21/02/2012 10:38

Although I like the Name Niamh/Neve, the spelling of it I've always thought a bit strange (as a child trying to sound it out to spell at school). Does anyone know a Neve spelt this way? Cos I quite like Isla Neve.

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freerangeeggs · 24/02/2012 19:49

I think they're both variants of the same name, squoosh.

Frank McCourt pronounces both versions

MrsJoeDuffy · 24/02/2012 02:08

Went to college in Ireland with a 'Niav' pronounced Niamh. Parents were exotic Grin

DougalDaydream · 22/02/2012 22:21

Niamh Smile

squoosh · 22/02/2012 10:28

No it's definitely not an 'Irish accent thing', the name has two syllables.

If you think of the name Ryan, you don?t pronounce it Ryne, it?s RY-un.

Niamh is similar in that it has a soft but distinct second syllable. It would appear that some hear the second syllable as uv and some as ve. Trying to convey how syllables sound can be quite difficult taking accents and regional differences into account but this is how I can best describe it.

The pronunciation Neev doesn?t fill me with horror but it always feels a bit ?off? to my ears.

I also have pronunciation problems with names from other cultures. For example, I like the name Camille, I?d pronounce it Kah-meel, although I?m aware this is wrong and French people are more likely to pronounce in Kah-mee. But the Kah-mee pronunciation feels a bit staged in my non French voice.

Sarcalogos · 22/02/2012 09:15

Neve just makes it appear like you can't spell, don't do that!

messymammy · 22/02/2012 09:09

Niamh.
There seems to be a real trend at the moment of spelling Irish names in more "cool" ways. Just spell them the way they have been for years or choose another name.

Leeds2 · 22/02/2012 09:03

I know a child (aged 6) whose middle name is Neve.

2blessed2bstressed · 22/02/2012 08:55

I know someone with a Neve, and have always thought "did you not realise how to spell it properly, or are you trying to be different?" Names like this bug me...I also know of a Shivvon at ds's school. Seriously!

melika · 22/02/2012 08:45

Niamh. Just doesn't look right the other way.

recklesspixie · 22/02/2012 08:37

I'm from Leinster, went to a Gaelscoil and am a primary teacher in Munster and everyone I have ever met pronounces it Nee-ve

sashh · 22/02/2012 07:14

Naimh it's so popular most people ca pronounce it. And don't worry about pronouncing it wrong, it will be pronounced with an Eglish accent just as Caitlin would - it doesn't sound the same with an Irish accent as an English one, but is still the same name.

Pumpkinsandpickles · 22/02/2012 06:53

Neve if not in Ireland
Niamh in Ireland

HardCheese · 22/02/2012 05:44

No, Manicinsomniac, it's not 'an Irish accent thing', it's the way the Irish language is pronounced. Niamh, which is an Irish-language name, is always a diphthong. Obviously, the OP is at liberty to anglicise it should she wish to, but that's a different issue, and she should know how it's pronounced in Irish before making that call.

I doubt any Irish person would spontaneously pronounce your sister's (kovely) name as 'Var-ee' - the equivalent version of 'Mary' in Irish is 'Máire', pronounced 'Moir-uh' or 'Moy-uh', depending on region.

Asinine · 21/02/2012 23:54

Neve is Italian for snow?

Gooseysgirl · 21/02/2012 23:47

Swoosh and hardcheese are right - correct pronunciation is with two syllables ie nee-ev

freerangeeggs · 21/02/2012 21:04

I'm sure it is an Irish accent thing. They pronounce the vowel as a diphthong, whereas in many other accents (including some Irish ones - let's bear in mind that there are many, many Irish accents) it would be a monophthong. The second pronunciation isn't incorrect - it's just an approximation towards the original Irish pronunciation, which of course is said with an Irish accent. In order to be entirely authentic we would have to pronounce it with an Irish accent, which would be funny but ridiculous.

It's like my sister's name, Mhairi. It's usually pronounced 'varry' - in Scotland, that's 'var-ray'. In England/Ireland, it's 'var-ree'. 'Var-ree' is not wrong. It's just the same name, said with a different accent.

magentadreamer · 21/02/2012 20:34

Niamh is a beautiful name and so is the 14 year old sat next to me telling me to tell everyone its NIAMH not Neve or Neave or Niave.

Lilyloo · 21/02/2012 20:33

My dd has Neve as her middle name purely because i like that way of spelling it , she is 4 and is adamant she doesn't have a middle name Grin

LetsKateWin · 21/02/2012 20:27

Niamh

Voidka · 21/02/2012 20:27

I may be a bit biased but Niamh is how it should be :o

DressTuckedInMeKnickers · 21/02/2012 20:26

Niamh, every time

saltcod · 21/02/2012 20:25

There's a Neve in DS's class. Feels a bit "made up" to me... Prefer Niamh.

boyfallingoutofthesky · 21/02/2012 20:23

Niamh looks and sounds beautiful, and is the correct spelling. I always think it is a shame that people ruin it by anglicising the spelling. I would say use this spelling or not at all.

MaMattoo · 21/02/2012 20:16

Niamh...its a beautiful name..and so what if people dont get it in one go..they will always remember meeting one!

Hulababy · 21/02/2012 19:37

Niamh

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