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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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manicinsomniac · 21/02/2012 19:13

I like the spelling Niamh

But isn't the NEE-uv way of saying it more an Irish accent thing rather than a correct pronounciation thing?

eg - if you're Irish you pronounce 'eight' as 'Eigh-ut' (can't write it but with 2 syllables anyway) don't you? So Niamh would become NEE-uv.

Not sure it means that a one syllable Niamh (said Neev) is necessarily wrong)

HardCheese · 21/02/2012 16:17

Another vote for Niamh (pronounced roughly 'NEE-uv') or not at all. Nice to see it being revived.

maydaychild · 21/02/2012 13:37

Niamh or not at all

There was a hilarious thread a few months back with mis-pronunciations of names. Twas ruddy hilarious

It's here

bagelmonkey · 21/02/2012 13:36

All the Munster Niamhs I know are NEE-uv

mamalovesmojitos · 21/02/2012 13:35

Another vote for Niamh. Lovely name.

Pronounced nee-ev. Mh making a kind of soft v sound, like in 'a mháthair' or 'a mhuire'. Saying that, it's always difficult to phonetically spell Irish words because A it's so different to English and B as there are so many regional variations and accents.

squoosh · 21/02/2012 13:33

Well I'm in Leinster so maybe it's a regional thing. I'm now thinking back to all the Niamh's I've know and they've all been Nee-uvs. Big Nee, small uv.

The word ends in mh so the last sound has to be v.

PeppyNephrine · 21/02/2012 13:27

Wiki also says that Oisin is pronounce OH-sheen, when its Uh-sheen, so I'm not going to trust wiki on this one.

PeppyNephrine · 21/02/2012 13:25

Wiki might, my cousin Niamh, my friend Niamh and my sons classmate Niamh don't!

Ephiny · 21/02/2012 12:59

I always thought it was more like Nee-uv (though with the second syllable very short and less emphasised), that's what I thought the 'Neave' spelling was trying to get at. Maybe it depends what part of Ireland you're in?

squoosh · 21/02/2012 12:48

Wikipedia agrees with me.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niamh

squoosh · 21/02/2012 12:44

Interesting. I?m also Irish, in Ireland and know many Niamhs. They all pronounce it NEE-uv. Have never heard the pronunciation that you describe.

PeppyNephrine · 21/02/2012 12:35

I don't know a single person who pronounces it Nee-uv, and I'm Irish, in Ireland, and know several Niamhs! If anything its closer to Neev-uh but only a slight hint of the uh.

Its IA by the way, not AI.

lottiegb · 21/02/2012 11:51

Neve Campbell, the American actress, pronounces this Nev - as if it were short for Neville. I don't know if it was ever supposed to be a different way of spelling Naimh, though have come across it that way. I don't see why you wouldn't spell it properly. It is quite familiar to a lot of non-Irish people (as well known as Siobhan amongst English people I think) and is a lovely name.

PopcornBiscuit · 21/02/2012 11:33

Many names originating in other countries have an English version used in the UK. I don't see why the same shouldn't apply to Niamh/Neve.

Chateauneuf · 21/02/2012 11:32

Wasn't there a celeb called Neve, but she pronounced it "Nevvy"? Or did I imagine that...

whenskiesaregrey · 21/02/2012 11:31

Niamh, 'tis really how the name is spelt!

ThePathanKhansWitch · 21/02/2012 11:27

Niamh.

PopcornBiscuit · 21/02/2012 11:25

Neve

ProlificYoungGentlemenBreeder · 21/02/2012 11:13

I'm lost how should you pronounce Niamh?
How do you pronounce Neve?

I agree though it's Niamh or nothing at all.

HereIGo · 21/02/2012 11:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

squoosh · 21/02/2012 10:58

I have noticed that lot of people outside of Ireland who call their child Niamh pronounce it as Neev, this is incorrect, the actual pronounciation is nee-uv, two syllables not one, although the second syllable is quite a gentle one.

Just thought I'd mention that as I've heard a few mum's calling their Niamh's in the supermarket, park etc. and I always think to myself 'you're not pronouncing your kids name correctly'.

VivaLeBeaver · 21/02/2012 10:53

Was there an American actress called Neve? Think she was in party of five.

Original poster
plumblusher · 21/02/2012 10:53

Blimey, clearly there are some strong opinions on that name then! Maybe I'll just steer clear of that one altogether!

OP posts:
PavlovsDaughter · 21/02/2012 10:51

My DD is an Isla Niamh! Grin We've had a couple of people ask how it's pronounced, but most people know how to pronounce it, especially as it's getting more popular at the moment. Have actually had more problems with people pronouncing Isla as Iz-lah than struggling with Niamh!

3boysgirlontheway · 21/02/2012 10:48

Niamh, Neve is a different name.