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Baby names

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

Original poster

could you pronoune this name?

38 replies

islandgirlabroad · 21/02/2012 13:35

Aibhinn (A veen),its a irish name for beautiful and we both love the sound of it for dd on the way,but are abit worried that people wont have a notion how to say it.

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sorchatallulah · 26/02/2012 20:04

Yep, pronounced "even". Aoibhín would be eve-een, which is closer to what you want. Aoi is ALWAYS the "ee"-type sound, regardless of how many people mispronounce Aoibheann :)

Gooseysgirl · 21/02/2012 23:40

Previous posters are right... The correct spelling is either Aoibhínn or Aoibheann and it means delightful/pleasant/beautiful. Aoibhínn is pronounced 'ee-veen' and Aoibheann is pronounced 'even'. Aoibheann is sometimes loosely translated as Yvonne. Aoibhínn was the only Irish name I could get my English DH to agree to... he loves it but we are unlikely to use it as a first name for our expected DD because of the spelling issue, will possibly use it as a middle name instead Smile

aquashiv · 21/02/2012 22:38

Lovely name. Its my friends daughters name she spells it Aoibheann. I think with a name like that you just go for it. All our children have Gaelic names and its never been a problem. One has a name no one can spell but with half a brain cell you soon learn.

lisaro · 21/02/2012 22:27

I've heard it. Pronounced, it's a beautiful name, but I didn't realise that was it. It's really pretty and feminine.,

chipmonkey · 21/02/2012 22:24

I am Irish and think it's lovely, it's my niece's middle name. Have never lived in the UK but have gone on lots of courses in the UK. An Irish colleague with a similar-ish name to Aoibhinn has generally had people ask once how to pronounce it and after that they remember.

ChippingInNeedsCoffee · 21/02/2012 21:23

That would not help me one little bit Grin

Anywhere outside of Ireland you are going to have a problem with the spelling and pronunciation. If you are not living in Ireland - do you really want to inflict that on her?

Original poster
islandgirlabroad · 21/02/2012 21:19

Thanks for all the feedback,still really like it but will spell it Aoibhinn from now.

OP posts:
KenDoddsDadsDog · 21/02/2012 19:57

I have never seen it spelt like that . I know an Aiveen and an Aoibhinn.

PiedWagtail · 21/02/2012 19:50

Oops - or pronounce it, even!

PiedWagtail · 21/02/2012 19:50

I'm scottish and have no clue about how to spell it. I'd be v wary.

HolyNoSheDittantBatman · 21/02/2012 19:40

I wouldn't have had a clue (not Irish)

Also, the name Aveen is a name, but it's a boys name. I think of Indian origin, at least the 3 Aveens I know are all Indian boys.

messymammy · 21/02/2012 19:40

Another Irish here and have never seen it spelled like that either. I too would have said Aoibhinn. I have dd Aoibh which is beautiful too:) but i am biased!

cate16 · 21/02/2012 19:37

I could hazard a guess - and not far off, but I do work with children so come across a wide variety of names.

Hulababy · 21/02/2012 19:34

If just presented with the name written down I would not know how to pronounce it.
If told the name and asked to write it I would not have put the correct spelling.

However, if told how to pronounce it or explained how to spell it I would be fine, although learning to spell it may take me a few attempts I suspect.

I work in schools. I am used to having to learn how to say and write more unusual names.

Rhubarbgarden · 21/02/2012 19:27

I wouldn't know. I'd have to ask.

mybootsaremuddy · 21/02/2012 19:26

I would have guessed Eye-vin or Eye-veen.

PoppadumPreach · 21/02/2012 19:01

beautiful name and people would get used to it and how to say it (at least those that mattered, would)

if i ever had a girl (which i won't as no more kids for me!) then this would be a definite contender for me.

Happenstance · 21/02/2012 18:58

Yes but i'm Irish, think i would spell it Aoibhinn myself though, its a lovely name :)

welovesausagedogs · 21/02/2012 16:21

i would probably pronounce it wrong e.g aaabeen. But the meaning is lovely and after you had told people how to pronounce it they would know. Do you live in ireland??? Cause if you did i'm guessing people would know how to pronounce it.

HardCheese · 21/02/2012 16:07

OP, unless this is some regional variant I've never come across, the Irish for 'lovely' or beautiful' which is also commonly used as a girl's name is 'Aoibheann', pronounced 'Even'. Usually anglicised as 'Eavan', like the poet Eavan Boland.

Frikadellen · 21/02/2012 16:03

I wouldnt know but I would ask and then I would know end of issue really (I have an Aoife people ask once and we always get OH thats beautiful)

mountaingirl · 21/02/2012 15:59

A-bin?? Possible teasing, name calling at school if spelt/mispronounced like that. Swap the b for a v.

newbiedoobiedoo · 21/02/2012 15:53

I'm Irish so I know it but not spelt like that! :)

babyblabber · 21/02/2012 15:46

i'm irish so yes although i've never seen it spelt like that, i would have thought it's aoibhinn. i only know one person called that and she actually spells is aveen which would be much easier for non-irish people to recognise.

Stellan · 21/02/2012 14:11

No idea.