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Baby names

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

Original poster

Aoife?

36 replies

lolitabelle · 22/07/2013 16:21

My gf and I have been talking about names recently as we start IVF (fingers and toes crossed please! Smile), and stumbled across this name. I'm absolutely in love with it (we had been talking about Evelyn/Evie before, but I'm not so keen on its popularity at the moment, and this sounds similar), and she seems happy to go with whatever to keep me smiling throughout all the stress!

In terms of middle names, we were thinking Aoife Elizabeth as it is a family name from my gf's side, or Aoife Rose (personally not so keen on that one).

Any opinions? My main concern (even above the spelling!) is that neither of us have Irish roots - is it too poncy to do it without the ancestry?

Thanks!

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Babycino81 · 22/07/2013 20:17

I have a 4 week old cousin called Aoife. Beautiful name an a fab baby, definitely use it!

Openyourheart · 22/07/2013 20:15

Lovely name. If you like it,go for it.

FetaCheeny · 22/07/2013 20:14

Oh and good luck!

FetaCheeny · 22/07/2013 20:13

I think it needs Irish roots personally. She'll always get asked if she's Irish, could get pretty annoying. Lovely name though.

Astralabe · 22/07/2013 20:10

There are a few at the school I teach in (south west secondary) for it not to be poncey, but one or two teachers do struggle with pronounciation - she will be always correcting people going 'its ee-fa not 'ooeeifa' but not necc a reason not to if you love name!
Good luck also - all digits crossed x

Turniptwirl · 22/07/2013 17:59

Aoife is common enough that you won't get funny looks for not being Irish. One family I know has a Sian and siobhan inspire of being neither Irish or welsh!

Original poster
lolitabelle · 22/07/2013 16:32

ZolaBuddleia: That's what I worried about. Although, I can't imagine every Siobhan has Irish roots, nor all the Niamhs that are cropping up. I'm hoping the same can be said about Aoife in the future :)

Thanks all for the replies!

OP posts:
Mummynotmum · 22/07/2013 16:30

Beautiful. DD's best friend is Aoife May.

ZolaBuddleia · 22/07/2013 16:29

I think it's poncetastic without Irish ancestry, sorry.

It's like calling your child Blodwen if you're not Welsh.

Then again, in an increasingly multicultural UK (depending on where you live) nobody might even notice that the name is Irish, as there will be such a mix.

sydenhamhiller · 22/07/2013 16:27

Love it!

valiumredhead · 22/07/2013 16:26

It's lovelySmile