caoimhe

Also - You should ask how the girl herself pronounces it, then you'll know which way it is .

Could be pronounced Kweeva or keeva depending on the dialect.

Should it be of interest, I had an Irish colleague in Australia who pronounced it Qweeva.

"
I'm English and would automatically pronounce Caiomhe as Keeva"

Not if you hadn't been told how to pronounce it, you wouldn't!

I have a commonish sounding name but an extremely unique spelling in fact so unique I'm the only one in the world.

Um, doesn't this mean your parents spelled your name wrong and you#re mad no-one else can guess how they did it?

I'm English and pronounce it keeva. It's lovely as are most Irish names

Thank you, butter roll. Beautiful names :)

Roll. Same vowel sounds as Caoimhe. Aoife is roughly 'EE-fuh' and Saoirse ''SEER-shuh'. 'Aoi' is 'ee' to rhyme with tea, glee etc.

DH really wanted this name when I was pregnant. He's of Irish heritage.

However, having an unusually spelt name myself, and the blank looks from people when we mentioned it as one of our options we started to go off it. It isn't popular where I am at all and the poor child would have been subjected to kay-oh-mee?? For most of their life.

All that aside we both loved it, but I had a DS!!

Aoife and also Saoirse. English people have largely stopped attempting to semi-yodel these names.

Genuinely interested-how are these two pronounced?

Never heard or seen it before so haven't a clue! They'll be a lot of mispronunciations in England-just don't get cross with people!

Munster Irish, so would say 'Kweevuh' (roughly), but would know a NI Caoimhe was likely to be Keevuh. I wouldn't take the slightest notice of the people who anticipate a life ruined by English mispronunciation. My English-born son and I both have Irish first and surnames, and it's never been a problem. Just tell people. Unless your sense of self is so fragile you're crushed by the dentist's receptionist mispronouncing your name! And it's the same vowel cluster as the very familiar Aoife and also Saoirse. English people have largely stopped attempting to semi-yodel these names.

bakeofcake it is the female version of Kevin

Caoimhin is Kevin in Irish
Caoimhe is the female version of the name (or at least comes from the same root)

I'm from Leinster and would say Queeva. Keeva perfectly acceptable also. It's a lovely name.

Keeva. I didn't know until I met someone with the name but it took 1 second to learn the pronunciation. A fair bit longer to be able to spell it correctly with the vowels all there and in the right order.

It's phonetic in Irish though and has helped me pronounce other Irish names.

English here and wouldn't have a clue, and I worked in schools.

Now I know how to pronounce it, I'm sorry but I really don't like it, it sounds like the female version of Kevin.

Keeva. Londoner born in Mayo. I knew several and it's not an issue in England, yes sometimes they have to correct, but it is rare.

Cum-hee yep, as an NQT I would have said that and learned pretty sharpish like when I called some poor child a raisin. (Roisin)

English and no idea how to pronounce that.

Now I know how to pronounce it I like it a lot. But if you are going to be upset about Keeva vs Kweeva and live in England, I really don't think its the best choice. My first guess would have been along the lines of cum-hee, which I presume is a lot worse than Keeva.

English and no idea!! It's lovely but how does caoimhe become keeva?! Looks nothing like it, English may struggle

Tread - I think the other spelling you are thinking of is Caoilfhionn (Keelin).

Which is a name I love, and would love to use, BUT it comes from caol (slender) and fionn (fair) and I think it's a bit of a burden to place on a child!

Kwee-va - born and raised in Leinster, live in London. A traditional Irish name will be pronounced differently regionally, it's a fact of life.
Do you like Una?

If you are moving home then it's no issue at all. Stay in the UK and your child will either embrace it or find it tedious to correct people all the time.

Suggestion for a boys name would be Oisín, Lorcan, Daire, Devin or if you don't use Caoimhe for your daughter, then Caoimhin for your son. Not as commonly used at home as Kevin though and viewed by some as "girly".

I went to school with a girl called Caolan and another called Dara. Can't remember if Caolan had a variation on the spelling. It doesn't look quite right to my eye written down and was pronounced Kee lin with a hard C.

I have a Caoimhe at work who pronounces it keefer. I love the name but it must be a nightmare - reps often come into the department "eh hello..... I'm looking for pause while they look down at piece of paper with her name on it urm.... Miss Smith"
I'm from Scotland.

I'm English and love this name and the spelling,do much prettier than spelling it (Keeva) hope no one takes offence to that.

I love Aofie and Niamh as well

I'm English and would say Keeva