Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

How would YOU say this name?

139 replies

3luckystars · 18/01/2016 10:25

It's a girls name, just looking for your first reaction to it if you have a minute to reply. I don't want to pick a name that would cause confusion if she lived in another country. Thanks very much.

Aoibh

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
TheSecondViola · 18/01/2016 20:34

Come on now, don't be thick. You knew exactly what I meant

I did. Hence my reply.

EverySecondCounts · 18/01/2016 20:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoWhite · 18/01/2016 20:31

eeef.

villainousbroodmare · 18/01/2016 20:26

Aoibh. Beautiful name and far nicer than Eve imo. But I'm a native Irish speaker.

Cel982 · 18/01/2016 20:09

I hadn't known that about the Children of Lir, Viola - I knew the wicked stepmother was Aoife, but I don't think I'd ever heard the 'birth mother' named before. Good to know.

(I agree with squoosh though about the recent tendency to Irish-ize English names - Mollaidh and so on - not a fan.)

WaitrosePigeon · 18/01/2016 20:03

Oh goodness me, if it's going to descend into that kind of silliness I'll see ya later!

StayWithMe · 18/01/2016 20:00

It's really good that all immigrants in England have English names. Hmm Or do some posters on here only mix within their on race/background.

WaitrosePigeon · 18/01/2016 19:57

I was responding to the OP about that particular name. Not about any other name, or any other baby.

Most people would struggle in England, so it would be much easier and easier on the child to spell it an easier way.

If she's in Ireland, where people would be familiar with it, crack on.

TheCatsMeow · 18/01/2016 19:54

That's literally what you said Waitrose, I don't see how else it can be taken

WaitrosePigeon · 18/01/2016 19:53

Come on now, don't be thick. You knew exactly what I meant.

TheSecondViola · 18/01/2016 19:51

I think it would be very unfair to do that to a child if there's an easier way to spell it

Yes, so unfair to give an Irish child an Irish name spelled in the Irish manner. Terrible.
All foreign babies should be given properly spelled English names, obviously.

Hmm
Minty82 · 18/01/2016 19:44

Deliberately didn't read the thread before posting - do you live in Ireland? Spell it however you like then!

WaitrosePigeon · 18/01/2016 19:31

No idea. Like most people.

I think it would be very unfair to do that to a child if there's an easier way to spell it.

Minty82 · 18/01/2016 19:29

Posted too soon - meant to say I love it but it might be a bit of a pain for a child growing up in England. I know a Siobhan born in England to Irish parents who was adamant she'd avoid anything hard to spell or pronounce for her own children. Entirely up to you though.

Tirfarthoin · 18/01/2016 19:28

Aoibh is my nieces name, she is English and lives in England not never had any problems with pronounciation after maybe an initial explanation.
with an English accent it is pronounced Eve but imo it does sound better with an Irish accent, a slightly softer v sound.

Minty82 · 18/01/2016 19:26

Eve. But I've lived in Ireland.

GreenRug · 18/01/2016 19:25

Micah- is it pronounced like Calvin???

GreenRug · 18/01/2016 19:24

I would know it was eve, not on sight but after a few seconds applying the Ao rule to being 'ee' and then the bh being a v. I love it and I'd happily name my child one of these difficult to pronounce Irish names no matter what country I was living in.

nephrofox · 18/01/2016 19:22

Wouldn't have a clue

Micah · 18/01/2016 19:20

I know a Caoilfhinn. That was a challenge.

JugglingTheBalls · 18/01/2016 19:13

Oops Maeve evenBlush

JugglingTheBalls · 18/01/2016 19:12

Yep its Eve. I'm in ireland and have a Maebh (meave) you would be amazed how many people spell it wrong even here.

It's a beautiful name but go with Eve if you in the UK it will save a lifetime of explaining Smile

Lweji · 18/01/2016 18:44

Coming from a Latin country, I'd never go with Eve in a million years. It's virtually unpronounceable to me.
If international recognition is important to you, then I'd go with Eve, which is fine.

FarterChristmoose · 18/01/2016 18:41

Eva

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 18/01/2016 16:16

English (London). I worked it out as Eve pretty much immediately, based on knowing various Siobhan/Aoife/Dearbhaile (possibly spelled the last one wrong).

I like it, and I'd definitely keep the Irish spelling. Speaking as someone who has an unusual (although bloody phonetic ffs argh) name, I really don't find it a problem to have to frequently correct people failing to read it properly, or help out those who are dithering over it.