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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

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PuppyMonkey · 18/01/2016 11:19

I think seeing as Eve is such a lovely name anyway, just use Eve.

omri · 18/01/2016 11:18

Eve. But I'm Irish

Micah · 18/01/2016 11:17

Lol at "made up irish name"

You do realise gaelic is an actual language? People from ireland spell their names according to their rules, most "irish" names have been anglicised, not the other way round!

Like saying paulo or marco are made up to sound itslian.

Natsku · 18/01/2016 11:14

Yeah Chinese people always pick an English name when they moved to the UK. Its funny as they tend to pick really old fashioned names, often flower names for the girls.

Micah · 18/01/2016 11:14

*You don't see (for example) Chinese people spelling their names the English way incase "we" don't understand it

Every single chinese person I have known (which is a lot, but none of them live in China) also have an "English" name which they use with non-chinese speakers. They have zero expectation of you being able to say their names properly, let alone spell them!*

Yy. In fact most chinese names i know are fairly straight forward spelling wise, because they've been "translated" from chinese characters into western alphabet. But the chinese language is so different, it's physically difficult for a non- chinese speaker to say. I have a friend called song, simple you think, but listen closely and it's more "sng", with a very nasal tone.

O/p if you live aoibh go for it. People learn. my dd has a straightforward, phonetic name, but people still get it wrong first time 70% of the time!

squoosh · 18/01/2016 11:14

Eve.

But it's a kind of made up Irish name isn't it? I've noticed a trend for taking an ordinary name like Molly for example and then turning it intoan Irish name by spelling it Maillí. Seems a bit pointless to me.

Melonaire · 18/01/2016 11:06

Eve guessing based on the beginning of Aoife and the middle of Siobhan.

TheSecondViola · 18/01/2016 11:05

You don't see (for example) Chinese people spelling their names the English way incase "we" don't understand it

Every single chinese person I have known (which is a lot, but none of them live in China) also have an "English" name which they use with non-chinese speakers. They have zero expectation of you being able to say their names properly, let alone spell them!

CaptainWarbeck · 18/01/2016 11:03

Eve, but I'm another from the Scottish highlands. Aoibh is pretty.

TheCatsMeow · 18/01/2016 10:53

Eve.

I'd spell it the Irish way. I have a foreign surname and once I've said to people "it's pronounced x" it's not an issue mostly although the odd person still can't say it

HannahLily2014 · 18/01/2016 10:53

I'd know that was Eve, but only because I'm a Siobhan! Beautiful name x

AlmaMartyr · 18/01/2016 10:48

I'd guess Eve based on other Irish names I know. If you want to use the Irish spelling then go for it :)

LadyMaryofDownt0n · 18/01/2016 10:45

No if your Irish spell it the Irish way. You don't see (for example) Chinese people spelling their names the English way incase "we" don't understand it!

Irish is as common now as any other & there's no need to squash your heritage just because others can't grasp it.

SoupDragon · 18/01/2016 10:40

Or does "eefa" have an e on the end?

I do think people with no knowledge of Irish phonetics would struggle.

TheSecondViola · 18/01/2016 10:40

No, thats Aoife you're thinking of.

SoupDragon · 18/01/2016 10:39

Eefa.

But only because I've come across it before!

redhat · 18/01/2016 10:37

Id also spell it Eve.

If it was pronounced completely differently then fair enough but since it has a well known and vey easy alternative spelling then I'd plump for that one.

TheBigRedBoat · 18/01/2016 10:35

I would have guessed Eva.
I do like Eve but if you ever want to live outside of Ireland I would spell it Eve

futureme · 18/01/2016 10:34

I knew it wouldnt be A-ob but that's how I'd have read it.

Natsku · 18/01/2016 10:34

Oh and I think Eve is a lovely name

WinterBabyof89 · 18/01/2016 10:34

Love the name Eve :)

Natsku · 18/01/2016 10:33

I think I'd assume there was a clerical error! If I tried to pronounce it it'd probably sound like "aaohibah" which is obviously not right but I really wouldn't have a clue if I didn't google it or look at the other replies here.

WinterBabyof89 · 18/01/2016 10:33

I'd have to be told the pronunciation

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 18/01/2016 10:33

If I had to pronounce it I'd probably say Eva, but I would ask.

Original poster
3luckystars · 18/01/2016 10:33

Yes i am Irish and i see Eve but I think it might cause confusion in other countries, it's nice but maybe I should spell it Eve for her sake.

Thanks so much for the replies (they really helped me make a quick decision!!!) thanks for the help. Do you like the name Eve btw? I think it's really growing on me.

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