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Baby names

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

Original poster

How would you pronounce this?

84 replies

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 12/11/2016 18:51

Aoife

I love it. When I was expecting DD, it was one of my two favourite names but we didn't go for it because I was worried DD would have a life of "How do you pronounce/spell that?"

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llangennith · 13/11/2016 01:16

Niamh baffled me for years. Quite a surprise when I found out it was pronounced Neeve.

DoYouRememberJustinBobby · 13/11/2016 01:06

Ee-fAh
Not like my lovely English friends who have a daughter with this name but pronounce it Eeee-fuurrr. As an Irish person, it drives me up the wall.
They also have a Tadhg (they say TUH-Ghr) and can't pronounce that for love nor money, which begs the question - why pick a name you have no idea how to say?

DustyCropHopper · 12/11/2016 23:40

I would pronounce it Ee-fa but I have seen/heard it before. Infact from a very young age I always wanted a little girl called Aoife. Then I married dh who is severely dyslexic so had to go for far simpler spelt names!

LyndaLaHughes · 12/11/2016 23:31

Oh for god's sake. I hadn't seen the episode so I had no idea what the context was. Out of context that one statement put there not identifiable to me as a quote annoyed me. I've watched it now. The original sketch is actually quite funny when it's all in context as it's clearly lighthearted but then the words you quoted aren't actually what was said in the sketch I've just seen anyway.

MitzyLefrouf · 12/11/2016 22:56

I have an Aoife. And french passport man once called her 'Waf

I hope it was accompanied by a Gallic shrug and a 'bof'.

'Waf.............bof'

Grin
ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 12/11/2016 22:43

If I say it it's wrong.

If a screenwriter says it it's funny.

ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 12/11/2016 22:42

Le big fucking sigh.

LyndaLaHughes · 12/11/2016 22:23

Exit I'm not bloody psychic- I haven't seen the episode and you didn't use quotation marks so how on earth am I supposed to know that? I thought you were taking the piss and believe me it wouldn't be the first time (with an Irish name) so it touched a nerve.
I'm not a humourless twunt by the way but thanks for the unnecessary and uncalled for insult. The explanation would have sufficed.

Original poster
BeingATwatItsABingThing · 12/11/2016 22:22

I have no idea Gruffalo but it does. Grin

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Gruffalosfriend · 12/11/2016 21:56

How does Aoi make the sound Ee?

GinIsIn · 12/11/2016 21:55

I think the majority of people would know it's pronounced Ee-fah? It's a lovely name.

Janek · 12/11/2016 21:53

LOVE obvs.

Janek · 12/11/2016 21:52

I have an Aoife. And french passport man once called her 'Waf', and supply teachers have had the whole class chorussing 'it's ee fa' as they try to take the register, but i still live the name, ten years on!

ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 12/11/2016 21:48

Great name

Original poster
BeingATwatItsABingThing · 12/11/2016 21:39

Oh yes, I remember that episode! Grin

I do love it. That's it. Back at the top of the list for potential next DD.

OP posts:
ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 12/11/2016 20:44

Ffs. It was a direct quotation from The Vicar of Dibley.

Take yer thumb out yer arse yer humourless twunt.

KlingybunFistelvase · 12/11/2016 20:26

I also know at least three English born Aoifes!

KlingybunFistelvase · 12/11/2016 20:25

Ee-fa

DramaAlpaca · 12/11/2016 20:21

Ee-fa - but I'm in Ireland and know dozens of them. Gorgeous name.

YoScienceBitch · 12/11/2016 19:56

Middle Hmm

YoScienceBitch · 12/11/2016 19:56

It's my daughters middel name :)

MusicalChairsOh · 12/11/2016 19:53

A-oyfe. That was how I pronounced it before I knew how it was properly pronounce.

I pronounced Saoirce say-orse too before knowing it was seersha...

AlmaMartyr · 12/11/2016 19:42

Eefah - I'm not Irish and didn't need to check. Gorgeous name :)

llangennith · 12/11/2016 19:41

Eefah. Most people know how to pronounce it because she was one of the Dorothys in Andrew Lloyd-Webber's show searching for a Dorothy for his new musical.

Bertucci · 12/11/2016 19:28

Did your mother have something against consonants?

Made me laugh too!

I know how to pronounce it, but dh would undoubtedly say 'Ay-off' or something.