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Baby names

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Original poster

Niamh, Neve or something else entirely?

29 replies

glasshalfsomething · 05/07/2017 08:28

Just that really!

I love the name, and have no objection to the traditional spelling, but having grown up with a pain in the ass name, I'm hesitant to land any child with a name that has to be corrected or spelled all the time.

I just can't decide which variation to use, or whether to fall back in a less loved name?

Thoughts?

(it could be a boy, which would be lovely as that name has been agreed 😊)

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27Harper · 10/07/2017 03:45

I like Niamh better than Neve. I know both a Niamh and a Neve and the latter always gets called Nev when that's not how she pronounces it. Very pretty name xx

Stardustandicecream · 09/07/2017 20:23

Cara?

We have a Niamh - strangers get it right 50% of the time - educated people more so, friends and school it only has to be explained once and they've got it. It's not been a problem at all - it's s beautiful name

MikeUniformMike · 09/07/2017 13:31

Seren is a recent name. You probably pronounce it Serrun.It's the same as calling your kid Etoile and saying it E-toil.
I'd say its about the same as calling your daughter Crystal or something. Your "horses for courses" comment says a lot more about you than you think.

Igottastartthinkingbee · 06/07/2017 13:27

Cerys? Although I like Carys too. And Seren is gorgeous! My DDs middle name is Cerys so I'm biased Smile I like Charlotte too.

thisismadness77 · 06/07/2017 13:24

Well I think it's lovely as does my Welsh friend who named her daughter it. Horses for courses.

MikeUniformMike · 06/07/2017 12:56

Seren is something a welsh speaking person would call their pony. It is naff as a little girl's name. It's on a par with Twinkle.

thisismadness77 · 06/07/2017 12:25

Seren is nice. Think it's Welsh, means star.

Original poster
glasshalfsomething · 05/07/2017 21:39

Thanks all. Carys would be my first choice, but there's no convincing DH.

He would like Caitlyn and I've countered with Niamh which he would be happy with.

Also debating Catriona, but again there's a pronunciation issue 😕 and I don't love it.

Any other suggestions welcome....typing this Thread up has made me realise I do lie C names...

OP posts:
HappyLollipop · 05/07/2017 19:52

Go for Niamh it's a fairly well known Irish name at this point so there's few people won't know how to pronounce it, I'd say go for it!

bridgetreilly · 05/07/2017 19:42

Niamh not Neve, which just looks ugly to me. I think it's become common enough that people will pronounce it properly.

But personally, I much prefer Carys or Evelyn.

DramaAlpaca · 05/07/2017 17:49

I don't pronounce Niamh and Neve the same at all.

In the part of Ireland where I live Niamh is pronounced as if it has two syllables, a bit like NEE-uv, but the second syllable is very soft.

It's hard to explain in writing but it certainly isn't pronounced Neeve as Neve would be.

I suppose in the UK it wouldn't matter, and I think the pronunciation even in Ireland might be different according to region.

MikeUniformMike · 05/07/2017 17:41

Carys is a welsh name that was hugely popular in the 1960s so sounds very dated to Welsh speakers. Caitlyn - too popular and too many spelling variations unless you go for the Irish spelling.
Charlotte is OK and Evelyn is a bit too much like Eve/Eva/Ewa/Evie etc.

thisismadness77 · 05/07/2017 10:09

Holly I have family in the US and they always referred to Neve as Nev, apparently that's how Neve Campbell is pronounced! As we always emailed pics etc rather than speak on the phone we didn't realise until they finally met her aged 2 that they always called her 'Nev'. Ha baby Nev! Reminds me of when I took Neve to baby clinic at weeks old and they called her name out as Steve. Who has a newborn Steve?!

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 05/07/2017 09:47

Charlotte is lovely.

indigo13 · 05/07/2017 09:42

I think its a nice name. Ill just add that recently I heard it called out in a group setting and it wasn't easily heard, as in it was a sort of nothing sound compared to the other names being called

hollyisalovelyname · 05/07/2017 09:37

Thank you.
Neve Campbell the actress is the only Neve I've heard of. I didn't know if it was pronounced Nev A Blush

thisismadness77 · 05/07/2017 09:03

Holly like eve with a n in front.

Original poster
glasshalfsomething · 05/07/2017 09:03

Reassuring to know user147.

I would pronounce Neve same as Niamh, no?

OP posts:
AmysTiara · 05/07/2017 09:03

Niamh. It's popular so I'd think most people would know how to pronounce it now

Original poster
glasshalfsomething · 05/07/2017 09:02

Juneau - you've hit the nail on the head with each of those! I love the names, but the popularity/associations are frustrating!

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 05/07/2017 09:01

I know/know of many Niamh/Neve/Nieves Mongst DS's peers (8/9). Niamh is the most popular spelling and I think it's pretty well known and understood amongst English speakers now.

hollyisalovelyname · 05/07/2017 08:53

How do you pronounce Neve ?

user1471523202 · 05/07/2017 08:53

I have a Niamh! We were unsure on the spelling but just decided to go for it. Haven't regretted it, I think only one person (she's 9 months) has mispronounced it. It's much more common now so most people spell/pronounce correctly

thisismadness77 · 05/07/2017 08:51

We have a 4 year old Neve. I love her name. :)

juneau · 05/07/2017 08:49

I would avoid Caitlyn, because of 'Caitlyn' Jenner.

I like Niamh or Neve and I'm surprised that such a well-known name is still mis-spelled.

Charlotte is lovely, but popular at the moment. I know of several and thanks to Princess Charlotte I suspect there are many more.

Carys is lovely (I was going to use this if I'd had a girl).

Evelyn is going to end up as Evie, which is v. popular (and rather tired, I think, as its been popular for a good 10 years at this point).

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