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Baby names

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

Original poster

Oona

61 replies

17caterpillars1mouse · 18/07/2017 20:10

What are your thoughts on Oona for a girl? Also do you prefer Oona or Una?

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MadMags · 19/07/2017 12:48

I'm talking about when someone says her name is pronounced Caoimhe and an entire group of people insist on calling her Keeva because "that's how we pronounce it". Actually.

PeroxideBosco · 19/07/2017 12:40

Keeva is a legitimate Ulster pronunciation. Actually.

MadMags · 19/07/2017 12:36

*like not life

MadMags · 19/07/2017 12:36

And Caoimhe as Keeva. It's so smug and disrespectful, life people don't have to make the effort to just say a name right!

Bubbaboo2 · 19/07/2017 08:16

Much prefer Una! Pronounce both spellings the same though! I hate the thought of such a beautiful Irish name being pronounced 'You-na' to me that's like people mispronouncing Sian as 'Si-an' and saying 'that's how we pronounce it in England' 😕

buttercup54321 · 19/07/2017 00:08

OO Nah. Its horrible!!

junebirthdaygirl · 18/07/2017 23:34

Una is lrish for Agnes. Lovely name. But would stick to Una prounounced Oona

tinytoucan · 18/07/2017 22:34

I considered Una for DS if he'd been a girl. I think it's very pretty.

Also, I'm English and have never heard it pronounced you-nah, definitely "oonah" to me

PlymouthMaid1 · 18/07/2017 22:29

Never heard the you nah version. Both are oonah in sound to my English ears and I thought una Stubbs was too. Prefer Una as to me oonah looks like a mispelling.

SunnyL · 18/07/2017 22:06

In Scotland Una is pronounced Oonah. My cousin has an Una and it's a lovely name

MaryWortleyMontagu · 18/07/2017 22:04

I'm English. I'd pronounce then both the same (as oona). I've never heard of una pronounced as you-na before (I've only ever seen Una Stubbs written down and I'd just assumed that it was pronounced as oona until this thread!) Personally i prefer Una as oona reminds me of the oompa loompas (which I know is really tenuous, but it's what I think of!)

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 18/07/2017 21:56

Oona. How about Ulla ?

Sophronia · 18/07/2017 21:31

I like Oona!

Jooni · 18/07/2017 21:10

I love it! Prefer Oona spelling, though I'd pronounce both the same. I've never heard "you-na" before!

squoosh · 18/07/2017 21:03

Yes but I suspect you might be swimming against the tide with Una. It's not like they've only recently started mispronouncing it, Una Stubbs must be nearly 80.

villainousbroodmare · 18/07/2017 20:59

Sure, as well to be aware of it [shocked to the core] but it's an Irish name whether it's in Ireland or England or anywhere else so it adheres to the fairly simple conventions of Irish pronunciation.

squoosh · 18/07/2017 20:38

And Una is Irish, pronounced Oona.

Yes, and widely pronounced as you-na in the UK. Better to be aware of this before picking the name wouldn't you think?

greathat · 18/07/2017 20:38

My Mum's an Oonagh so I like it :D

Maudlinmaud · 18/07/2017 20:37

Beautiful name.

squoosh · 18/07/2017 20:37

But to answer your question OP I'd go with Una (Úna) because Oona looks a bit silly.

MadMags · 18/07/2017 20:36

And Una is Irish, pronounced Oona.

squoosh · 18/07/2017 20:36

In England they pronounce Una as You-na. Una Stubbs for example.

Heratnumber7 · 18/07/2017 20:34

Fiat uno is italian. So pronounced ooh-no

Heratnumber7 · 18/07/2017 20:33

In Wales Una would be Yewna. As in Yewna Stubbs.

Oona would be ooh-na.

MadMags · 18/07/2017 20:33

Yes, Úna for real authenticity.

I'm not sure why anyone would pronounce it you-na Confused but I'm Irish so that's probably why!