Keeva... Discuss please.

Most people don't get the "ee" sound at all - they say Caomi (like Naomi with a C). But what's the issue with just correcting them? And then it will become more familiar, like Siobhan and Sinead 20-30 years ago, and Niamh in the last 5 years. Aoife is also rising in popularity and people are managing with that.

There are plenty of girls in Ireland called Keeva, with that spelling

This is true. I live in Ireland and it can be spelled both ways. If I was in the UK, I would use Keeva as a spelling, she'll spend her whole life spelling out Caoimhe and being called 'Keemhee'.

It sounds like a curry - “I’ll have a chicken keeva, pilau and garlic naan.”

I have met a Chevon, pronounced Siobhan.

@mathanxiety - it was your comment about the name Saoirse although I also have an irish surname. On reflection I was probably being over sensitive!

Kiva is the national anti-bullying programme of Finland.

1haudyerwheesht
I wasn't saying the arguments against using an Irish forename or surname are valid.

I was giving examples of the sort of opposition some people I know faced from families when they decided to use the Irish version of their surname. These were people I know from Irish college and beyond. Some families were upset because 'the Anglisiced surname had been good enough for the family for hundreds of years so why isn't it good enough for you', some thought the Irish college had been a cult, and some thought it indicated extreme Republican views had taken hold. Most families never batted an eyelid of course.

A lot of these people are involved in the current mushrooming of Gaeilscoileanna.

I had an American boss and HE was called Kiva, pronounced keeva.

Just putting that into the mix!

Umm...

Much prefer Caiomhe.

More or less. Although not as flat as an 'a' sound, more of an 'uh'.

CandyYumYum Thanks. Is an “e” at the end of a word (like in Caiomhe) an “a” sound in English pronounciation?

I had a friend who couldn't understand the name 'Tina'. She felt disgusted by the name.
It means bathtub in Mexican Spanish.

Spelling it Keeva is all wrong. Like spelling Siobhan Shivawn.

A Kiva pronounced Keeva is a traditional adobe fireplace in the southwest of the US. I wouldn't use it anymore than I'd use fireplace as a name.

I have lived in UK almost 30 yrs & only encountered Camoihe on MN Irish name thread names (always feature hot debate on the "proper" way to say it, too). I might be very safe from ever having to remember the rules about Camoihe.

My position is no more inconsistent than people who are horrified or even downright offended at Keeva but think that the English pronunciations and spellings of other non-English-origin names are fine and not remotely culturally disrespectful.

@mathanxiety - with that thinking I'd have to explain that I haven't gone and joined the IRA

I've never had any negative responses using an irish name. I've explained the pronunciation/spelling once and that's the end of it.

I guess I'm just surprised at an attitude that basically assumes the English arent able to cope with anything different. That hasn't been my experience at all.

Oh they can cope. It's just that on some weary days I feel I can't cope with having yet another conversation about my name and its origin and its pronunciation. 🙆

I know an Irish mum in London who called her daughter Keeva spelled Keeva.

(helpful input )

ragged do you realise that Kira and Chiara are pronounced differently? (Keer-a vs Kee-ah-ra)? This is why spelling is important.

Also your position is inconsistent - you've been exposed to Chianti so you might bother to work out Chiara, but it's too much effort with Caoimhe? Now you've "been exposed to" Caoimhe - is it not possible to learn, and do you not see any value in that as opposed to forcing other cultures to adopt English speaking spelling/pronunciation.

And when does this adaptation kick in - are French people in France expected to call their son John in case he moves here one day, or should he just change his name the day he arrives? Would you suggest to a French couple living in the UK that Jean was too hard for the English to deal with as well, or is that different because it's only Irish that's too hard to manage?

I guess I'm just surprised at an attitude that basically assumes the English arent able to cope with anything different. That hasn't been my experience at all.

I’ve never met any child in Ireland who is called Keeva.

Some of us do speak Irish and that is why we chose to give our children Irish names. There is a massive resurgence of Irish atm in Ireland with new Gaelscoils etc being built. I’d say out of my friends who are Irish and had babies recently 2/3 have used Irish names - including people who live abroad.

Long thread here about 'true' pronunciations, but I can't hear the subtle differences so John would do for me in place of the French Jean. I know Jhon is the traditional spelling, but "John" seems a lot easier.

Keyara would be fine by me. Or Kiara. I've been exposed enough to Chianti I think I'd figure Chiara out. Kira is more popular here, mind.

Yes I like Keeva because is spelled how it sounds in an English speaking place. Just like we don't use יהושע for Joshua any more. We could use יהושע, you know, to be faithful to the original culture. But we don't have to. It'd be kind of a nuisance.

ragged why do you prefer it (knowing that it is a simplified anglicised version of the correct spelling)? Is it because you find it easier? Or do you think it "looks nicer"?

Guess you'd also prefer a Jean (French) to be spelled Zhon, or an Italian Chiara to be spelled Keyara?

Keeva doesn't sound like a fruit it sounds made up.

I prefer Keeva as spelling by a huge margin. I don't care if it's Irish or not.

It sounds like a fruit? But kids are named after flowers, so why not.