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Baby names

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

Original poster

Niamh

41 replies

Thetimehascometo · 02/05/2018 23:57

I think we may have finally agreed on a girls name. We are thinking Niamh.

Just after any thoughts?

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LincsK · 03/05/2018 10:04

It’s a lovely name and on our shortlist but wary for the same spelling issue. We also really liked Roisin but were unsure if people would pronounce it right. Top of our list is Erin at the moment.

I think boys names are harder though - good luck!!

Original poster
Thetimehascometo · 03/05/2018 09:43

Thanks 😊 I have Irish grandparents so we figured it was a nice nod in their direction as baby will have it’s surname from DH’s side 😊

We are team yellow though, so now to decide on a boys name!!

OP posts:
pipilangstrumpf · 03/05/2018 09:21

Wow, interesting pronunciation! Thanks

blinkowl · 03/05/2018 08:41

It's said Neeve.

greendale17 · 03/05/2018 08:21

I don’t know how to pronounce jt

pipilangstrumpf · 03/05/2018 08:16

Please don't assume we all know how to pronounce it Confused

RedDwarves · 03/05/2018 07:55

Lovely, though do slightly prefer Maeve, which I consider to be similar. Smile

It's one of the more international Irish names. That is, that people outside of the the ROI and NI will be able to pronounce it more often than they would be able to pronounce Caoimhe or Aoife. It has been more widely used. I know Niamhs in Australia.

ourkidmolly · 03/05/2018 07:53

There's 4 in my dd'sclass including her! I had no idea it was so popular. I think if you're within the Irish diaspora in any way it's a name of choice. Certainly we've never encountered any problems with misspelling or mispronouncing!

Sturmundcalm · 03/05/2018 07:49

pros/cons partly depend on where you live!

we considered it for DD (now 17) but were living in the south of England at the time and decided that it was likely to be mis-spelt/mis-pronounced. by the time she started school we were in the west of Scotland and there were three Niamh's in her class of 25 kids...

PollyPutTheCoffeeOn · 03/05/2018 07:47

Like it.

littlebillie · 03/05/2018 07:45

We had a real love of Irish names

We shortlisted

Emer
Niamh
Aife
Erinna
Alane

I hope you love your Celtic name

blinkowl · 03/05/2018 00:52

Do you know the legends of Niamh by the way?

Ancient tales... she was a fairy woman, a lady of the lake. She fell in love with Oisin, son of the giant Finn mac Cumhai (Finn McCool) and transported him away to the land of Tir Na Nog, and there's more, and loads of different tellings of it but I'll let you look it up if you're interested!

I love a good story behind a name :)

blinkowl · 03/05/2018 00:46

Oh, most people know how to spell Niamh these days!

Lovely name!

Wildlingofthewest · 03/05/2018 00:45

Lovely name. I know many Niamh’s Smile

Depending on where you live though you may have to deal with people constantly misspelling or mispronounceing it....

RoundaboutSnail · 03/05/2018 00:42

Lovely name Smile

blairsey · 03/05/2018 00:25

I like it, very pretty name

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