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Baby names

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Original poster

Evelyn or Avelyn?

64 replies

AngeloMysterioso · 02/06/2019 23:54

DH and I have been discussing names for DC1 this evening. We've already got boys names fixed, using our Father's and Grandfather's names, but we're undecided on girls. I've had one preferred name for ages which DH was happy to go along with but this evening we threw a few others into the mix and two we really like are Evelyn and Avelyn, but we can't decide which we prefer!

We're pronouncing them like Ev from ever and Ave like rave.

Surname is one syllable, consonant initial.

Putting it to the MN jury! Any thoughts?

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Katebob22 · 03/06/2019 02:14

Tricky, I can understand why you would wish to anglicise the name (which sounds pretty) but as it’s one of the less common Irish names (to English wars) people will assume you wanted a unique name. Depends if you care or not.

BasiliskStare · 03/06/2019 02:08

@AngloMysterioso

I tell this story again myself - a good friend and colleague of mine's wife was called Ailbhe. I had sent her at least two cards spelling it Elva before they had the heart to tell me how very wrong I was getting it. But that is my fault.

Still like Evelyn though rather than Avelyn - though NB autocorrect made me type Avelyn twice - not a bad thing but clearly much more unusual. Both lovely though - so whichever you choose I do not think you can go wrong - very best wishes.

OkPedro · 03/06/2019 01:48

I really like Avelyn
Who pissed on your chips maxipaddy 😆

Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 03/06/2019 01:45

You and she are not that special that you require a super special unique name that no one else can have at the detriment of your child.

Yikes... no need to be so nasty!

Aibhlinn is a perfectly common Irish name (I’m half Irish, have a huge Irish family) but it’s not at all common in the rest of the UK and DH pointed out that if we went with the Gaelic spelling we would be, as you said, “setting her up for a lifetime of having to correct people on spelling and pronunciation”.

OP posts:
GeorgiaGirl52 · 03/06/2019 01:37

If you name her Avelyn the world will still spell it Evelyn. Please don't.

MaxiPaddy · 03/06/2019 01:35

Avelyn is setting her up for a lifetime of having to correct people on spelling and pronunciation.

You and she are not that special that you require a super special unique name that no one else can have at the detriment of your child. I say this as literally the only person in the world with my (horrible) unique name.

BasiliskStare · 03/06/2019 01:20

Evelyn gets my vote for what it it worth. I think Evelyn pronounced like Ev ( short "e" ) rather than Eve is quite a traditional pronunciation & I like it

I wouldn't worry about the shortening - those will just happen over time IME. I deliberately chose a name I thought could not be shortened / obvious nicknames for Ds - guess what he has one & I am the main culprit [ blush] - but they just happened rather than us thinking what his nickname would be

It's a lovely name - all best to you

Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 03/06/2019 01:10

One thing that puts me off Evelyn is how popular it is- none of our other names are even in the top 100 atm but Evelyn is no. 27! Although Ava is no. 5 which is what Avelyn would probably end up being shortened to so I guess it's six and two threes... although unsure what we'd shorten Evelyn to with the way we're pronouncing it as it's not the Eve sound?

OP posts:
Original poster
AngeloMysterioso · 03/06/2019 00:56

It's an anglicised version of the Irish name Aibhlinn.

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 03/06/2019 00:54

Evelyn

CarolinaChina · 03/06/2019 00:52

I’m not sure if Avelyn’s a name I’ve heard before. However, it’s absolutely lovely. I’d go for Avelyn- a beautiful name.

Bluerussian · 03/06/2019 00:50

Evelyn

PrestonVsEdinburgh · 03/06/2019 00:44

Is Avelyn actually a name?

Nomes29 · 03/06/2019 00:29

Evelyn is on my list...
I think it's a beautiful name 💗

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