Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Aoife

205 replies

namedecisionshelp · 27/04/2020 13:25

Honest opinions of this name?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
BuddleiaTime · 27/04/2020 17:10

Silly if you live in England. I have a very Welsh name and have had a lifetime of spelling it for people. I wish my parents hadn't been so daft.

HerRoyalCarbyLess · 27/04/2020 17:08

My cousins daughter is called Aoife.
Its lovely, and there are no issues with pronunciation once people are told. Its easy to remember and anyone who says otherwise is just being a dick.
For some reason Irish, Scottish and Welsh names are all "too hard" for people on here. Hmm

loveisanopensore · 27/04/2020 17:02

This comes up on baby names once a week. It was Cillian last week.

ChandlerIsTheBestFriend · 27/04/2020 17:01

I am astounded at the comments on MN about Irish names. If you said the same about a name from Nigeria or India or any country you would be lynched.

Irish culture is fair game on MN and has been for a long time. People start threads and use certain phrases deliberately to provoke certain reactions just for kicks.

CaffiSaliMali · 27/04/2020 17:01

There are a lot of negative comments on threads about Irish names, look at the recent thread by a poster whose son has an Irish name!

You get similar comments on threads about Scottish and Welsh names too.

Aoife is lovely and easy to say once told once - it's eefa - not exactly difficult to remember. Not everyone will know it at first glance but the same applies to lots of names from lots of cultures, it's not a uniquely Celtic phenomenon.

I went to school with a Caoimhe - we all remembered how to say and spell it after being told. It's been 15 years and I still remember!

HarrietM87 · 27/04/2020 17:01

@thatmustbenigelwiththebrie do you think the name Eva is ugly too or is it just the spelling you have an issue with? (genuine question)

Anoisagusaris · 27/04/2020 16:59

Historically, us Irish, and all the other British/colonised nations, had to learn how to pronounce English names. It’s not that hard.

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 27/04/2020 16:58

Very ugly name. Sorry.

Anoisagusaris · 27/04/2020 16:57

Beautiful name.

I am astounded at the comments on MN about Irish names. If you said the same about a name from Nigeria or India or any country you would be lynched.

Shutupanddance1 · 27/04/2020 16:53

Lovely name - I was going to use it for my first but ended up going for another name.

I was living in the Middle East at the time and no one has any problems pronouncing my children’s names once I say it to them. Similarly I had to learn how to pronounce other peoples names there as well - it’s rudeness not to even bother if you know the person

ploopsie · 27/04/2020 16:52

It just looks like a random combination of letters. I realise it's an Irish name and generally I have nothing against using names from other places and cultures, but to me this one doesn't seem right in English.

wtf!

userabcname · 27/04/2020 16:47

I teach in an English secondary school have taught a few - everyone seems able to grasp the pronunciation and spelling quite easily.

Iwantacookie · 27/04/2020 16:46

As long as your prepared to accept lots of mistakes over spelling and punctuation go for it.

june2007 · 27/04/2020 16:44

Yes I like.

villainousbroodmare · 27/04/2020 16:40

It's such a perfect name. It was high on my list and would be my choice for another girl.

HappyDinosaur · 27/04/2020 16:37

Beautiful name.

HarrietM87 · 27/04/2020 16:36

@Mischance if you base your child’s name on what works with phonics you are going to be seriously limited...there are absolutely tons of standard English names (and indeed English words) which don’t comply with the phonics rules: Christopher, Michael, Charlotte, John for a start!

NoSauce · 27/04/2020 16:35

I think it’s dreadful sorry.

IndiaMay · 27/04/2020 16:32

Also 'it doesnt event look nice'?!? The way it looks written down is what attracted me to the name, I literally think the way its written looks beautiful on the page

Mischance · 27/04/2020 16:31

Poor child will struggle with phonics!!! Grin

IndiaMay · 27/04/2020 16:31

I'm english and im sure I've always been aware of the name and the correct pronouncing of it. It's not that unusual. Its actually always been a favourite of mine. Luckily i found myself a fiance who is half irish with a strong Irish surname, its top of our girls name list.

DramaAlpaca · 27/04/2020 16:27

Exactly, Chandler. Once you know the phonetic sounds in Irish you can work out how to pronounce every word or name.

The letter combination 'Aoi' in Irish makes the sound 'ee' in English.

Toilenstripes · 27/04/2020 16:25

Ay oi fee if you’re not from the U.K.

namechangenumber2 · 27/04/2020 16:24

Beautiful name

moveandmove · 27/04/2020 16:23

I've always wondered how it's pronounced. I would have said ay-off Blush

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.