Faye? | Mumsnet

Nell96 · 2020-12-08T16:23:17+00:00

Opinions on the name Faye (or Fay)? It's just popped into my head. It feels quite underused, but simple and pretty - perhaps I'm missing something?

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CaffiSaliMali · 09/12/2020 15:22

Faye is lovely and goes well with Nia. I prefer Faye to Fay - I'm a late 80s baby so have encountered a few my age and younger and all with the Faye spelling.

Orphlids · 09/12/2020 10:26

I think it’s a lovely name. Fay and Faye both acceptable, although I think I’d assume it had an ‘e’ unless told otherwise. It’s a beautiful, gentle sounding name, no hard edges. It’s a nice name to say out loud.

DramaAlpaca · 08/12/2020 23:27

I like Faye, simple and pretty.

I think Fay is more old fashioned, Faye strikes me as being more modern. I'm not fond of the Fae spelling.

Changeythenamey · 08/12/2020 22:43

It’s a great name. Timeless and classy. I have a friend called Faye and she’s brilliant. Another friend has a baby Faye and it suits them both beautifully.

Arosadra · 08/12/2020 22:25

I know a Fae. She loves it.

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Nell96 · 08/12/2020 22:22

Oh good - glad it's just me overthinking it! It's definitely in my top three names - I can't find much wrong with it. Some people think it sounds a bit dated / 80s, but I think the 'e' on the end makes it feel a bit more modern. Bland and 'wishy washy' is another criticism I've seen - quite possibly? Thanks for all of the comments so far 😊

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IamnotwhouthinkIam · 08/12/2020 22:15

does 'Nia and Fay(e)' sound a bit too much like 'near and far' in an odd accent?

I think you are overthinking - while Nia does sound like Near, Fay sounds nothing like Far, so I wouldn't worry.

LilyLongJohn · 08/12/2020 20:20

I think it's lovely, underused and classic

I think Fay looks unfinished, Faye looks more balanced

june2007 · 08/12/2020 20:02

I think you are overthinking. It,s a good traditional name, not over fashionable so you won,t have 4 of the same name in one class. Yes not haard to spell either. (except you may get ann extra or missing e deopending the spelling chosen.)

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Nell96 · 08/12/2020 19:59

@IamnotwhouthinkIam

If you can't decide between Fay or Faye - I'd personally stick with the simpler Fay spelling. As well as being the original, it should be easier for people to pronounce her name internationally - in other languages the "e" at the end of Faye may well be pronounced (with an "ee" or "eh" sound depending on language). Fay and Nia make a lovely sibset!

I think they sound nice together too, although does 'Nia and Fay(e)' sound a bit too much like 'near and far' in an odd accent?? Maybe I'm just overthinking this 🤦‍♀️

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IamnotwhouthinkIam · 08/12/2020 19:50

Although there were only 9 Fay's last year compared to 148 Faye's...

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 08/12/2020 19:46

If you can't decide between Fay or Faye - I'd personally stick with the simpler Fay spelling. As well as being the original, it should be easier for people to pronounce her name internationally - in other languages the "e" at the end of Faye may well be pronounced (with an "ee" or "eh" sound depending on language). Fay and Nia make a lovely sibset!

duckoutofwater · 08/12/2020 19:46

I love Faye, but DH vetoed...

Mmsnet101 · 08/12/2020 19:35

I love Faye, Fay does seem unfinished somehow and Fae is from in Scots and still very commonly used up here so I'd avoid for that reason... Hi, I'm Fae....fae where??!

DominaShantotto · 08/12/2020 19:26

I have it, without the e and I bloody hate it. Sounds dreadful in my native accent and no one ever spells it correctly. Then you get all the Faye Wray and King Kong comments and stuff.

Rare I come across another one though - although I did house share at uni with another one.

DropOfRain · 08/12/2020 19:23

Dd's middle name is Fae and I adore it even if the spelling isn't popular, though even I'm not a fan of the other Mae/Rae trend.

LindaEllen · 08/12/2020 19:02

I really like the name Faye, and it would be the middle name of a little girl, were I to have one.

MikeUniformMike · 08/12/2020 19:02

Thanks OP, I forgot about Faye Dunaway. Mia and Ava, and others are actress names too.

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Nell96 · 08/12/2020 18:48

@MikeUniformMike

The e on the end is a recent thing. A friend has an adult DD Fay, and the She-Devil author is Fay so it looks odd with the e. Is there a famous Faye that might have started the trend?

I see Ann and Anne as different names. I prefer Ann. Same goes for Jane/Jayne, Annabel/Annabelle, Fern/Fearne, etc

Generally I also prefer simpler spellings (Fern, Annabel, Isabel etc.), so I'm not sure why I'm leaning towards Faye over Fay... There's an interesting article below. Apparently Fay was the more common spelling until the 1970s, when Faye overtook it, possibly influenced by the actress Faye Dunaway - www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2013/11/faye.html

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MikeUniformMike · 08/12/2020 18:41

The e on the end is a recent thing. A friend has an adult DD Fay, and the She-Devil author is Fay so it looks odd with the e. Is there a famous Faye that might have started the trend?

I see Ann and Anne as different names. I prefer Ann. Same goes for Jane/Jayne, Annabel/Annabelle, Fern/Fearne, etc

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Nell96 · 08/12/2020 18:28

@MikeUniformMike

I like Fay but Fae is awful. The Faye spelling seems more popular but I prefer it without the e.

Yeah, I like Fay too, I just wonder whether it looks a bit unfinished, like the e at the end gives it a bit more balance, a bit like Ann / Anne. Also, DD1 is called Nia, so wonder whether having two 3 letter names might look a bit odd. Miraculously my DH likes the name, which is unusual as he usually hates my suggestions!

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Saltn · 08/12/2020 18:19

Nice

MikeUniformMike · 08/12/2020 18:15

I like Fay but Fae is awful. The Faye spelling seems more popular but I prefer it without the e.

RuthW · 08/12/2020 18:13

I love Faye

IckleBear · 08/12/2020 17:53

Very sweet.. Would spell it Faye.