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Baby names

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

Original poster

Maeve or Grace

29 replies

swiftt · 20/12/2020 21:35

Love the name Maeve - is it one that has or is getting super popular? Do you pronounce it ‘may-v’ or ‘May-vuh’?

Grace has been on the cards since day 1, and is partners favourite. I’ve always liked it.

We are both Scottish and surname is a girly surname ending in -y if that makes a difference. Middle name likely to be Violet after my GM.

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Joeylucy · 21/12/2020 21:14

Grace is lovely

simonthedog · 21/12/2020 20:53

Maeve

june2007 · 21/12/2020 20:49

Definately GRace never sure how to prenounce Meave. I would say mayv but it lookes like meev

Original poster
swiftt · 21/12/2020 20:43

@NoddyMcPintsAlot Niamh is also on my list! I spent a good few years thinking it was pronounced Naomi though, I don’t even know how or why I thought that. Blush

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NoddyMcPintsAlot · 21/12/2020 20:30

Pronunciation is May-v rhymes with Dave.

My name is Niamh pronounced Neve yet
many people attempt to make it sound more Irish by pronouncing it Nee- vuh. Really irritates me.

Suzi888 · 21/12/2020 20:30

Grace, definitely

JemimaTiggywinkle · 21/12/2020 20:27

I’ve only ever heard Maeve pronounced to rhyme with Dave. It’s a lovely name though, feminine but not fussy.

I think Grace is nice but a bit over used now.

harrietm1987 · 21/12/2020 20:25

@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants

Grace (unless your surname is Kelly) Grace is not 'nothing-y', it's pretty

I don't like the look of Maeve, nor particularly the name. It seems dowdy to me. Sorry. I'd say it Maevuh (like maeve binchy)

What do you mean? Maeve Binchy pronounced it to rhyme with Dave. There is only one pronunciation and “maevuh” isn’t it!
FestiveDigestives · 21/12/2020 10:27

Maeve is beautiful. In most English accents it’s ‘Mave’ one syllable. Irish it’s more like a soft ‘May-uh-v’.

Grace is a good, solid name. Popular, but for a reason.

florascotia2 · 21/12/2020 10:23

You can hear an Irish man pronounce Maeve/Meadbh here:

forvo.com/word/meadbh/

Original poster
swiftt · 21/12/2020 07:25

Thanks all.

I do think Grace goes better with Violet than Maeve. Not using Violet as a first name though, where I’m from the ‘vi’ is pronounced really harshly and I hate the sound of it. Although for how often a middle name is really used, I’m not too worried about it!

OP posts:
MercyBodle · 21/12/2020 03:30

I love both Maeve and Grace, but would choose Maeve as its much less used. However if you're using Violet for a middle then Grace Violet sounds a lot better.

doubleshotespresso · 21/12/2020 01:53

Grace definitely

I second the Grace Violet option that's lovely ☺️

loubieloo4 · 21/12/2020 01:19

I love Violet!

DramaAlpaca · 20/12/2020 23:53

Its two colours

No it's not. You're thinking of mauve, not Maeve Grin

partyatthepalace · 20/12/2020 23:22

I like Grace better, but lot of them about.

This might not be helpful but I’d go for Violet! I love it - quiet unusual and unlike a lot of flower names it’s very strong.

Violet Grace is quite nice...

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 20/12/2020 23:03

Grace (unless your surname is Kelly) Grace is not 'nothing-y', it's pretty

I don't like the look of Maeve, nor particularly the name. It seems dowdy to me. Sorry. I'd say it Maevuh (like maeve binchy)

IdblowJonSnow · 20/12/2020 22:57

I like Maeve but it's awful with violet, sorry! Too many V sounds and its two colours!

What about violet may?

Grace Violet works well or vice versa.

Cantdoitallperfectly · 20/12/2020 22:56

Love Maeve. The only thing is you’ll spend a lot of time spelling it out for people, there is the Irish spelling too.
Grace is pretty but I prefer maeve.

DramaAlpaca · 20/12/2020 22:55

It's Mayv, one syllable. That's the only way to pronounce it, there isn't any other way Confused

I prefer it to Grace, I don't much like that hard 'gr' sound.

Brighterthansunflowers · 20/12/2020 22:53

Definitely Maeve (May-v)

I don’t think many people will assume it’s short for Mavis, I think it’s better known as an Irish name than a nickname for Mavis

Grace is perfectly fine, but Maeve is lovely and different

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 20/12/2020 22:43

Maeve (pronunced May -v) is gorgeous. Grace is a classic but one that is a bit overused currently imo.

bodhi1982 · 20/12/2020 22:42

Not a fan of Maeve as it sounds short for Mavis and she'd prob have to correct people on pronunciation a lot - I like Grace but super popular so will end up the Lisa / Claire of that generation in my opinion. LOVE Violet !!!

Labobo · 20/12/2020 22:30

Grace.

SionnachRua · 20/12/2020 22:24

It's pronounced Mayv imo. Better name than Grace imo, Grace is a bit nothing-y.

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