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Baby names

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

Original poster

Keeva for a girl

232 replies

shuz1980 · 01/07/2021 09:26

Whats people's opinions on Keeva? I love Irish names and like that Keeva looks like it sounds unlike other Irish names. Whats peoples opinions?

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MerryChristmasToYou · 01/07/2021 22:01

Great idea @JaneJeffer. I could say it was an Irish name meaning Child of a Simpleton.

I've been told 'I know how to spell it' about my name. Er, no, you made up a name and decided you knew better than I did.

Ilikecheeseontoast · 01/07/2021 21:51

I know one and I’d never heard it before. I think it’s lovely x

JaneJeffer · 01/07/2021 21:46

I think you should call them Idiot pronounced Eejit @MerryChristmasToYou

mullmara · 01/07/2021 21:43

Sure what would the Irish know about their own culture and names, aren't we totally preoccupied by spuds and Guinness...

I've actually been asked if I know how to spell my name correctly before 😆

GalaxyGirl24 · 01/07/2021 21:21

I love Caoimhe but not Keeva.

SionnachRua · 01/07/2021 21:12

@claralara42

It's such a shame that a thread on a name that OP says is Irish is infiltrated by Irish posters

Yeah. The cheek of those Irish people having opinions on Irish names and the Irish language. Shut up and let the British people talk!!

Bit of forelock tugging needed to appease the 'mainlanders' methinks Grin Sure what would the Irish know about their own culture and names, aren't we totally preoccupied by spuds and Guinness...
MerryChristmasToYou · 01/07/2021 21:11

Glad you agree with me @claralara42

I'm not irish but I've been there once so having read this thread I'm going to name my DC Cóaimha (pronounced Co-eye-va) or Ceómgein (Kee-van). My nan's 2nd husband was half-irish so it's gonna be a bit of an honour name.

claralara42 · 01/07/2021 21:03

It's such a shame that a thread on a name that OP says is Irish is infiltrated by Irish posters

Yeah. The cheek of those Irish people having opinions on Irish names and the Irish language. Shut up and let the British people talk!!

MerryChristmasToYou · 01/07/2021 20:59

@TatianaBis

I think you need to hang an Irish only sign on the thread then and ditch the OP.
It's such a shame that a thread on a name that OP says is Irish is infiltrated by Irish posters.
SeanChailleach · 01/07/2021 20:50

@TatianaBis

I’ve no idea, I’ve only been to Ireland once. Reading through the fisticuffs on the thread - Keev and Kweev seemed equally correct. I wasn’t sure who was right about fada or no fada on the I.
The Saint Kevin was Cóemgen. No fada. Modern Irish Caoimhín is a subtly different name. It's "caomh" with a diminutive ending.

I take the view that the anglicisations indicate authentic old pronunciations, and that basing pronunciations on modern spellings is spurious.

TatianaBis · 01/07/2021 20:30

I think you need to hang an Irish only sign on the thread then and ditch the OP.

GreyhoundG1rl · 01/07/2021 20:23

@TatianaBis

I’ve no idea, I’ve only been to Ireland once. Reading through the fisticuffs on the thread - Keev and Kweev seemed equally correct. I wasn’t sure who was right about fada or no fada on the I.
Confused Your contribution is invaluable, is that case.
TatianaBis · 01/07/2021 20:21

I’ve no idea, I’ve only been to Ireland once. Reading through the fisticuffs on the thread - Keev and Kweev seemed equally correct. I wasn’t sure who was right about fada or no fada on the I.

Fistful · 01/07/2021 19:34

@TatianaBis

The pronunciation Kee-van is so much nicer than Kevin.
Who pronounces Kevin like that, though? No one in Ireland in either language. Caoimhín is the Irish form. KweevEEN in my neck of the woods.
Helspopje · 01/07/2021 18:46

Why not spell it correctly?
Totally unclear what the attraction is to mis/unique spellings of baby names

LizzieAnt · 01/07/2021 18:32

Kevin is an Irish name, from Irish speaking Ireland.

That references a point worth remembering too - unlike Kevin, many of the better known Irish language names are really of foreign origin. Names like Máire, Siobhán, Seán or Séamus, for example, are all just Irish versions of international names (cognate with the English Mary, Joan, John and James in the above examples). Which would be considered more Irish? An ancient name only recently anglicised? Or an Irish language name of foreign origin which underwent gaelicisation sometime in the past?
If asked to explain the names - in the case of Keeva, I'd call it an anglicisation of the Irish name Caoimhe, whereas I'd call Seán the Irish form of John.

It doesn't do to be too precious about names but then languages deserve respect too - it's a bit of a balancing act Smile.

PattyPan · 01/07/2021 18:32

Never seen it spelt Keeva before and I think it looks quite ugly. I like it as Caoimhe though. I think it's known enough to use the Irish spelling - I have met a Caoimhe in England.

TatianaBis · 01/07/2021 17:38

The pronunciation Kee-van is so much nicer than Kevin.

SeanChailleach · 01/07/2021 17:15

Kevin is from Cóemgen.
cáem = dear, precious, beloved; belonging to the family; fair, beautiful, lovely; a friend, a relative, a good person
gen = a smile, a laugh;

St Kevin of Glendalough the son of Coemlog and Coemell (probably their names mean valuable friend and delightful friend) was born in 498 and lived 120 years.

Kevin is an Irish name, from Irish speaking Ireland.

JaneJeffer · 01/07/2021 16:44

In my part of Ireland we don't use the W sound so Keeva sounds fine to me and I have no problem with the anglicised spelling.

KirstenBlest · 01/07/2021 16:14

@Classica, I doubt that anyone could tell you anything. You seem to think you know it all.

Classica · 01/07/2021 16:05

@KirstenBlest

Do you get a kick out of picking fights *@Classica*?
I wasn't picking a fight. Just stating that you equating Kevin with George doesn't make any sense.

But thanks for telling me, an Irish person, what constitutes an Irish name.

claralara42 · 01/07/2021 16:03

@Classica

And we've already established how reliable your opinions are.....

You are feeling grumpy today.

Go tell the many thousands of Kevins living in Ireland that their name isn't Irish. I'll be intrigued to hear their responses.

People generally feel "grumpy" when they are repeatedly called liars by someone who can't even follow their own conversation.

I won't be telling any Kevins anything, see my comments above on the (obvious) differences between talking about abstract names and actual people.

KirstenBlest · 01/07/2021 16:02

Do you get a kick out of picking fights @Classica?

Classica · 01/07/2021 15:52

And Caoimhin is said as Kweevin.

I'm guessing you're not an Irish speaker if you think Caoimhín is pronounced Kweevin Grin