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Baby names

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

Original poster

Naoice Irish spelling for girl's name Nike

58 replies

Seanchailleach · 27/07/2021 10:40

Met a grown-up with this name. Interesting.

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HeyGirlHeyBoy · 27/07/2021 14:53

But aoi is ee in general bar the number isn't it, even in Munster? Aoife, Caoimhe, Naoise etc. OP this is madness to me an Irish spelling of a non Irish word, it's a but like carr for car though I suppose. But if I saw the name, I'd think yes Naoise and after that I wouldn't have a notion, it doesn't look like any Irish word I know.

JaneJeffer · 27/07/2021 14:42

Bua sounds too much like buoy to me - the Irish and American pronunciation (not the English 'boy' pronunciation).

Original poster
Seanchailleach · 27/07/2021 14:41

I don't think Boand is from Bó Finn, think that was a mediaeval post hoc rationalisation. Might have been pre-Celtic or even pre-Indo European. It's a river. They tend to have names that mean "water". Sorry.

OP posts:
Original poster
Seanchailleach · 27/07/2021 14:31

@TheVanguardSix
Am I incorrect in thinking the original/Old Irish spelling of Deirdre is Deirdriu?

Derdriu is correct Old Irish spelling. It is 11th declension, same as Ériu, and forms the genitive as "Derdrenn".
The i before the r was added later.

OP posts:
LizzieAnt · 27/07/2021 13:47

Coimirce is one that springs to mind here.

VodkaSlimline · 27/07/2021 13:47

Just makes me think of naice ham!

MotionActivatedDog · 27/07/2021 13:33

Corcra?

QueenStromba · 27/07/2021 13:30

I don't think you can even get a hard k sound in the middle of a word in Irish, can you?

LizzieAnt · 27/07/2021 13:25

@CakesOfVersailles

I guess it's no more made up than Nike, they're both attempts at translating Νίκη, right?
You're right CakesOfVersailles. Naoi isn't Nee in the part of Ireland I'm in though (Munster)...so Naoice would sound something more like Nay-ke around here Smile
MotionActivatedDog · 27/07/2021 13:22

It looks like how Jay from the inbetweeners would say “nice” Grin “noice”

CakesOfVersailles · 27/07/2021 13:14

I guess it's no more made up than Nike, they're both attempts at translating Νίκη, right?

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 27/07/2021 13:13

@PattyPan

I imagine a Naoice would get called Nice.

When I saw the thread title I thought you were looking for a ‘naice’ way to spell Nike!

This was exactly what I was thinking and my DD2 has an Irish name using the same phonic sounds.
AnguaResurgam · 27/07/2021 13:12

I'd say the Greek name 'nye-key'

Perhaps you'd better check with someone in RL you know to be Greek?

EarringsandLipstick · 27/07/2021 13:06

Naoise has gone a bit unisex these days unfortunately.

Well, I was born in the 1970s. I always knew Naoise as a boy's name, where I lived (Munster). I've heard it used more recently as a girl's name, since living in Dublin.

Still definitely know more boys than girls called Naoise (well, men & women, as they are mostly adults, not children!)

So it's not something new, and I don't agree it's unfortunate really, it's just the nature of the name.

Anoisagusaris · 27/07/2021 13:04

@Seanchailleach

The River Boyne is named after Boand who is sometimes called the goddess of victory. Boann in modern Irish. Not come across anyone with that name but I bet there are some. Bua is the ordinary word for victory, so I guess you could give a child that for a name.
I know a little Bua.
LizzieAnt · 27/07/2021 13:01

Boann/Bóinn is derived from 'white cow' though isn't it, which mightn't be what you'd want for your little girl. As an aside the Milky Way is Bealach na Bó Finne, which I love.

Love the names Deirdre and Naoise too TheVanguardSix, though Naoise has gone a bit unisex these days unfortunately.

Original poster
Seanchailleach · 27/07/2021 12:46

The River Boyne is named after Boand who is sometimes called the goddess of victory. Boann in modern Irish. Not come across anyone with that name but I bet there are some.
Bua is the ordinary word for victory, so I guess you could give a child that for a name.

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TheVanguardSix · 27/07/2021 12:45

In irish mythology, Naoise was the lover of Deirdre . Pronounced Deer Dra , not Deir Dree 😁. Also an ancient fabulous name contrary to mumsnet opinion.

I love you MadamBatty. This is my name (very outing, I guess, but who cares? Grin) and it's a heartsink that the English (and Americans- I grew up in the States) have mangled such a good name... yes, contrary to what MN thinks, Deirdre IS a good name! Grin
And it's such a great myth. I love the story... apart from the fact that I'm named after a rather sad character. But then again, people go ape for the name Ophelia, another tragic character.
Isn't Naoise a fabulous name? I'm surprised it's not used more.
Am I incorrect in thinking the original/Old Irish spelling of Deirdre is Deirdriu? Perhaps I've dreamt that up.

LizzieAnt · 27/07/2021 12:43

Is it her real name?
It'll manage to confuse almost everyone, which is a feat in itself Grin

leakymcleakleak · 27/07/2021 12:43

But tbh I don't see how she is using Irish phonics. I have come across a lot of Irish names (including several that are made up!) and I would not get 'Nike' from that spelling. I think 99% of Irish people would assume someone was mis-spelling Naoise.

Also how is it pronounced 'Nike' if you then say its pronounced 'Nee-ka'?

MadamBatty · 27/07/2021 12:39

As Earrings said, it’s just made up.

MadamBatty · 27/07/2021 12:39

I know that Seanchailleach…I’m fluent

EarringsandLipstick · 27/07/2021 12:32

It's not an Irish spelling. It's not an Irish name. It's some weird made up version of (it appears) a Greek name.

Original poster
Seanchailleach · 27/07/2021 12:32

Greek has its own alphabet.
Irish uses Roman letters.
She's using Irish phonics. Because English is not the only language in the world yet.

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MadamBatty · 27/07/2021 12:25

How can she spell a Greek name using an Irish spelling…is she taking the meaning of the Greek name & taking the closest Irish meaning