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Baby names

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Thoughts on Fiadh

84 replies

Poppy101010 · 18/11/2021 20:40

So I'm 5 weeks pregnant with my first (early days I know !) . I had a miscarriage in August so fingers crossed all is well this time.

Anyway ... what's your thoughts on the name Fiadh for a girl? It's pronounced fee-ah.

Do you prefer the traditional Irish spelling . It would you go for Fia to avoid any confusion lol.

This was a name I liked during my first pregnancy but unsure how others feel about it.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Gensola · 19/11/2021 15:42

Haha Saoirse is on my list. I think Saoirse Ronan has popularised it for non-Republicans 😬

Atla · 19/11/2021 15:35

Sorry, Fóla/Fódhla correcting my spelling.

Atla · 19/11/2021 15:31

In in NI and I know a few wee Fiadh's. I like it. Fola is nice too.

Baby Fianna would be getting a wee side-eye from me as well, with her sister Saoirse and brothers Setanta and Pearse 😂 (I'm jesting but you would assume hardcore republicans).

ILoveShula · 19/11/2021 15:24

Fiadh, Thea, Mia, Leah, Sophia...
samey

Cindie943811A · 19/11/2021 15:23

You’ve solved a mystery for me. Years ago, on the other side of the world, a friend’s mother had a cat with a name that sounded like Fee—ah, and which I’d never heard before. I was told the cat was named after the mother’s friend’s daughter but my friend had no idea how it was spelt. So now I know!
Thank you.
Nice name but ultra popularity would put me off.

troppibambini6 · 19/11/2021 13:36

I really like it. Spell it the Irish way though. I'm English and hadn't heard it before but now I have and know how to say it!

I have a Fia. Short for Sofia I love it. Although I didn't think it through her older sister is Mia so now I have a Mia and A Fia Grin

Buddhabowl · 19/11/2021 12:44

Love Fiadh. Wouldn't be brave enough due to spelling issues but I think it's gorgeous

Annasgirl · 19/11/2021 12:24

@WhatHoMarjorie

The side-eye I'd be giving the parents of child called Fianna Grin
GrinGrinGrin
CliffsofMohair · 19/11/2021 12:21

@Poppy101010

Thanks everyone . I'm in Scotland and with my accent, it's definitely more "Fee-ah" than "Fear".

I have never really heard the name before so very surprised there is loads in Ireland - but that's a good sign !

I just think it sounds cute. No other reason to choose it 🥰.

There are 3 in DD’s class (5 year olds). 2 x Fiadh and 1 x Fia
CliffsofMohair · 19/11/2021 12:20

@WhatHoMarjorie

Fionnuala is Fiadh's mother.
Her granny even
WhatHoMarjorie · 19/11/2021 12:09

Name trends in Ireland don't tend to change all that quickly. Certainly much slower than the UK. For example Aoife is as popular now as it was in the 70s. So it may be that Fiadh settles in for the long haul. But any Irish child starting primary school in the next 3 or 4 years will likely have multiple Fiadhs in her class though.

ILoveShula · 19/11/2021 12:04

It's a name that will have a popularity spike.
Blends in with the Mia and Thea trend

HarrietM87 · 19/11/2021 10:44

Fiadh for sure over Fia. I don’t really like it though as I just hear Thea said by someone who can’t say “th”. I’m Irish and it’s everywhere at home. I love Mairi if you’re Scottish.

MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry · 19/11/2021 10:37

@PoppyMonth

Not keen, but I guess it's OK if you're in Ireland. Otherwise, the child will have a lifetime of people not knowing how to spell/pronounce it.

Also - sounds like fear?

It’s ok if you’re in any country @Poppy101010
Unsuremover · 19/11/2021 10:32

Love it. Was on my shortlist if Ds had been Dd.

LizzieAnt · 19/11/2021 10:25

Sorry, sorry, just realised the OP is also in Scotland. Fiadh may be standard there if so - I don't think a spelling reform happened there as in Ireland?

RonSwansonsChair · 19/11/2021 10:23

Love Fiadh ❤

LizzieAnt · 19/11/2021 10:14

@celestebellman

I like it, spelled Fiadh, Fia looks insubstantial and really hate when people misspell Irish names due to worries about pronounciation as they then lose their appeal IMO. I'm Scottish and it does not sound like Fiadh. Also if you are in Scotland people will be familiar with names like Eilidh, Ruaridh so will know not to pronounce the 'dh'.
Fia isn't a misspelling though. It's the modern Irish spelling, while Fiadh is an older spelling. They sound the same. Similarly, it's usually Ruairí here in Ireland.

Many people do choose to use the older spellings for a name...it's why we have Órla and Órlaith (and even Órfhlaith), or Dónal and Domhnall, for example. Both the old and modern spellings of the names are pronounced the same (these days at least).

celestebellman · 19/11/2021 08:05

Sorry meant doesn't sound like fear!

celestebellman · 19/11/2021 08:04

I like it, spelled Fiadh, Fia looks insubstantial and really hate when people misspell Irish names due to worries about pronounciation as they then lose their appeal IMO.
I'm Scottish and it does not sound like Fiadh. Also if you are in Scotland people will be familiar with names like Eilidh, Ruaridh so will know not to pronounce the 'dh'.

Alittlelost0 · 19/11/2021 07:28

It's beautiful and was on my list for DD2. It means wild, which I love... I'm still sad we didn't use it but are in Ireland and it is super popular at the moment so not quiet the unusual traditional name is was going for!

liveforsummer · 19/11/2021 07:15

That's *speech therapy - bloody auto correct Blush

liveforsummer · 19/11/2021 07:09

In the UK so many people pronounce Th as F
. Dd went to speck therapy recently and they said it's such a common local dialogue now they don't correct it (and im in Scotland where actually it isn't). It's a nice name but people presuming I'm badly pronouncing Thea would put me off

Onlinedilema · 19/11/2021 06:57

I say go for it.

JadeTrinket · 19/11/2021 06:48

@Deadringer

I have a friend called Fianna, never raised any eyebrows in Dublin, i think its a lovely name.
Really? I’d have said raised eyebrows would be the least of her problems.

I like Fiadh, OP, but it is absolutely omnipresent here these days.