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Baby names

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

Original poster

Áine (Irish - pronounced onya)

133 replies

FrazzledCareerWoman · 06/12/2021 21:21

Yes or no... obviously no one will read it correctly..: but I love it Grin

not for my hypothetical last chance baby number3 that I might not even have

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BrightonOrLancaster · 06/12/2021 22:10

My favourite Irish name is Niamh, it sounds sharp.

TheDuchessOfMN · 06/12/2021 22:07

To answer your question… it’s okay. There are much nicer names

TheDuchessOfMN · 06/12/2021 22:06

When the doctor looks at your throat and says “Say Awww”

That’s how you pronounce Áine. AwwnYa.
Not ‘Onya’

(sorry Op)

Alfixn · 06/12/2021 22:05

Certainly in Ireland, Awn has a different pronunciation to On. (Like "lawn" and "fawn" compared to "gone" and "don"?). As a pp said your mouth even makes a different shape. Maybe that is accent dependent?
But yes I agree its pronounced Awnya!

StormyCornishSeas · 06/12/2021 22:03

I know a couple of Ainés and I really like it. I think it's ones of those names which grows on you

Original poster
FrazzledCareerWoman · 06/12/2021 22:03

@MaudebeGonne got it! Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
FrazzledCareerWoman · 06/12/2021 22:02

@daisyjgrey Anya? Or Ahh -nya . is also a different sound I think

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ladygindiva · 06/12/2021 22:02

Yes, I love it x

MaudebeGonne · 06/12/2021 22:01

@FrazzledCareerWoman

How is awn-ya a different sound than on-ya? Slightly longer vowel maybe.
It's like how Dawn and Don are pronounced differently.
StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 06/12/2021 22:01

Gráinne is the worst. The hint of groin and the fact it's almost the same as the Irish word for ugly.

FrazzledY9Parent · 06/12/2021 22:00

@FrazzledCareerWoman

How is awn-ya a different sound than on-ya? Slightly longer vowel maybe.
Awn-ya like awning not On-ya on On-yer-bike
HermioneWeasley · 06/12/2021 22:00

I like it

daisyjgrey · 06/12/2021 21:58

@FrazzledCareerWoman

How is awn-ya a different sound than on-ya? Slightly longer vowel maybe.

This is my dentists name (in England), pronounced "ahh-nya".

Totalwasteofpaper · 06/12/2021 21:58

I love it and think it's a really nice name it's also satisfying to say.

But I do feel it's very close to Gráinne though which just sounds like groin Confused which makes me like it a bit less.

MaudebeGonne · 06/12/2021 21:58

I'm an Áine! It is pronounced Awnya not Onya, and very few English people pronounce it properly. Lived in England for years and got called all-sorts. It's fairly popular in Ireland now - certainly more popular that it was when I was a kid in the 70's and 80's, but it is not mega common. It's a nice name to have and I always found it a good conversation starter when I lived in England. The most teasing I would get would be "Onya bike" or "got any fags Onya", which I always thought were a bit daft because it isn't even pronounced like that.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 06/12/2021 21:57

It's all accent dependent.,

FallonCarringtonWannabe · 06/12/2021 21:55

@FrazzledCareerWoman

How is awn-ya a different sound than on-ya? Slightly longer vowel maybe.
Your mouth makes a completely different shape. It sounds very different.
Original poster
FrazzledCareerWoman · 06/12/2021 21:55

In England yes

Irish surname

OP posts:
Original poster
FrazzledCareerWoman · 06/12/2021 21:54

How is awn-ya a different sound than on-ya? Slightly longer vowel maybe.

OP posts:
Labellex · 06/12/2021 21:50

That was my maths tutors name when I was a teenager, I always thought it was a nice name 👍🏼

TheArgentineFanjo · 06/12/2021 21:48

I was at school with an Aine and I never remember any problems (England).

BrightonOrLancaster · 06/12/2021 21:48

I dont like the "awn" sound, and when I see it written down I think "groin".

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 06/12/2021 21:47

I love it. But very few people in England or Scotland know how to pronounce it

Clickncollect · 06/12/2021 21:46

That’s my Irish MIL’s name and she pronounces it awn-ya. It’s a lovely name but she is in Ireland so not sure if people would struggle with it elsewhere.

FallonCarringtonWannabe · 06/12/2021 21:46

Im watching This Way Up tonight and they definitely say onya. I know a child who it is pronounced as I would say it as awn ya

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