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Baby names

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

Original poster

Fiadh or Aoife in the UK

81 replies

Jacketandbeans · 25/02/2022 08:23

I started another thread looking for a name to go with our two Irish boys names.
We had pretty much written off the Irish girls names due to spelling issues with the ones that we like.
However I can't help feeling like she might wonder why she was the only one without an Irish name. Just wondered what people's thoughts are on these two
Aoife - Eefa
Fiadh - Fia (like Mia or Tia but with an F)

They both have beautiful meanings and I think Fifi would be a cute nickname for both of them. We live in England, interested to know if people would know how to pronounce them over here and thoughts on the names.
Thanks!

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MalibuBarbieDreamHouse · 10/04/2024 15:35

Congrats! :)

KirstenBlest · 10/04/2024 14:27

Thanks for the update. I hope you didn't call him Fiadh or AoifeSmile
Congratulations!

Original poster
Jacketandbeans · 10/04/2024 14:25

Oh this was me!
We had a boy in the end.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 05/04/2024 08:40

This child is coming up to 2 years old. The thread is slightly older

PlasticOno · 05/04/2024 00:21

SemperIdem · 26/02/2022 08:31

I love these threads they always boil down to a number of people saying essentially “no English people will be able to say the name at first reading so don’t bother”. Is everyone supposed to abandon names from their own (or spouses) culture in favour of Oliver and Olivia so lazy people don’t have to make the effort to pronounce different names correctly?

Yes, that’s pretty much it. ‘Just call her Sophie in case the dentist’s receptionist gets it wrong.’ I spent 26 years living and working in various parts of England with an Irish name and surname, and people managed. I had a DS while living in England, who has an Irish first name and both DH’s and my Irish-language surnames, and again, no issues.

Either is nice, OP, though I do share some pp’s concerns about some Irish names being mangled by non-rhotic accents.

Jennyg27 · 04/04/2024 23:53

This could well have been me! 😂

BonnieBlue88 · 02/03/2022 19:08

If you were in Ireland, I would say: these names are so common and boring 🙄
Might be unusual in the UK

Indiana2021 · 02/03/2022 16:21

Lots of Aoife's around now, and it is a beautiful name. They'll likely be sitting in class with the many Eve's, Evie's and Eva's though.
It may end up bothering you having various similar sounding names. I get totally confused with who's who in DS class as there are a lot of them!

honeyrider · 02/03/2022 16:10

Fiadh was the top girl's name in Ireland last year. I wouldn't be gone on it but I think Aoife is a beautiful name.

mae2014 · 02/03/2022 14:52

LOVE fiadh, my niece is called Fiadh Belle x

KirstenBlest · 26/02/2022 15:00

I do hear E for ... and "All a... for Aoife and Orla, @Phyllis321*.

Fiadh falls into the Mia, Thea, Leah, Nia, Pryia, Croia trend

I'd look for a less popular name that is fairly easy to guess the spelling and pronunciation

Phyllis321 · 26/02/2022 14:22

I know, there's E for Adam or something. We had a ' fun lesson' at school about it once and it just stuck all these years.
Like I said, highly unlikely anyone else would make the association. They're all beautiful names.

KirstenBlest · 26/02/2022 14:15

@Phyllis321, Aoife is pronounced EE-fa not Ayfa.

I like Niamh too but you'll struggle to get it said as Nee-uv in the UK. It's not Neeve

Phyllis321 · 26/02/2022 14:11

This is totally my problem but Aoife sounds to me like part of the Cockney alphabet : 'A for 'orses' etc.

It's a lovely name though although I have a soft spot for Niamh.

Thoosa · 26/02/2022 14:06

Thank you that helps. I’ll stop stressing about it now. Grin

Classica · 26/02/2022 14:05

Ah, ná bí ag caoineadh, @Thoosa!

SoupDragon · 26/02/2022 14:01

Long ago the name was Fiad. The h shows the d has been softened.
Like in the name Tadhg, there the dh changes the vowel from short "a" to long "i".
Does that help?

Thank you 🙂

JenniferBarkley · 26/02/2022 13:28

I think Fiadh has become so popular so quickly in Ireland that it's going to date horribly.

I like Aoife but I know you've said it doesn't go with your surname.

What about a different Irish name like Aisling, Clodagh, Maeve (probably best to stick the with anglicised spelling), Niamh?

YoComoManzanas · 26/02/2022 13:15

Just go with whichever you and the dad like.
I have a perfectly average, 2 syllable disney princess name and it still get misheard, mispronounced and renamed.

SeanChailleach · 26/02/2022 13:07

@SoupDragon

What part does the "DH" play in the pronunciation?
Long ago the name was Fiad. The h shows the d has been softened. Like in the name Tadhg, there the dh changes the vowel from short "a" to long "i". Does that help?
Thoosa · 26/02/2022 12:39

They’re both lovely.

Original poster
Jacketandbeans · 26/02/2022 12:33

@LizzieAnt I would definitely spell it Fiadh as I love the look of it and it looks more finished especially with our short one syllable surname.
But I love the fact that she would have an easier version if she turns out to be shy and doesn't want the embarrassment of people stumbling over her name at school or whatever Smile

I'm hoping it will get more popular over here now it is so popular in Ireland.

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 26/02/2022 12:32

Neither of those are unusual , and I'll add that on Coronation Street there's a Llio and they only get one of the three letters right.

KirstenBlest · 26/02/2022 12:28

It's a bit ridiculous to suggest that a 2 syllable name is unlearnable.

@Goneback2school, not Irish but try Lleucu.or Llio

Thoosa · 26/02/2022 12:27

@SoupDragon

What part does the "DH" play in the pronunciation?
It’s driving me mad that I can’t think of the other common Irish word that ends with a silent “dh”.