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Baby names

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

Original poster

Nevaeh

139 replies

gonutkin · 28/09/2022 11:49

I need honest opinions on the name Neveah, the infamous heaven spelt backwards.

I like unusual names but nothing that looks completely made up. I also don't usually ask for anyone opinions of our childrens names as I believe as long as we like it that's all that matters.

We are struggling for a name for our girl and came across Nevaeh, I do like it and the meaning with it. We are religious but not as strongly as others may be.

Is it honestly a nice name or not.. I've seen comments over the years about it being a bit of a chavvy name.. don't really know why but I'm curious to see what people think. I think it's a lovely name but am apprehensive. We have others on our list so it's not our number 1 choice but I'm curious if others opinion of it.

Thanks!

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Gensola · 28/09/2022 12:21

I think it looks impossible to pronounce and is tacky.

gretr · 28/09/2022 12:20

Isn’t the opposite of heaven, hell? I’d be concerned the child would be the next Damien!!

OfficiallyBroken · 28/09/2022 12:18

It doesn't look nice written down, it'll cause pronunciation problems and you'd be lumbering your daughter with being known as a "backwards heaven"

There are far nicer names, just the virtue of asking shows you really aren't certain it's a great idea.

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 28/09/2022 12:16

RaRaRaspoutine · 28/09/2022 12:15

Isn't Nevaeh famously despised by midwives?! It's not a nice name either way.

why would it be?

I'm sure midwives are as diverse in their choice of names as any other group.

RaRaRaspoutine · 28/09/2022 12:15

Isn't Nevaeh famously despised by midwives?! It's not a nice name either way.

SpinningFloppa · 28/09/2022 12:15

nuh vay ah is what I thought it was but apparently also pronounced nah ve ay 🤦🏻 Which sounds worse.

TheMoops · 28/09/2022 12:11

The fact you've spelt it incorrectly in in your post demonstrates why it's a bad idea.
It's not a nice name at all. Hard to spell, hard to say and it's a name people judge.

Peoplepissmeoff · 28/09/2022 12:11

It's chavvy and no longer unique

Cuppasoupmonster · 28/09/2022 12:10

Ah, baby names, the last bastion of acceptable classism on mumsnet 🙄

LosingTheWill2022 · 28/09/2022 12:09

How's it pronounced?

Hoppinggreen · 28/09/2022 12:09

Awful and I don’t understand why you take a word, spell it backwards and now it’s a name.
unfortunately it will be viewed as “common” by some if that’s a concern for you too

Cuppasoupmonster · 28/09/2022 12:09

I think it’s beautiful, so pretty! But then I don’t tie myself up in knots over ‘class’ I just know whether I like the sound of a name or I don’t.

ReadtheReviews · 28/09/2022 12:08

As a pp said, it's a 13 year old's taste. On a level with Renesme, the laughable Twilight one that sounds and looks like a medication for sexual dysfunction or hair regeneration.
What about Minerva for a similar collection of letters? Or Neve?

Cheeselog · 28/09/2022 12:08

I would avoid. It’s awkward to spell and pronounce and yes is viewed as chavvy. If you want a religious name why not go for a biblical one or a saint’s name?

WaltzingWaters · 28/09/2022 12:07

Not a fan I’m afraid

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 28/09/2022 12:06

It looks awkward and non-intuitive when written down, making it hard to know if you’re pronouncing it correctly. It’s also easy to not notice when you’ve misspelled it, as you have perfectly demonstrated by mistyping it in your OP.

And on top of that, if it’s meaning you’re interested in, to me it seems inherently empty and daft. Reaching for profundity and missing by a long way.

Spelling something backwards — just why? Love backwards is Evol; Star backwards is Rats. Those aren’t somehow nice baby names because of the meaning of the backwards word.

mrsmccormick · 28/09/2022 12:05

It's shite. Don't do it.

Dreamingcats · 28/09/2022 12:04

I don't mind it. It's a bit of a funny one because I thought it was pronounced like Neeve-ah for ages so I still have a double think about the pronunciation. But I don't think anything negative about it when I meet one. I actually much prefer it to Maeve.

Don't point out that it's heaven backwards to people! Surely everyone knows by now.

Beamur · 28/09/2022 12:04

How it is pronounced?
Tbh I just thought it was a quirky way to spell Neve/Niamh.

SillyFood · 28/09/2022 12:01

Do you pronounce it like Nivea? As in the crappy moisturiser? Are you particularly religious? If you want to call her Heaven, call her Heaven. Reversing it seems a bit like reciting the Lord’s Prayer backwards to me. If you’re Satanists I guess it might be cool though?

50percentNamaste50percentGoFuckYourself · 28/09/2022 12:01

need honest opinions on the name Neveah, the infamous heaven spelt backwards.

Look again. Is it haevan spelt backwards.

Awful horrible name invariable spelt wrong. Don't do it

PlantDoctor · 28/09/2022 12:00

PlantDoctor · 28/09/2022 11:58

The way you have spelled it is not "heaven" backwards either. That would be Nevaeh", which sounds worse to me

Actually, your title is spelled one way and the main text is the other.

SummaLuvin · 28/09/2022 11:59

I don't like it that much to look at and I don't know how to say it - in my head it's Nev-Ay-Ah, which I don't find nice. I also think a kid with this name would have to often explain both spelling and pronunciation, which isn't the end of the world, but I would have to like a name a lot to choose that for them.

However, as I have said before here, while what is said on this forum isn't worthless, it should be taken with a pinch of salt. This is not a perfect cross section of society, I believe it skews white and middle-class. Then add in the fact that the individuals choosing the frequent this board have an above average interest in names (why they are here in the first place), so you won't get a proper idea of what the general population will think, the judgement level is greater. Most people will hear it, think 'oh thats odd, never heard that before' then move on.

NothingTraLaLa · 28/09/2022 11:59

Awful. It’s the kind of name a 13-year-old might imagine for their future baby with [insert celebrity crush of choice here].

Needmorelego · 28/09/2022 11:59

I personally think it's quite a pretty name. It's only odd when people make a big deal about the Heaven part.
As long as you don't follow up with the "it's Heaven backwards....." every time you say the name then most people wouldn't even make that link.