Aoife - if not Irish?

Helpneeded12345 · 2023-03-18T10:36:32+00:00

I love the name Aoife. It is my all time favourite girls name but neither my partner or I are Irish (my great-grandparents were Irish but this is a very long way back!) I would love to hear your thoughts. Do you think it is ok to use Aoife if not Irish or would it be weird / cultural appropriation? I'm particularly interested in opinions from anyone Irish - would it be offensive?

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Chickenkeev · 14/08/2023 19:04

Irish here, wouldn't be offended at all. In fact, i'd take it as a compliment really!

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 23/03/2023 11:25

ReadersD1gest · 18/03/2023 10:38

It's fine, it's quite popular in some parts of London! Not so much in Ireland anymore, oddly.

I've just looked and it was 32nd most popular girls' name in Ireland in 2021. So still going very strong indeed considering it was a top 10 name through most of the 80s, 90s and 00s.

Webbing · 23/03/2023 00:22

I know a 9 year old Aoife living in Uk - she explains the pronunciation as Aoife rhymes with FIFA.

I think it’s a great name and if you live in a fairly cosmopolitan area it will work fine. If you are based in a locality that’s maybe not as mixed and there will be anti Irish feeling then perhaps it’s not the best choice.

Grassisbluer · 23/03/2023 00:04

Off I trot to google...😅

Enko · 22/03/2023 23:50

KirstenBlest · 22/03/2023 19:29

@Enko, Aoife won't be an english name because it is irish. It's not an anglicised version of the name.
You probably don't think that Elizabeth, Charles, Philip, Andrew, Anne, Henry, William or Catherine are english names either.

So much for agreeing to disagree ha.

In answer to your question I have a keen interest in onomastics.

KirstenBlest · 22/03/2023 19:29

@Enko, Aoife won't be an english name because it is irish. It's not an anglicised version of the name.
You probably don't think that Elizabeth, Charles, Philip, Andrew, Anne, Henry, William or Catherine are english names either.

Enko · 22/03/2023 19:21

KirstenBlest · 22/03/2023 19:10

We'll just have to agree to disagree @Enko. As far as I am concerned, Mary is an english name. That there are many irish, welsh and scottish women called Mary does not make it an irish, welsh or scottish name.

No and that was my point. Names can become so normalised they get to be seen as of that country. In my opinion Aoife is going in that direction. To me Mary will never be an English name though a anglicised one.

KirstenBlest · 22/03/2023 19:10

We'll just have to agree to disagree @Enko. As far as I am concerned, Mary is an english name. That there are many irish, welsh and scottish women called Mary does not make it an irish, welsh or scottish name.

Enko · 22/03/2023 18:51

KirstenBlest · 22/03/2023 14:05

@Enko , that's not my logic at all. Maryam might be hebrew, but Mary is the english form of the name, just like Marie is the french form, etc.
Aoife doesn't fit the pattern, because it isn't a biblical name or from a hebrew origin. It's an irish name that is used in England.

Being the English form. Doesn't make the name English is what I am saying. The name Mary is still Hebrew. It has been anglicised yes but that does not make it an "English name' it is the Anglicised version of a Hebrew name

KirstenBlest · 22/03/2023 14:05

@Enko , that's not my logic at all. Maryam might be hebrew, but Mary is the english form of the name, just like Marie is the french form, etc.
Aoife doesn't fit the pattern, because it isn't a biblical name or from a hebrew origin. It's an irish name that is used in England.

Enko · 22/03/2023 13:50

KirstenBlest · 22/03/2023 12:47

@Enko , it's not though. Aoife is irish and from an irish origin.
Mary is an english name originating from Maryam/Miryam/Miriam,or Maria.

Maryam etc all original from Hebrew so again using your.logic Aoife becomes English
The mere.fact a name is used common I'm a country doesn't change their origin and doesn't make them.off that country. They remain from their core.

Much like English origin from a mix of Germanic peoples—Angles, Saxons, and Jute

KirstenBlest · 22/03/2023 12:47

@Enko , it's not though. Aoife is irish and from an irish origin.
Mary is an english name originating from Maryam/Miryam/Miriam,or Maria.

Tucci · 22/03/2023 12:33

I’m from West of Ireland, you certainly have my permission no worries. ☘️

sunglassesonthetable · 22/03/2023 12:27

Mary is a classic example of a name in English becoming closely associated with Ireland. Ditto Bridget.

Yes you rarely here of a Mary now in the UK. Could be the tide will be turning soon.

sunglassesonthetable · 22/03/2023 12:25

Well this has turned into a pissing contest.

Love how the Irish folk on here come on, in the main, and say yes it's a great name, use it.

Enko · 22/03/2023 12:21

KirstenBlest · 22/03/2023 09:27

@Enko , don't be silly - of course the Bible was first written in English! You'll be telling me next that a lot of them weren't Christians

Mary is of Hebrew origin, but is an English name.

Using this logic Aoife is a English name too
Its in the top 200 names in the UK.

KirstenBlest · 22/03/2023 09:27

@Enko , don't be silly - of course the Bible was first written in English! You'll be telling me next that a lot of them weren't Christians

Mary is of Hebrew origin, but is an English name.

mathanxiety · 21/03/2023 21:15

Mary is a classic example of a name in English becoming closely associated with Ireland. Ditto Bridget.

Enko · 21/03/2023 20:26

KirstenBlest · 21/03/2023 20:22

@Enko , Rebecca is not of English origin, but it is a name from the English version of the bible. Mary is an English name.

Mary is of Hebrew origin. It has been so commonly used in English it is now seen as an English name.

That is kinda my point all names can become so common in use that they no longer appear " foreign"

Also, I am making the assumption you know that the bible was not originally written in English.

KirstenBlest · 21/03/2023 20:22

@Enko , Rebecca is not of English origin, but it is a name from the English version of the bible. Mary is an English name.

Enko · 20/03/2023 23:16

KirstenBlest · 20/03/2023 12:29

I'm in Ireland and I've come across lots of Priyas Lots??

I find it odd that it is seen as a question but a name like Rebecca, Olivia or Chloe' is not questioned. Yet not English/British
Rebecca is biblical, and Olivia is shakespearean, so do not compare.
Chloe has only been popular since the late 1980s. Something to do with the fashion brand perhaps?

Biblical or not Rebecca. Is not British. Olivia btw is biblical too(Genesis)

Chloe is one of the ones predicted to rise.

My point however is that the names were not originally British but are now seen very normal. There is no reason why it can't happen from other areas too.

Phoebe had almost become rare before the mid
1990s. And now it's hugely popular and not looking like itn
will Stop anytime soon. Yet it's Greek.

Like language names evolve and change.

SkyeBlue28 · 20/03/2023 22:40

I’m Irish and I think it’s fine for you to use the name Aoife.
I think you should go for it since it’s your all time favourite girl’s name

AnonymousArmadillo · 20/03/2023 22:14

Violethayes · 20/03/2023 16:07

It’s not an attractive name in my opinion. Sounds like a clumsy fat person or a wheezy noise. However if I liked it I would use it regardless if it being Irish.

Couldn’t just say you didn’t like it, could you? Had liken to liken it to a fat person for some unknown reason.

mumonherphone · 20/03/2023 18:30

I personally wouldn't without the Irish heritage. She will spend her life having to explain to people that she's not actually Irish.

Templebreedy · 20/03/2023 18:19

LizzieAnt · 20/03/2023 16:27

I have to say a strong ah at the end of Aoife (or indeed Saoirse) sounds wrong to my ear too. The word aife has the same ending and it's given here in various Irish language dialects.

www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/aife

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In the nicest possible way, Dublin is not where I would look to for a correct pronunciation of Irish words.