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Baby names

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Original poster

To tell parents about pronunciation?

158 replies

HelpaSILout · 15/12/2023 08:31

My SIL shared their favourite name with family for their soon due DS.
It’s a beautiful name, Fionn. We live in England (no strong Irish heritage on our side of the family, not sure about hers) but being an obviously Celtic name I wondered about its meaning and put it into google.
Now the problem arises, they are pronouncing it Fi-on and I’ve found it’s pronounced Finn. Do I say something or just keep my beak out!?

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Marmiteidea · 15/12/2023 16:44

Irish names use different pronunciation when they are being called vocative case from the nomnitive case

so Michael, Micheál (nomnitive) becomes A Mhicíl when someone is calling him (vocative)

Fionn becomes A Fhinn in the same way. There are more complexities than this and it is largely about pronouncing rather than writing.

In Ireland we have the name Seamus whereas in Scotland it is called Hamish which is the Irish vocative pronunciation for Seamus.

I can’t spell the names well but that is the principle as much as I know.

Toddlerteaplease · 15/12/2023 16:38

YourNameGoesHere · 15/12/2023 08:35

How can they not know it's pronounced Finn? Why would they think it was pronounced Fee-on? Definitely tell them because everyone else would be pronouncing their child's name correctly except them.

I had no idea!

frogswimming · 15/12/2023 16:36

It's really popular here (Dublin). I think I should have said f yun like others have. The f is not fee. But as I said my children tell me I don't pronounce it right.

frogswimming · 15/12/2023 16:14

I'm in Ireland and it's pronounced f yon here. I think. But my children always tell me I can't say it right.

Eiris · 15/12/2023 16:09

How is Fionn a different name to Finn? Finn Mac Cumhail was spelled Finn in the oldest manuscripts, then later interchangeably Finn and Fionn until... well right up to present day so far as I can tell. He doesn't have two different names.

debbydowner · 15/12/2023 15:07

Op, I think you may have assumed that they it for a particular pronunciation. They may have intended to be "Fionn" reading "Fee-yon" not specifically Irish

nokidshere · 15/12/2023 15:02

Why would just not ask? Hey SIL I heard that Fionn can be pronounced in different ways, how do you want us to pronounce it? Easy peasy.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 15/12/2023 13:03

RaininSummer · 15/12/2023 12:54

I wouldn't have known it was pronounced Finn. Find a subtle way to point it out so they don't feel daft.

It's not...

OchonAgusOchonOh · 15/12/2023 13:02

YourNameGoesHere · 15/12/2023 08:35

How can they not know it's pronounced Finn? Why would they think it was pronounced Fee-on? Definitely tell them because everyone else would be pronouncing their child's name correctly except them.

It's not pronounced Finn. The pronunciation is closer to Fee-on than Finn.

It's more like F-yun with the f having a short fu sound.

Rosiiee · 15/12/2023 12:57

I’m in Ireland and I’ve never seen it pronounced Finn? More like f-yun?

RaininSummer · 15/12/2023 12:54

I wouldn't have known it was pronounced Finn. Find a subtle way to point it out so they don't feel daft.

Notausernanme · 15/12/2023 12:53

In Munster we pronounce it fyun, with the i sounding like y as in yonder. It most definitely isn't Finn, that's a different name. Feonn is jarring to my ears.

The PP who proclaimed that "Celtic names are so confusing" is rude, ignorant and obnoxious. Irish names are treated with contempt in the UK, it reeks of Ireland shouldn't have an indigenous language 🙄

It's important to approach discussions about cultural differences and languages with sensitivity. Fostering understanding and respect between languages is essential for positive interactions. That's not my experience of the Irish language in the UK unfortunately.

Eiris · 15/12/2023 11:51

I would ask them is there a story eg person they are naming after.

MrsMiddleMother · 15/12/2023 10:57

No don't tell them, in england they will get called Fee- On anyway so may as well stick to that. Speaking from someone born and raised in England with a very traditional Irish name.

ArsenicInTheAppleTart · 15/12/2023 10:41

I'd pronounce it f-yun but have met so many Fionns that pronounce it as Finn so wouldn't be surprised to hear that.

Fee-on is bad.

DyslexicPoster · 15/12/2023 10:36

It's very confusing even if you are Irish heritage. I have to chek in with mil as names seem to be prodistant or Catholic too which is another mindfield when your family actually are Irish.

ALonelyRoad · 15/12/2023 10:34

@Marmiteidea, I stand corrected! 😅 Although every Fionn I’ve I’ve met pronounced it Finn 🤷🏻‍♀️

Marmiteidea · 15/12/2023 10:32

@ALonelyRoad you might want to read the thread. 🤣🤣

MerryMarigold · 15/12/2023 10:31

I know a Fionn. Both parents are Irish (South). He has always been 'Fyon' but most English people say 'Fee-on'. Maybe be the extra n makes all the difference but he never been anything like Finn.

ALonelyRoad · 15/12/2023 10:27

I saw the name and read it as ‘Finn’ - I think it’s pretty common knowledge that it’s pronounced like that?! Almost like everyone knows Isla isn’t ‘Is-La’. I suppose you could mention that you coincidentally met a ‘Fionn’ who pronounces it Finn and see how they react. Maybe if they don’t say anything now, they’ll Google it too and change the spelling to suit their pronunciation or just go with it and hopefully pronounce it correctly.

bananamangoes · 15/12/2023 10:24

Wait until you're all together in the same place and ask them to clarify how it's pronounced

So rnaso

brbttc · 15/12/2023 10:24

Like other irish posters here, I agree it's f-yun. I have never in my life heard an irish person pronounce it Finn 😂😂

Marmiteidea · 15/12/2023 10:22

It is not a good name for non Irish. I know a UK child with the name and they try to pronounce it correctly but it comes out Fi on. It is mainly pronounced Ffff (just the f sound) yun. Finn and Fionn are different names where I am.

ColleenDonaghy · 15/12/2023 10:20

Agree with the other Irish posters that it's f-yun. I have come across the odd one who pronounces it Finn.

I did once know a little boy who'd now be in his 30s who pronounced it fee-on - he was born in England to English parents who then moved to Ireland. Poor kid, it's like rocking up at an English school and saying your name is Ben pronounced Been.

I'd say something OP.

titchy · 15/12/2023 10:19

HelpaSILout · 15/12/2023 10:13

Thank you to everyone regarding the proper Irish pronunciations. The google video I listened to sounded like Finn & I’d read an old MN thread before posting which suggested NI prounounce it Finn and SI fy-unn, ‘like the word fun with a yuh sound after the f.’
The only Irish heritage my family have is one great grandparent from NI.
Anyway I will certainly not be saying anything as I’d have been gutted if anyone had passed comment on my baby names. I just needed to feel sure that I wasn’t setting up my DN to find out his name had been mispronounced his whole life.
I feel reassured that a few have said any 3 pronunciations would be acceptable so my nose will stay out!

Southern Ireland? Hmm

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