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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is ‘Neev’ a nice name for a baby boy

109 replies

sonta8 · 18/01/2024 11:05

Hi,

We are expecting a baby boy soon and I have been researching names. We are from India and we want to name the baby something that is derived from one of the Indian languages. And at the same time easy to pronounce for people in UK.

I love the name ‘Neev’. It’s a boys name in our culture and means foundation. But on research found that it sounds similar to the Irish girl’s name Niamh. So two questions:

  1. What do you think of the name? You think it’s easy to pronounce?
  2. Will he get bullied for a name that’s also an Irish girls name? I want to believe kids have moved forward from bullying people on gender identify and attributes in this world where people can be gender fluid. But just want to be sure that I am not creating a problem for him in school etc.
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LightSwerve · 18/01/2024 12:04

sonta8 · 18/01/2024 11:55

[ UH - J ih n - K y ah ] 😅

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I think that is a nice name and not hard to pronounce.

Certain types of people used to moan about Niamh, Maeve, Siobhan thirty years ago.

Flatulence · 18/01/2024 12:02

I like it. I's very easy to spell and pronounce too - which always make's a child's life easier.
I do suspect some people will think it's a misspelling of Niamh and think it's a girl's name. Where I live, Niamh is a very popular name.
I'd not let that put you off though.

gettingbackonit23 · 18/01/2024 12:00

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She said it’s a name from their culture. So she hasn’t made it up.

Revelwithacause · 18/01/2024 11:59

willWillSmithsmith · 18/01/2024 11:56

The thing about names is you can really get used to someone’s name very quickly no matter how odd or unusual. At my kids old school they’d get a lot of foreign students who would choose their own ‘anglicised’ name and some of them were very unusual, but you soon got used to hearing them.

Agree with this. It would be very sad in a country that is supposed to pride itself on multiculturalism if all the beautiful and hard to pronounce names from different cultures were stamped out because of people wanting their kids to fit in (completely understandable though!).

LaBruja · 18/01/2024 11:58

I only know of one person called "Neev" and it's the guy from the tv show catfish 😄 I think his is spelled "Nev" though. I think it's quite nice

willWillSmithsmith · 18/01/2024 11:56

The thing about names is you can really get used to someone’s name very quickly no matter how odd or unusual. At my kids old school they’d get a lot of foreign students who would choose their own ‘anglicised’ name and some of them were very unusual, but you soon got used to hearing them.

Revelwithacause · 18/01/2024 11:55

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classic mumsnetter tripping over herself to be the first person to ridicule the OP.

I think it’s nice OP and unlikely to be mispronounced. But you will get ignorant people (case in point above) who sneer at it,

Original poster
sonta8 · 18/01/2024 11:55

Heckythump1 · 18/01/2024 11:48

Am I the only one who just really wants to know how Ajinkya is pronounced?

[ UH - J ih n - K y ah ] 😅

OP posts:
krustykittens · 18/01/2024 11:54

I did think of Niamh first, but I am Irish. I think it is lovely and paired with an Indian surname, I don't think people are going to think you can't spell Niamh!

ManchesterLu · 18/01/2024 11:54

It sounds lovely to me - yes, there's is an Irish girls' name that sounds the same, but if it's spelt differently alongside an Indian surname I don't think anyone will even click.

TequilaNights · 18/01/2024 11:49

InTheRainOnATrain · 18/01/2024 11:13

Nev, pronounced Neev, is also a Jewish boy’s name isn’t it? Like the guy from Catfish (anyone else remember that show??). I have to say I thought of that first and the Irish girl’s name second.

This was the first thing I thought of too.

Heckythump1 · 18/01/2024 11:48

Am I the only one who just really wants to know how Ajinkya is pronounced?

Dmsandfloatydress · 18/01/2024 11:46

In London you can call your baby literally any name you like and no one will bat an eyelid. If you like the name then crack on! In his class there will be such a rich variety of cultures from all around the world that no one would even think about the Irish connection.

willWillSmithsmith · 18/01/2024 11:46

Well Karan is an Indian boys name I’ve seen many times so I suppose it could be put in the same bracket as that but if he’s going to be brought up in the U.K. it’s a girl’s name here. I wouldn’t name a boy Michel if he was growing up here even though in France it’s a boys name. You do what is ultimately best for your son.

BatteryPowerGnat · 18/01/2024 11:43

Go with it.
It's easy to spell and say and should not be an issue especially in London.

MerryMarigold · 18/01/2024 11:42

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RUDE! OP just said it's a name in her culture.

I like it OP. There are so many different names out there I don't think it'll stand out. Also, I only know one girl Niamh so it's not like Isabelle or something where there are loads around. Plus it does not sound 'girly' at all. It's much better than another Raffys (we have 3 out of about 25 boys in my nursery!).

CactusMactus · 18/01/2024 11:41

You could do Nevin said like Kevin...

Original poster
sonta8 · 18/01/2024 11:40

Thanks everyone for your feedback ❤

OP posts:
ScrambledSmegs · 18/01/2024 11:40

It's a nice name and really I don't think there will be a problem with bullying because of a name in London. I've heard much more unusual names pass without comment.

Badburyrings · 18/01/2024 11:38

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Did you actually read the OP or did you just dive in to be rude?

The OP clearly states it is a boys name in her culture.

" love the name ‘Neev’. It’s a boys name in our culture and means foundation. "

SuperDopper · 18/01/2024 11:37

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Seriously? What a disgusting post.

What’s your name? I’m sure it sounds made up to anyone not from your culture. How bloody rude!

Lochroy · 18/01/2024 11:35

The female Niamh is often also spelt Neve.

Scope for misspelling and people assuming it's a female name, but it's not a given.

cstaff · 18/01/2024 11:35

Ironically the Irish name Niamh has only recently (last 10-20 years) been accepted and recognised in the UK. At least with Neev, it is spelt as it should be pronounced so there should be no difficulty.

GreatGateauxsby · 18/01/2024 11:32

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This is absolutely NOT true - and your ignorance is showing there…

I’m Irish and as a result think automatically of Naimh (which is a gorgeous name!)
But i know two women with sons called Neev both are Indian.
It’s a really nice and common enough name… Also easy to spell 😉

if you love it go for it @sonta8

in London in particular no one will bat an eyelid.
i mentioned it elsewhere I met a boy named Octave last week… fucking Octave!!!! 😵‍💫

LightSwerve · 18/01/2024 11:30

sonta8 · 18/01/2024 11:23

Another question I had was - do kids still bully other kids with unisex names or names that sound feminine. Or they don’t anymore? Sounds a bit old school but I wonder if it still happens

Bullying still happens for anything and everything.

But simultaneously there is much wider acceptance among kids too, of different clothes/hair/names/whatever.

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