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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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Heather37231 · 18/01/2024 11:30

Easy to pronounce and nobody will confuse with Niamh in person as he will clearly be an Indian male, or written down as the surname will indicate it’s not likely to be the Irish name.

Go for it!

Original poster
sonta8 · 18/01/2024 11:29

@Dmsandfloatydress @Tempnamechng We live in London.

OP posts:
Wictc · 18/01/2024 11:27

I used to work with a Niamh (woman) and a Neve (man - he spelt it that way) in the same office.

It was never an issue, nobody had a problem with his name, I can’t see why they would anyway.

I think it’s a lovely name. People aren’t as backward as they used to be and take the mick out of people’s names, there are a whole range of names at my child’s school and it’s not an issue. Bullies will bully regardless of what your name is.

Heather37231 · 18/01/2024 11:25

Viviennemary · 18/01/2024 11:09

No sorry I missed the bit where she says it's a name in her culture. I apologise.

The entire OP then?

EdgeOfACoin · 18/01/2024 11:25

It'll be fine. The Indian surname will make it clear that it's an Indian name, not a misspelled Irish name.

Mumsnet is very weird sometimes - most people are very used to names from different cultures, especially if they live anywhere even vaguely near a big city.

Tempnamechng · 18/01/2024 11:25

I think because of your culture its a great name, but it depends where you are living. Niamh isn't actually supposed to be pronounced Neev, this is the anglicised version. Niamh is pronounced more like Nyive.

Fraaahnces · 18/01/2024 11:24

Good grief…. I think that it would be obvious that your child wasn’t a girl, and that you were unlikely to name him Niamh. There is a large enough Indian population in the UK that I imagine it’s not that uncommon. Stating that it’s inappropriate is like saying Johan is wrong because it sounds like Joanne. Small-minded.

Dmsandfloatydress · 18/01/2024 11:24

I think it depends where you live. London, Birmingham, Manchester, absolutely fine. Small rural town, potential for being teased for having a girls name.

Original poster
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

OP posts:
LightSwerve · 18/01/2024 11:22

I think it is nice. I don't think the fact it sounds like Niamh matters, that is just how it goes when different names from different cultures end up in the same place.

Whataretheodds · 18/01/2024 11:22

I don't know a lot about what kids get bullied for at school but my expectation is that a desi boy called Neev is not going to be confused for an Irish girl except perhaps if people see the first name written down by itself.

I'll admit I'm a massive snob about made-up names/made up spellings so when I saw your thread title I thought "no" . When I read your post I thought "yes". That's my bias.

But if your preference is for something else (eg Ajinkya?) And you're worried about pronunciation, maybe try some of those out here? Is Ajinkya pronounced phonetically?

Fourecks · 18/01/2024 11:21

I agree with @ihatevinted

My first thought on seeing the title was 'They don't know how to spell Niamh'. My second thought was 'Oh wait, maybe it's another non-English name'.

Assuming it's pronounced 'N-eve' and your son is clearly of Indian origin, I don't think anyone will think twice.

Charlie2121 · 18/01/2024 11:21

His name is Yaniv. Nev is just how he likes to be known.

Original poster
sonta8 · 18/01/2024 11:20

ihatevinted · 18/01/2024 11:17

I think if you are very clearly naming him because of your culture (so he'll have an Indian surname and / or obviously Indian ethnicity), it's fine. More than fine in fact - it's a lovely name.

If he's white British with the surname Jones because the link to your heritage is distant, then I think ignorant people would unfortunately assume that you've made the name up / wanted to have a girl called Niamh etc.

Yea - he will have a very Indian surname and both my husband and I are from India😊

OP posts:
Lanyardqueen · 18/01/2024 11:19

A lovely name. Easy to pronounce in the UK.

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

Smartiepants79 · 18/01/2024 11:12

Is that how it’s spelt?
With the cultural reference it’s quite nice but if your are planning to live in the uk be prepared for it to be thought very unusual. Most people here will recognise it as a girls name. I would probably try and pick something that translates better into to country he will grow up in.

I mean it’s being spelt in English but it’s a Hindi name. But yea most people in India would spell it like this.

OP posts:
LightSwerve · 18/01/2024 11:18

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From the OP: It’s a boys name in our culture and means foundation.

Very rude to dismiss all names you don't know as 'made up', especially if you have narrow knowledge.

ihatevinted · 18/01/2024 11:17

I think if you are very clearly naming him because of your culture (so he'll have an Indian surname and / or obviously Indian ethnicity), it's fine. More than fine in fact - it's a lovely name.

If he's white British with the surname Jones because the link to your heritage is distant, then I think ignorant people would unfortunately assume that you've made the name up / wanted to have a girl called Niamh etc.

EmailAddress · 18/01/2024 11:15

@sonta8 it does sound like the girls name but I like it and think it works and easy to pronounce in the uk from how it’s written so covers all bases

Original poster
sonta8 · 18/01/2024 11:14

@Whatevershallidowithmylife @Viviennemary It’s an Indian name. People tend to butcher long Indian names and always pronounce it wrong. So, want an easier name as well to pronounce. I don’t imagine someone here will be able to pronounce a name like “Ajinkya”.

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EmailAddress · 18/01/2024 11:14

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RaininSummer · 18/01/2024 11:14

Unusual in UK but a cool name.

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.

Smartiepants79 · 18/01/2024 11:12

Is that how it’s spelt?
With the cultural reference it’s quite nice but if your are planning to live in the uk be prepared for it to be thought very unusual. Most people here will recognise it as a girls name. I would probably try and pick something that translates better into to country he will grow up in.

BoohooWoohoo · 18/01/2024 11:12

I initially thought that you didn’t know how to spell Niamh properly.

Then I remembered that I was familiar with the name - Nev Schulman presents a programme called Catfish on MTV and his name is pronounced Neev

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