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Baby names

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

Think very hard about giving your baby an Irish name unless you live in Ireland!

213 replies

sunnydelight · 25/03/2008 04:10

DD is called Aoife. I am Irish and my mum died when I was pregnant so giving her an Irish name seemed very important to me even though I was living in the UK (as well as giving her her grandmother's name as a middle name). Five years later I want to scream. No, she is not called EeTHa, or A-o-fie. I have a smile permanently pasted to my face explaining that of course I wouldn't expect anyone to know how to spell or pronounce such a strange name, but it is pronounced Ee-fa. I even write it phonetically in brackets when I fill in forms now. I remind her swimming teacher (with a smile on my face) every week, ditto the guy who runs the gym club. I am glad that I am not allowed to watch her ballet class so I don't have to listen to what they call her. We have just had a friend around (first Aussie playdate so every excited) and her friend's mum called her EeTHa throughout. I have already explained how to pronounce it so resorted to the usual "mirror it back the correct way" every time. No deal. Don't do it to your babies, please don't do it

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ninedragons · 25/03/2008 14:30

Thanks. Beautiful name, and it really suited the woman.

Blocky · 25/03/2008 14:24

Dearbhla

ninedragons · 25/03/2008 14:23

I was watching a programme on Discovery where a load of National Express drivers were taught to Riverdance. One of the professional dancers was called something that sounded like "Dervla" - how would that be spelt, out of interest?

Idobelieveinfairies · 25/03/2008 13:56

i have a 'Kyran' too tigger.....only a couple have pronounced it 'kai-ran'..if you know what i mean.

FioFio · 25/03/2008 13:55

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Flibbertyjibbet · 25/03/2008 13:48

I went to a catholic school so lots of Siobhans and Sians there and I sort of grew up with all those names.

Recently came across a mum whose daughter is Sian - but mother pronounces it Sigh-Ann. At first I thought she was being 'exotic' and naming the child after a tribe of american indians, wasn't there one called the Sheyenne/Shayenne/Chayanne?

No doubt the child will spend her life 'correcting' people to the incorrect prounounciation.....

Blocky · 25/03/2008 13:44

Sounds more like 'even' than 'e-vonn' when pronounced

fishie · 25/03/2008 13:37

is Aoibheann like yvonne?

Blocky · 25/03/2008 13:37

Aoibheann - Eve-een
Aibhlinn - Ave-leen

belgo · 25/03/2008 13:34

how do you pronounce:

Aoibheann or Aibhlinn

Blocky · 25/03/2008 13:33

When I was pg, was convinced was having a girl so chose the names Aoife, Aoibheann or Aibhlinn, all of which I love.
Then I went and had a lovely boy

keevamum · 25/03/2008 13:32

I decided to give DD1 an irish name as parents are irish. Dh and I decided on Caoimhe (pronounced Keeva)but then we gave it the anglicized spelling so people wouldn't be too confused....we've not had too many probs but I can imagine we would have had loads had we kept the irish spelling. Love the name Aoife too.

sweetie66 · 25/03/2008 13:23

My DD name is Phoebe. You would think after friends everyone would know how to spell it but no she gets Febee or phebe. Drives me mad!

belgo · 25/03/2008 13:23

I would try and remember, but it's very hard with a name you've absolutely never heard before.

edam · 25/03/2008 13:22

I had no idea how to pronounce Aoife until I saw this thread. But if I met your (no doubt lovely) dd IRL I'd listen and try to remember.

WatsTheStory · 25/03/2008 13:15

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fircone · 25/03/2008 13:12

You can call your dcs what you like, but it's not really on to be cheesed off with people for pronouncing them incorrectly. It's embarrassing to have to ask several times if someone will repeat their name because you couldn't quite catch it, and it does seem that if people have unusual names they perform an especially mumbly introduction.

My sister chose 'international' names for her dcs as she was living and married to an Italian in Italy. She said she wanted their name to fit in in as many places as possible.

belgo · 25/03/2008 13:11

My dd2 has a traditional flemish name. My english family and friends have all made a great effort to pronounce and spell it properly. Ironically it's flemish people who often spell it wrong!

fishie · 25/03/2008 13:11

i have never been sure re kathleen / katleen lambethlil, am a kath myself and find that lots of irish people call me kat, i think the accent does not pronounce th strongly? ditto german.

MrsMattie · 25/03/2008 13:10

I disagree. I'm a Londoner with an Irish name with a very Gaelic spelling, and despite the fact that I have to spell my name to the vast majority of people/ explain how it's pronounced/ explain it's it's origin etc I love it. I wouldn't be a Gemma or a Louise if you paid me (no offence to Gemmas and Louises). My name is beautiful, it has a lovely meaning and it reflects my heritage. I'm proud of it.

Btw, Aoife is beautiful. My mum nearly called my sister that, but at the last minute chose another (equally 'difficult for English people to pronounce' name! )

LambethLil · 25/03/2008 13:08

Caitlin should be- ie was originally and is apparently still pronounced in Ireland Cat-leen!!

expatinscotland · 25/03/2008 13:08

My daughters have Gaelic names in Scotland. Never been a problem here .

Kindereggsurpise · 25/03/2008 12:56

I can forgive someone not spelling my DCs name correctly, but after I have told them repeatedly how to pronounce her name, I do get a bit annoyed.

She is Catriona, which is not really difficult for Germans to say so I don't see the problem.

fishie · 25/03/2008 12:55

it was originally kathleen but is generally katelyn now.

belgo · 25/03/2008 12:54

I pronounce it Kate Lyn as well.