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Baby names

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

Original poster

Should I call my daughter Aoibhín in England?

392 replies

lovebeingmuma · 05/08/2025 19:23

Will my daughter hate me for calling her a name no one can pronounce?

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Emanwenym · 05/08/2025 22:24

Notmenothere · 05/08/2025 22:07

Not in English, I'm afraid. And given the OP is concerned about the name's pronunciation in London, which is in England, I think that's the relevant point, don't you?

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How would you spell Ciarán?
Kieran, Keiran, Keiron, Keerun?

Hollyhobbi · 05/08/2025 22:24

manicpixieschemegirl · 05/08/2025 19:33

Gorgeous name! People have learned how to pronounce Niamh, Aoife, Caoimhe, Roisin and Saoirse in recent years so I wouldn’t worry too much. Especially if you’re in London.

And Siobhan! If they realise that bh is a v sound they’ll be grand. There is no letter v in the Irish language hence the bh.

UrbanOasis · 05/08/2025 22:22

I wonder if many English ex pats agonise about if people can pronounce their children's names?

PennyAnnLane · 05/08/2025 22:22

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 22:18

No, it wasn't AI generated. No need to be embarrassed for me, I'm not the one denying my heritage!

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How am I denying my heritage by not claiming to be from a country I wasn’t born in and have never lived in?

RosaMundi27 · 05/08/2025 22:21

lovebeingmuma · 05/08/2025 19:25

It’s pronounced Aiveen. We absolutely love it but scared she’ll struggle if she grows up in London.

The first part of the name, according to the rules of Irish spelling would really be Eev - so Eeveen.

GreatTheCat · 05/08/2025 22:21

Yes! Use it. I have no idea how to pronounce it but you would only have to tell me a couple of times and I'd get it.

Funny how we can use any other type of names but Irish with Irish parents is a no go.

Spinachpastapicker · 05/08/2025 22:20

Too similar to Aoife for me. Like you couldn’t be bothered looking past page one of the Irish baby names book and went “that’ll do”.

UrbanOasis · 05/08/2025 22:19

Pinkcherry26 · 05/08/2025 19:33

I know two Aoibhinns (in London) - does the spelling make any difference? Just wondering if losing the fada makes it easier in England. As with any name, once you know how to say it, it's fine.

I would be more concerned it's a bit too matchy matchy re Aoife - is there another Irish name you like?

I also think the two names are too similar

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 22:18

PennyAnnLane · 05/08/2025 22:17

Quite embarrassing for her considering it was AI generated bollocks.

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No, it wasn't AI generated. No need to be embarrassed for me, I'm not the one denying my heritage!

PennyAnnLane · 05/08/2025 22:17

Emanwenym · 05/08/2025 22:06

@ReadingSoManyThreads , you don't seem to hate to break it to pp at all.

Quite embarrassing for her considering it was AI generated bollocks.

MayaPinion · 05/08/2025 22:16

I’m an Irish person in England and I have a Celtic name (not Irish but definitely of the harder to pronounce from reading it variety). I haven’t and wouldn’t name my children anything that makes them stand out in that way. Mine have classic and unremarkable names that are easy to pronounce and that fit in, in any scenario. If you do want to go with an Irish name I’d look for one that’s easy to pronounce or is well known.

PennyAnnLane · 05/08/2025 22:15

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I assume you got that utter garbage from AI, I’d be ashamed if I were you.

Emanwenym · 05/08/2025 22:13

No. The name is Irish.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 22:11

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SingedElbow · 05/08/2025 22:10

mugglewump · 05/08/2025 19:55

Are you planning to send her to Catholic school? She'll be fine in a Catholic school and after that she'll be an adult and be able to deal with it.

Why do you imagine Catholics are able to manage Irish-language orthography?

OP, I have a more unusual Irish name and surname than that, and gave London-born DS an unusual Irish name plus both parents’ Irish surnames, and it’s been fine.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 22:10

Emanwenym · 05/08/2025 22:06

@ReadingSoManyThreads , you don't seem to hate to break it to pp at all.

It's just a turn of phrase!

Notmenothere · 05/08/2025 22:07

Emanwenym · 05/08/2025 21:30

It is phonetic.

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Not in English, I'm afraid. And given the OP is concerned about the name's pronunciation in London, which is in England, I think that's the relevant point, don't you?

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 22:07

BrickBiscuit · 05/08/2025 21:59

How would not knowing if you are addressing Rachel, Raechal, Rachael, Raychelle or Raechel make one an idiot?

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Generally speaking, there are only two spellings of Rachel/Rachael in the UK. There are other spellings worldwide of course and different pronunciations worldwide but there's only one pronunciation and two spellings normally used in the UK. Other variants, such as some of the ones you've mentions have other origins. I was generally speaking with my "idiot" comment, as in it's not exactly a difficult name to get wrong, neither is mine though, and 99% of people still spell and pronounce my name incorrectly, like I said, idiots everywhere!

Emanwenym · 05/08/2025 22:06

@ReadingSoManyThreads , you don't seem to hate to break it to pp at all.

PennyAnnLane · 05/08/2025 22:03

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 21:58

I hate to break it to you, and I'm not sure how you've reached adulthood before finding out you're not English, and are actually Scottish. Be proud of your heritage, Scotland is a wonderful place:

Scottish
If both parents are Scottish and their child is born and raised in England, the child is typically considered Scottish for nationality purposes. This is because the child's Scottish heritage is recognized, and the UK nationality laws generally favor the nationality of the parent who is a citizen of a country that has not separated from the UK. Therefore, the child may automatically acquire Scottish citizenship if at least one parent is a Scottish citizen.

www.gov.uk

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What you’ve linked to there doesn’t say what you imply it does, but thanks for the patronising reply.

Emanwenym · 05/08/2025 22:02

BrickBiscuit · 05/08/2025 21:59

How would not knowing if you are addressing Rachel, Raechal, Rachael, Raychelle or Raechel make one an idiot?

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Because some of those spellings are ridiculous.

I know 2 Rachaels, a Rachelle, and many Rachels. All pronounce Raytch-ul, apart from the Israeli ones who use the phonetic Hebrew pronunciation.

ladyamy · 05/08/2025 21:59

no

BrickBiscuit · 05/08/2025 21:59

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 20:58

Exactly, there are idiots everywhere!

Irish names are difficult for non-Irish to spell and pronounce, but as the family are Irish themselves, I absolutely think they should stick with an Irish name.

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How would not knowing if you are addressing Rachel, Raechal, Rachael, Raychelle or Raechel make one an idiot?

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 21:58

Gmala · 05/08/2025 21:54

Why are people saying it should be anglicised? if you're going to do that you may as well just give her an actual English name, it would be far less insulting. Nothing annoys me more name wise than say for example, a v where there should be a bh. There's no v in the Irish language and names shouldn't be made up like that, totally ridiculous and giving 'younique'.

It's bizarre the amount of English people on this thread who feel their inability or unwillingness to learn a name should mean every one is called Lucy or Evie or Something- fucking-Mae.

Well said!

harrietm87 · 05/08/2025 21:58

deeahgwitch · 05/08/2025 21:08

It’s pronounced A ( as in the capital letter A ) veen.
London is a multicultural city with people from all over the globe. There are some Asian names that are incredibly long spelling wise and I wouldn’t have a clue how to pronounce them. But I can always ask how it’s pronounced.
Use it if you love it.

This is the problem though, as many people have said on the thread, Aoibhin or Aoibheann are “Eve-een” and “Eve-en” - Eavan is the anglicised spelling of the latter.

The Ayveen pronunciation is a really common mistake.

Im Irish in London and I gave my kids Irish names and it’s fine, but imo it would be embarrassing to give your child a difficult name and then get the pronunciation wrong yourself. If you want the Ayveen sound you need to change the spelling so that it makes sense.

Or better still, choose a different name so it’s more different from your other daughter. Aine is quite matchy but still distinct?

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