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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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Allseeingallknowing · 05/08/2025 21:18

Just miss out the ‘in England’ bit!

LEWWW · 05/08/2025 21:17

Honestly? No. I have a very unique name it’s an absolute pain, people who don’t know me (and even some that that do because they can’t pronounce it) get it wrong all the time meaning I’m constantly having to correct people. Every. Damn. Day. Of. My. Life. Ugh. I hate it. I made sure I gave my daughter a simple easily pronounced, easily spelt name 🤣

also, I wouldn’t have a clue how to pronounce that so I imagine a lot of other English people wouldn’t which means she’s going to have the same problem.

RuthW · 05/08/2025 21:17

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.

This!

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 21:14

Arsed · 05/08/2025 21:09

Oh I love Grainne (I forgot where the accent was!)!

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I remember the year on The Apprentice when there was a Gráinne, and Lord Sugar called her grainy 😂

Arsed · 05/08/2025 21:09

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 21:04

Just for fun:

Irish names people can’t say! 🇮🇪🤣 #funny #Irishnames

Oh I love Grainne (I forgot where the accent was!)!

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.

zebrastripesarefun · 05/08/2025 21:04

A beautiful name. Once you tell people once it won’t be a problem Even simple names like Ann/Anne have different spellings.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 21:03

Just for a laugh:

Hallywally · 05/08/2025 21:01

I think the problem with Irish names (and some other nationalities) is that when English speaking people look at them, they’ve absolutely no clue as to how to pronounce them whereas for some other languages, they are easier to pronounce or at least attempt something that is close to the proper name. When I look at it I want to say Ayohbin which is obviously totally wrong.

WidowSENParent · 05/08/2025 21:00

One of my children has a very old Irish name in the North of England, they are in their 20's & they love it. No issues at all through school etc. & tbh most people check pronunciation as names nowadays can be extremely varied

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 21:00

Berlinlover · 05/08/2025 20:56

Not in a million years. Why do some parents feel the need to make their child’s life difficult?

It's an Irish name for an Irish family, it's a little insulting to insinuate they are making their child's life difficult by giving them a name from their own culture!

sonjadog · 05/08/2025 20:59

If that's what you want to call her (and it is a pretty name, so I don't blame you!), then I would go ahead and call her that. Non-Irish people will need you to explain how to pronounce it. But when they have learnt, then that is that. I never get why having to explain you name is such an awful thing according to some people on MN. I have a name that people don't immediately know how to pronounce. It takes seconds to tell them. Most people aren't meeting an endless stream of new people all the time, so generally when those in your social circle learn how to pronounce it then you are good to go.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 20:58

bringonyourwreckingball · 05/08/2025 20:55

On the one hand I would not purposefully give a child a hard to spell or pronounce name but on the other I am called Rachel and you would not believe how many spellings of that I have had over the years

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.

GrooveArmada · 05/08/2025 20:58

I think it's a difficult name to spell and pronounce which will be tricky for her.

FirstFallopians · 05/08/2025 20:57

Far too similar to your existing child’s name.

It would be like having a sibling set called Eve and Evelyn.

I’m in Ireland and have never heard a sib-set with Aoife and Aoibheann/ Aoibhín despite them both being commonly used names.

Berlinlover · 05/08/2025 20:56

Not in a million years. Why do some parents feel the need to make their child’s life difficult?

bringonyourwreckingball · 05/08/2025 20:55

On the one hand I would not purposefully give a child a hard to spell or pronounce name but on the other I am called Rachel and you would not believe how many spellings of that I have had over the years

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 20:54

PennyAnnLane · 05/08/2025 20:45

If she’s going to grow up in England I’d use it as a middle name and give her a first name that is easier to spell and pronounce, I say that as someone who has a name that 50% of people spell/pronounce incorrectly.

I have a name that 99% of people spell and pronounce incorrectly, but I think OP and her DH should be proud of their Irishness and still use an Irish name (I know you didn't say not to use Irish, but let's face it, many people struggle to spell & pronounce Irish names).

ReadingSoManyThreads · 05/08/2025 20:49

As you're all Irish, then yes, I'd go ahead. If you weren't, I'd say no!

Trovindia · 05/08/2025 20:49

I guessed it as Avvin which isn't too far off? I think it's ok, people soon learn.

ridl14 · 05/08/2025 20:48

lovebeingmuma · 05/08/2025 19:27

Yes both myself and my husband are Irish and their sister is called Aoife so I’d like to stick with another Irish name

I love it and know how to pronounce it but I actually think it's too close to Aoife. What about Niamh as a similar alternative?

I think London's a very multicultural place anyway. There are 3 Caoimhes in my niece's class! (In London)

mathanxiety · 05/08/2025 20:47

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.

Pronounced EEveen - AOI is always a long E sound in Irish.

(Taoiseach, Aoife, de hAoine)

Sandyshandy · 05/08/2025 20:46

I’m sure most people would be able to pronounce it, but on reading it I guessed at Ay-oy-bin. But really had no clue how to even attempt it.

PennyAnnLane · 05/08/2025 20:45

If she’s going to grow up in England I’d use it as a middle name and give her a first name that is easier to spell and pronounce, I say that as someone who has a name that 50% of people spell/pronounce incorrectly.

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