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Baby names

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

Original poster

Daisy, Daphne, Fiadh

163 replies

Thefinalcountup · 30/04/2026 14:55

Any views on these names?
We have been obsessing over names now for months and we really have been through pretty much every name in existence.
Our baby girl is due soon and we really need to decide.

I love the sound of Fiadh (Fee-ah) and the meaning (wild or deer), and it's link to nature.
The only thing stopping us is we live in a England and the tricky spelling. I've tried it out on a few people and I get 'oh Thea' straight away, or confused faces, which could be irksome.

Daisy has always been a favourite of mine. I know some find it twee but I don't personally see it like that. My DH is struggling to get on board with it due to the twee factor.
Daphne is a name we both like but I'm finding hard to commit to.

Not really looking for suggestions as I've discounted everything else! Thank you.

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FleurDeFleur · 30/04/2026 15:47

Daisy is very pretty.

Original poster
Thefinalcountup · 30/04/2026 15:46

Surprisednotusedb4 · 30/04/2026 15:17

You clearly want that name, so go for it.

Personally, outside of Ireland, no bloody way. Find yourself have to phonetically spell a name? Bin it

Show quote history

To be honest I'm inclined to agree.
I think theres a double whammy issue. There's the issue of spelling and pronunciation that could be irritating.
Then there's the fact it's so close to Thea that everyone assumes it's Thea but unable to say my 'th's.

I'm leaning towards Daisy.

OP posts:
HugoThatway · 30/04/2026 15:41

Daisy - very popular, slightly twee but not overly so
Daphne -not unpopular. Likely to be Daph.
Fiadh - too close to Thea, Mia, and sounds like Fear.

The tweeness (if there is any) won't be an issue. Names like Evie, Rosie, Freddie and Alfie are popular.

Use Daisy.

FleurDeFleur · 30/04/2026 15:31

Signout · 30/04/2026 15:25

No, I don’t think so. No link.

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Ok, thanks

Berlinlover · 30/04/2026 15:30

Using Fiadh outside Ireland just won’t work no matter how much you love the name.

Flatwhitefiend · 30/04/2026 15:30

Fiadh is lovely but I’m west of Scotland so used to Irish names. Daisy to me is nice but feels in my mind a bit young but I might just not know any adult daisys.

zebrastripesarefun · 30/04/2026 15:29

Lovely name. People who matter in life will quickly learn to pronounce and spell. Enjoy!

Signout · 30/04/2026 15:25

FleurDeFleur · 30/04/2026 15:23

Is it the origin of the name Fiona?

No, I don’t think so. No link.

Signout · 30/04/2026 15:24

FleurDeFleur · 30/04/2026 15:22

Yes, but my point is that the English parents have different opinions on the correct pronunciation. So I have to call one girl "Eefah" and another girl "Ayfah", for example.

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https://forvo.com/word/aoife/

Ay-fah is just wrong though 😅

FleurDeFleur · 30/04/2026 15:23

Is it the origin of the name Fiona?

FleurDeFleur · 30/04/2026 15:22

Signout · 30/04/2026 15:21

There’s really only one way to pronounce it properly (unlike other Irish names where there can be dialectal differences).

Show quote history

Yes, but my point is that the English parents have different opinions on the correct pronunciation. So I have to call one girl "Eefah" and another girl "Ayfah", for example.

Signout · 30/04/2026 15:21

FleurDeFleur · 30/04/2026 15:19

A very popular name in my part of England is Aoife, although I've heard it pronounced several different ways.

There’s really only one way to pronounce it properly (unlike other Irish names where there can be dialectal differences).

Signout · 30/04/2026 15:20

Treesnthings · 30/04/2026 15:13

It's not the modern Irish spelling, the spelling is Fiadh. Fia is angizicised.

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Sorry, but you’re wrong. Fiadh is the older spelling, changed to fia in the 1950s spelling reform of the Irish language. It was just a word then, not used as a name until more recently.
Probably still Fiadh in Scottish Gaelic?

www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/fia

FleurDeFleur · 30/04/2026 15:19

A very popular name in my part of England is Aoife, although I've heard it pronounced several different ways.

FleurDeFleur · 30/04/2026 15:17

Yes, I suppose like Niamh, which is very popular in the UK and people know how to pronounce it.

Surprisednotusedb4 · 30/04/2026 15:17

Thefinalcountup · 30/04/2026 15:16

To be honest this makes me like it more as it means there's a chance it will become better known here and people will then be able to pronounce it.
We go to Ireland a lot, and I hear Fiadh everywhere, but it still feels fresh to my ear as I don't hear it at all at home.

Show quote history

You clearly want that name, so go for it.

Personally, outside of Ireland, no bloody way. Find yourself have to phonetically spell a name? Bin it

Original poster
Thefinalcountup · 30/04/2026 15:16

Poulaphooka · 30/04/2026 15:14

OP, in case it would bother you, Fiadh is the baby name of the moment in Ireland. It was the third most used baby name of 2025. It's the Grace/Olivia of Ireland.

To be honest this makes me like it more as it means there's a chance it will become better known here and people will then be able to pronounce it.
We go to Ireland a lot, and I hear Fiadh everywhere, but it still feels fresh to my ear as I don't hear it at all at home.

OP posts:
Surprisednotusedb4 · 30/04/2026 15:16

Thefinalcountup · 30/04/2026 15:06

We like Fiadh partly for the meaning and also partly because DH would like an Irish name.
Thea just feels a bit nothingy to me.

Show quote history

Is your DH Irish?

Original poster
Thefinalcountup · 30/04/2026 15:15

DramaAlpaca · 30/04/2026 15:11

You could spell it Fia instead, it's an acceptable alternative and makes it obvious it rhymes with Mia.

It'll still get pronounced like 'fear' in southern England though.

Edited to say cross posted with @Signout there.

Edited

We've really considered this. But wondered if it then just looks like a nickname for Sofia.
Especially in the UK where no one's really heard of the name.

OP posts:
Poulaphooka · 30/04/2026 15:14

OP, in case it would bother you, Fiadh is the baby name of the moment in Ireland. It was the third most used baby name of 2025. It's the Grace/Olivia of Ireland.

Treesnthings · 30/04/2026 15:13

Signout · 30/04/2026 15:10

Fia is the modern Irish spelling of Fiadh OP.
Fiadh tends to be used more for the name, but Fia is equally correct and may be easier in the UK.

I’ve heard English people on here say that it could be mixed up with the word fear. The words don’t sound the same in Ireland as we pronounce the r in fear, but it may be an issue depending on where you live.

It's not the modern Irish spelling, the spelling is Fiadh. Fia is angizicised.

Peonies12 · 30/04/2026 15:11

Definitely not Fiadh - poor thing would spend her whole life spelling it and telling people how to pronounce. I like Daisy, one of my fave names but didn't go with surname. Thea is a nice name!

Poulaphooka · 30/04/2026 15:11

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DramaAlpaca · 30/04/2026 15:11

You could spell it Fia instead, it's an acceptable alternative and makes it obvious it rhymes with Mia.

It'll still get pronounced like 'fear' in southern England though.

Edited to say cross posted with @Signout there.

Signout · 30/04/2026 15:10

Fia is the modern Irish spelling of Fiadh OP.
Fiadh tends to be used more for the name, but Fia is equally correct and may be easier in the UK.

I’ve heard English people on here say that it could be mixed up with the word fear. The words don’t sound the same in Ireland as we pronounce the r in fear, but it may be an issue depending on where you live.