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Baby names

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

Original poster

Niamh/Neve

33 replies

boodleboot · 07/04/2010 14:57

DH has suggested this name and i actually really like it....he doesn't normally suggest names bless him, but some of my latest suggestions have prompted him to declare that we are naming a child and not a cocktail so i have agreed to be more realistic...

We have an irish surname but neither of us are irish....I would like to go with Niamh as think it is far nicer so i guess my question would be a) what does one think of this name and b) can a non irish person 'get away' with the irish spelling?

Surname is Minahan.

TIA

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boardbunny · 07/04/2010 15:42

I have a Niamh, get loads of comments about what a lovely name it is although obviously I'm biased as well! My dad is Irish but DH and me aren't and noone has commented on it. It does go lovely with your surname.

Please don't go down the 'Neve' route, she would still have to end up spelling it for people so she might as well have the proper name to begin with.

muggglewump · 07/04/2010 15:22

I have a Niamh and I'm English, DD born and brought up in Scotland and her father is Australian, I picked it purposely to confuse her further

People do often ask how to spell/pronounce it and comment they've never heard it but I don't think it's that unusual really though in 8 years we've never met another.

tortoiseonthehalfshell · 07/04/2010 15:19

I love Niamh, but it fails my "if the child will spend its life having to explain how its spelt..." test. That said, I'd have thought that in England it's not so uncommon as to be met with "...an M? Are you sure?" reaction. So I'd go for it.

BunnyLebowski · 07/04/2010 15:18

at palacemonkey's idiot friend of friend.

GAH

palacemonkey · 07/04/2010 15:17

A friend of a friend in Australia is called Niamh - except it's pronounced Niyam (like it's spelt!). Apparently her parents thought it looked pretty without hearing how it's pronounced!

scoutliam · 07/04/2010 15:11

Go for it it's lovely, but agree with Bunny re Neve and beg of you not to.

Neve is for the illiterate and americans

BunnyLebowski · 07/04/2010 15:05

Niamh is beautiful and of course you can get away with it. With an Irish surname it will sound great.

Neve is not a name. Please don't.

ShinyAndNew · 07/04/2010 15:03

I really like it and I have non irish niece named Niamh. No one raises any eyebrows. Most people get the spelling right afaik.