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Original poster

Is Aoife too Irish for England?

53 replies

whenskiesaregrey · 19/01/2012 21:54

Are people going to know what her name is/ every be able to spell it/ pronounce it? I really like it, and would love it. We have a middle name we think will go nicely too. We live in NW England. I have Irish heritage, and also generally love Irish names.

DS has a less common name, which I don't think is too difficult to spell, but we are always having to spell that/ explain it etc.

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Sparklingbrook · 19/01/2012 21:56

I wouldn't know how to pronounce it. Sorry. Sad

hellhasnofury · 19/01/2012 21:56

I love the name but I think the spelling and pronunciation will stump lots of people

flamegirl77 · 19/01/2012 21:58

I'm in Scotland and have met two little Aoifes.

Asinine · 19/01/2012 22:01

I love it, quite common in Scotand.

Asinine · 19/01/2012 22:01

Pronounced Eeffuh, for anyone not sure.

Littlefish · 19/01/2012 22:03

I'm in England and I know two of them. Unfortunately, the name always makes me think of "heifer" as in female cow. Sorry.

Original poster
whenskiesaregrey · 19/01/2012 22:07

Grin at heifer! Where abouts are you littlefish? What did you think when you first saw an 'Aoife'?

Thanks for the feedback. I sway from thinking it is no different to a name like 'Siobhan' or 'Niamh', to thinking is it really worth a lifetime of explanation!

OP posts:
workshy · 19/01/2012 22:11

I have an aoife, a niamh, a neve Hmm and a aisling in my brownies -and I'm in yorkshire lol

Sparklingbrook · 19/01/2012 22:13

I have only just found out how Hermione was pronounced. Sad

Canthinkofonerightnow · 19/01/2012 22:13

Live in south east and called my dd Aoife- pronounced Eefah. Name means precious/ beautiful. Perfect name for little Irish girlGrin
Name does stump people but like any other name the important people in her life embrace her name and tough otherwise. Funnily enough pretty much all non British people pronounce the name perfectly!

Fishlegs · 19/01/2012 22:14

I know 2 Aoifes locally, in Manc. I think it's a lovely name.

Littlefish · 19/01/2012 22:15

I heard the name first in the phone, before I saw it written down, so the pronunciation wasn't a problem. The family have an Irish background, so I wasn't surprised by their choice of name. The second one is a local girl -not sure whether there is any Irish ancestry. I have to say that I don't particularly like the name, but only because of the "heifer" thing. Smile. Both the ones I know are in the Midlands.

Beamur · 19/01/2012 22:15

In Yorkshire too and know and aoife. You will be asked how to say it, but don't let that put you off.

Catsmamma · 19/01/2012 22:16

dd is Eve, but if I had heard of Aoife I would have gone with that...dh said I could not just change it bastard

Hassled · 19/01/2012 22:18

I know it due to my Irish connection, but English people would mostly be stumped. That said, it's the sort of name where you only need to explain the pronunciation once and people will get it and remember. I have an unpronounceable Gaelic name and I actually quite like the fact it baffles people now - but again, once I've told people the once they're fine with it.

It's a lovely name and if you like it, go for it.

Original poster
whenskiesaregrey · 19/01/2012 22:20

I do love it, as does DH. I do wonder whether people will think 'why can't they just pick a name people can spell!'. I know Grandparents will have a few things to say about it, but that would apply to most names I'm sure...

OP posts:
FaithHopeAndKevin · 19/01/2012 22:39

There's one or two in every year at our school - but there's a large Irish community too. DD's friend is one of them Smile and she was very Shock 'did you know mummy that she's called Eefa but she's says it's spelt A-o-i-f-e because it's magic Irish' The lack of phonics thing didn't phase her at all.

ZhenThereWereTwo · 19/01/2012 22:41

I have taught several Aoife's in London and loved the name so much it is now DD's middle name :)

chipmonkey · 19/01/2012 22:50

But think about it, I'm sure people were having the same conversations about Siobhan and Niamh 20 years ago. Call her what you like, her friends will know how to spell/pronounce it and that's all that matters.

JestersHat · 19/01/2012 23:05

Yes

4madboys · 19/01/2012 23:13

nope i know a little girl called that, i was introduced to her so heard her name before i saw it written, not a problem at all :)

my dd is merryn and we get people who dont know how to pronounce that! it

Lonnie · 19/01/2012 23:17

dd3 is Aoife and we have no Irish connection it simply fitted our criteria and I had completely fallen in love with it.

People do asks the first time "how do you say her name?" and if we are somewhere they have to call it we usually get " A ohh fie" but they always ask " did I get that right? " and on being explained how to say it (ee- Fah) we usually get a " oh thats so pretty" dd3 is 8 now I have never regretted naming her this and I still think it is adorable.

We have yet to meet another (though teacher Assistant at school did name her dd this but we haven't met her as they moved away )

SoFarWeAreEqual · 20/01/2012 08:51

I do think it is a name that people will not know how to spell or pronounce, so the thought of a daughter spending her life spelling it out/correcting people would put me off, sorry. it is lovely though.

TheSurgeonsMate · 20/01/2012 09:58

I would have no clue how to pronounce it, but now you tell me I do agree that it is a lovely name.

TaperJeanGirl · 20/01/2012 10:38

I LOVE the name Aoife, it is dd3s middle name, and would have been her first name if dd2 wasnt called Ava, go for it, if people are unsure how to pronounce they will just have to ask Smile