Is Aoife too Irish for England?

[whenskiesaregrey]

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.

There are a lot of "international" names in use so people will learn to pronounce Aoife properly.

Thank you all, very useful!

We know an aoife ( e-fur elephant, as dh likes to pronounce!) I think it is becoming a lot more popular as I have seen it on a few "name" products

That's interesting Pootle. We are resigned to the fact that DS will never have a name cup, plate, jigsaw etc bought from the shops. We assumed the same with this name.

I saw snow globes with Aoife on in Cumbria this year. It's not that unusual...

Go for it.

I think it's pretty popular in England these days and a bit like Niamh, I thought quite a lot of people knew how to pronounce it. My son's name is Irish (as am I) but I resisted using the Gaelic spelling (Aodhan) because we live in London and I didn't want him growing up having to always explain it. I think Aoife is quite well known these days but I'm maybe a bit biased.

My friend used this for her daughter, and I thought it was wierd when I first heard it, but now I really like it.

I'm in London and I know loads of Aoife's. The first time I heard it I didn't know how to spell it and the first time I read it I didn't know how to pronounce, but it only needs to be explained once and I know for future reference!

We do live in an area with a large Irish population though so there are lots of Eoins, Ciaras, Cians, Rians, Eimears, Fionnlaghs and even a Caoilfhionn.

I know a couple of Aoifes here in Sunderland who have nothing whatsoever to do with Ireland . Also know one who has Irish parents.
Think it's one of the Eva/Evie names so once explained never forgotten.
You can get so much name stuff personally made that it won't be an issue. I am obsessed with it as could never get anything for me!

I know it because she was one of the contestants on a crappy talent show I used to watch. Not that unusual these days I'd say, although I did hear Simon Mayo make a complete hash of it on the radio today.

I'd go for it.

Okay, its looking good :)

We're not trying to make an outlandish statement by purposely picking an unheard of name, so glad there are a few out there and some people are familiar! On the other hand, glad there aren't loads.

General feedback seems quite positive, thank you all

Ah, Jaysus, once you have the snowglobes with the name on, you might as well call her Katie!

you could order name products from Ireland. You wouldn't have trouble finding Aoife on things.

I love the name Aoife. It was only my list but we're having a boy. I used to work with someone who had the names and always liked it.

I just posted a link to this iPhone app which I love (my husband says I'm obsessed :) but you might like it. Celtic Baby Names itunes.apple.com/gb/app/celtic-baby-names/id494454799?mt=8

I love it

Nice name. The first time I came across it I called the individual A-O-Fie. It was totally alien to me. Her friend, Grainne was called Grain-y.
I think it's getting more of an airing. DD has an Aoife in her school, nobody bats an eyelash at it, same with Sinead, Siobhan and Maeve.

Common in London

Lovely name

I like it. Have worked with a few. Is it Irish for Eve?

I think its a lovely name, and not that uncommon as there are lots of people with an Irish background in the UK. (I also love the name Grainne.)

wahwahwah yes Irish Eve/Eva.

Well, this seems to have solved the girl name dilema, we just need to find out if he/she is a girl. If a boy, that's a whole new can of worms...

Gráinne = Grawn- ya (not so much Grain-y).

Aoife a name in its own right. Not Irish for Eva/ Eve.

I stand corrected. according to various baby name sites it is considered the Irish for Eve.

Love the name Aoife and I wouldn't worry about people's pronounciation.....I've found people get the most simple of names wrong regardless.
Take my ds Niall, he's regularly a Neil and has even been a Nail....who calls a kid Nail (apologies if I've offended Nail's mummy lolx)

Lovely name isnt it the most popular or 2nd most popular in Ireland. Gaelic names are lovely. They normally have a wonderful meaning from a fairy story so it doesnt really matter if people can't pronounce it.

My Niece is an Aiofe, I like it a lot... although I did struggle with the pronunnication at first. Its a very pretty name.