Niamh or Neve????

[plumblusher]

Although I like the Name Niamh/Neve, the spelling of it I've always thought a bit strange (as a child trying to sound it out to spell at school). Does anyone know a Neve spelt this way? Cos I quite like Isla Neve.

Nieve?

Use Naimh or not at all IMO.

Spell it properly or don't use it at all. Its spelled Niamh.

It is phonetic in Irish.

Another use Niamh or don't bother

I know a Neave, which I assume is an Anglicised spelling of Niamh (she's Irish though). I thought Neve was an entirely separate name actually.

Niamh

Niamh.
I have one and people do get used to it.

Niamh, Neve is a different name.

My DD is an Isla Niamh! We've had a couple of people ask how it's pronounced, but most people know how to pronounce it, especially as it's getting more popular at the moment. Have actually had more problems with people pronouncing Isla as Iz-lah than struggling with Niamh!

Blimey, clearly there are some strong opinions on that name then! Maybe I'll just steer clear of that one altogether!

Was there an American actress called Neve? Think she was in party of five.

I have noticed that lot of people outside of Ireland who call their child Niamh pronounce it as Neev, this is incorrect, the actual pronounciation is nee-uv, two syllables not one, although the second syllable is quite a gentle one.

Just thought I'd mention that as I've heard a few mum's calling their Niamh's in the supermarket, park etc. and I always think to myself 'you're not pronouncing your kids name correctly'.

I'm lost how should you pronounce Niamh?
How do you pronounce Neve?

I agree though it's Niamh or nothing at all.

Neve

Niamh.

Niamh, 'tis really how the name is spelt!

Wasn't there a celeb called Neve, but she pronounced it "Nevvy"? Or did I imagine that...

Many names originating in other countries have an English version used in the UK. I don't see why the same shouldn't apply to Niamh/Neve.

Neve Campbell, the American actress, pronounces this Nev - as if it were short for Neville. I don't know if it was ever supposed to be a different way of spelling Naimh, though have come across it that way. I don't see why you wouldn't spell it properly. It is quite familiar to a lot of non-Irish people (as well known as Siobhan amongst English people I think) and is a lovely name.

I don't know a single person who pronounces it Nee-uv, and I'm Irish, in Ireland, and know several Niamhs! If anything its closer to Neev-uh but only a slight hint of the uh.

Its IA by the way, not AI.

Interesting. I?m also Irish, in Ireland and know many Niamhs. They all pronounce it NEE-uv. Have never heard the pronunciation that you describe.

Wikipedia agrees with me.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niamh

I always thought it was more like Nee-uv (though with the second syllable very short and less emphasised), that's what I thought the 'Neave' spelling was trying to get at. Maybe it depends what part of Ireland you're in?