Saturday's Una had a baby girl called..... Aoife!!

[YummyMummybee]

Una from band the Saturdays had a little girl called Aoife Belle!! Well done Una on having a normal name in showbiz. Aoife is a very common name over here in Ireland pronounced eee-ffaa. Una is also a very proud Irish woman-congrats to her & her fiance. Aoife is blessed with beautiful genes!

I was surprised by this choice as well, its a very ordinary name here in Ireland. Not even that pretty, but, not offensive either I guess.

Beautiful name and not unusual in London.

I don't think many people would think twice about it in England either, to be honest. Although I like the name a lot (it used to be on my 'list' for future babies when I was a teenager!), I find it pretty overdone. It's one of those 'safe' Irish names for people in England, I think- Aoife's I've known often have sisters called Niamh or Orla, something that's different without being too different, IYSWIM?

On the name spelling/pronunciation issue, if I can move to the UK and get my head around the difference between the spelling and pronunication of names like Cholmondley (pronounced 'Chumley'), Featherstonehaugh ('Fanshawe'), Bethune ('Beacham'), Mainwaring ('Mannering') etc then I'm sure people will manage with Aoife, Naoise and the like.

HardCheese you are right, those posh surnames seem to have no rhyme or reason. I think they?re kind of like a secret handshake.

Pronounce it properly ? please do come in through the front door.
Pronounce it incorrectly ? tradesmans entrance for you m'girl.

I know an Aoife, in England to English parents who call her Eeffee is that wrong?

It's Eef -fa.

Sorry that should be Ee-fa

do you think I should say something? Or just call her Eeefa the next time I see her and see what she says?

They might be calling her ee-fee as a nn?

That is a possibility!

Aoife is a nice name, but it doesn't work with the surname at all, Aoife Foden.

The double F sound doesn't make a pleasant sound to my ears.

I wouldn't say anything if I were you Madame - no one likes to be told they're pronouncing their child's name incorrectly!

ButterPecan thats a very good point Aoife Foden sounds waaay harsh-a bit of a mouthful to pronounce too. As an Irish girl born & raised in Dublin I too am quite surprised by the name. Aoife is nice but we have much nicer ones too-

-Siofra
-Meabh
-Roisin
-Orla
-Muireann
-Doireann
-Siobhan
-Aoibhinn
-Aifric
-Ailbhe
-Eabha
Not saying its not nice but it did take me by surprise in a good way!!! Best of luck to them!

YummyMummy - I agree there are nicer ones and love the ones you listed. When I was in high school back in the States, there was a girl called Ailbhe, and was so jealous of her name as it seemed so exotic!

My personal favorite Irish girls' name, is Béibinn/Béibhinn, which was the name of Ailbhe's mom. I used to dream of marrying an Irishman and naming our daughter Béibhinn, but I settled for an Englishman instead, and I waved goodbye to Béibhinn!

Awww Beibhinn is fab & quite a number over here too! Love Ailbhe, Aida is another fairly underused one which I love too! Fair play to Una though for doing her own thing & not bowing to the pressure of having a crazy name-wonder will Aoife become mad popular now?

In a world of Apples and Princess Tiaamis, Aoife is positively perfect, apart from it not going with the surname very well!

I really hope it doesn't become mega popular in England and turn in to the new niamh.

Would that her Daddy be shattered tired from the lack of sleep and play atrociously on Saturday :) :) :)

MrsJoeDuffy I'm finding Una's timing slightly underhand if I'm honest

thefurryone didn't work out at all as I hoped!