Neva/Niva/Geneva

[persepolis123]

We are expecting a baby girl in a few months time and have come across the name Neva (pronounced Nee-va) meaning snow. I am unsure about the spelling and also whether we should go for a longer name (Geneva) with the nickname Neva. Thoughts please? Similar name suggestions also welcome. Thanks

I like Neva - people may pronounce it Ne-Va though?

I also like Nahla, Naia, Nicole

Congratulations OP!

In all honesty Geneva gets a resounding No from me.
So does Neva.

However, I have a Neave in my family who has grown to suit her name.
I believe the Irish name Niamh is pronounced "Neave" but I'm unsure of the meaning, if any.

Are you wanting a name that suggests the snow theme?

Geneva is a place name, so I don't think that would work. I like Neva. I also like Nova and Nola.

Here's a list of names that mean 'snow'.

Nieve? In any of it's spelling could be nn'ed to Neeva.

Town names for people always make me think they must have been conceived there.

Agree that Geneva sounds strange as a name, and Niamh (pronounce Neeve) is good if you're a bit Irish and can spell it!
How about the good old-fashioned Genevieve? Then you can shorten to Gina, Neva, Viva or whatever you like.

Neave is pretty mainstream for non-Irish families now though.

I know a neva, she loves her name.

please dont spell it niva - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lada_Niva

I really like Genevieve but DP doesn't. Will keep working on it I think. I can call her Genevieve and he can call her Neva. It's a win win.

Yes I'm aware of the Russian 4x4 of the same name but it doesn't really bother me, I still love the name. From what I understand Neva is also a name used in Russia after the river there.

Not a fan of Geneva tbh - would struggle to see it as a 'proper' name, rather than simply a means of getting to the nn Neva. Love Ginevra and Genevieve though.

Geneva is DP's offering and yes I agree, other than having a longer name which you can use the nn Neva for I don't think much of it. It would be nice to have a longer name on the birth certificate though.

Geneva is a place, so no to that.

Ginevra is too Harry Potter for me (it's Ginny's real name).

Neva by itself is nice.

How is Nieve pronounced? Is it Spanish?

I know a Nevah and a Nevaeh, both pronounced the same way that you're talking about. Lovely names :)

No to Neva, Niva and Geneva (that's a city, not a girls name).

Is Neveah pronounced Neeva?

Nevaeh is neh-vay-uh

Nieve is pronounced knee-ev-ay(ev as in ever and ay as in able) I knew a little girl in Spain called Nieves and thought it was a really cute name

Is too close to never and Nevaeh for my liking.

God no, hideous. Far too try hard.