How would YOU say this name?

[3luckystars]

It's a girls name, just looking for your first reaction to it if you have a minute to reply. I don't want to pick a name that would cause confusion if she lived in another country. Thanks very much.

Aoibh

Aoife was the evil stepmother in the Children of Lir (and I think is also somewhere in the Táin, or maybe one of Cúchulainn's lovers...?) Aoibh, while it looks similar - and there is an old Irish word 'aoibh' (beauty, brightness) - has only, as Squoosh said, as far as I'm aware, fairly recently begun to be used as a girl's name.

I wouldn't call it makey-uppy, more a vocabulary word that has only recently started being used as a name in Irish.

And there are a lot of ordinary names that I think are needlessly repackaged with an Irish spelling. I've met an Archí!

Yes, it is something of a trend! But at least it adds some colour to the Jack/Harry/Sophie/Olivia Irish top tens...

I'm Irish (living in UK) so know it's same as Eve. Lovely spelling though - I say go for it. People will learn.

No, Aoibh was the mother of the children of lir.

No idea. I'd have to Google it.

'at least it adds some colour to the Jack/Harry/Sophie/Olivia Irish top tens...'

I suppose you're right. The Irish top ten names doesn't seem to have changed since 1994!

Eve - my kids go to school with quite a few spelt this way - we're in NI. Fwiw my dad feels exactly the same way about it as squoosh explained. My dd went to an Aoibhs birthday party, my dad saw the card and gave a huge sigh and a mini eyeroll.

Its a very old name. Couldnt be much older!

It will cause confusion if she lives in another country, surely you don't need to ask that, but if you like the name then I wouldn't let that hold you back.

I think there is are sound reasond for giving more thought to a name when you think it's likely the child will move to a different country/language e.g. I am in the UK and (non English) couple living here gave their daughter a name which was easy to pronounce in English, German and Spanish, albeit it they sound quite different.

Another Spanish friend gave 2 of her 3 children names that English speakers simply could not pronounce properly - we could say it near enough, but impossible to get right unless you spoke proper Spanish.

Eve

Ah Jesus, Mary & Joseph! This is pointless.

Eve, and I'm from the south of England.

I thought it was Eve or Eva, wasn't sure which.

Copied from IrishCentral 100 top irish names.

1. Aoife (ee-fa)

This name means beautiful, radiant or joyful, and likely derives from the Gaelic word ‘aoibh’ meaning ‘beauty’ or ‘pleasure.’ In Irish mythology, Aoife is known as the greatest woman warrior in the world. She gave birth to the mythological hero Cuchulainn’s only son, Connlach, and was the daughter of a king ofConnacht. Legend has it, her marriage was arranged by St. Patrick himself.

I've only ever heard it pronounced ee-fa tbh. I think it's a beautiful name and I would strike with the Irish spelling as your daughter will not be the only person to have am unusual spelling unless you live in Midsummer.

Thats an entirely different name!!

I'd have no idea beyond "that's an Irish name". Another vote for Eve/Eva.

I deliberately haven't read the thread, but I'd pronounce it Eve. It's lovely.

I'm in Ireland, but not Irish.

Going back to read the full thread now.

Oops, sorry. Wrong name.

Aoibh (eve)
The Irish variant of “eve,” this name means beautiful and radiant.

I still say use the Irish spelling though not my spelling. Cringe I think it's lovely to see irish names becoming more popular.

I'd say Eve but only because I've spent a lot of time in Ireland so am familiar with some Irish names/spellings/pronunciations.

Yes, and their MOTHER was Aoibh. I've said this 3 times now.
It's not a new name. It's an ancient name from an ancient legend.

The stepmother was Aoife. The mother was Aoibh. They were sisters.

Eve

What was their mother called?

Aoife and Aoibh were silly names for siblings now weren't they? Maybe that's what turned Aoife into such a crosspatch.