Niamh?

[elvislives2012]

My husband's family are Irish, I'm not. We live in England. Currently expecting a girl. What are thoughts on Niamh? Love the sound of it (prod Nee-ve) just not sure if we'd be setting her up for a lifetime of irritation?

I like it
I know 2, one is 18 and one is 4

Lovely. I think it's reasonably well known. Especially suits a fair or blonde child (Niamh Cinn Óir of legend).

I have a Niamh. She does some times get it pronounced Ne-am but I just correct them without issue. She did tell me once that it was spelt wrong and should be Neve but she has gotten over that now

I love the name and it's quite popular here in Scotland so I very much doubt many people would find it difficult to pronounce/spell.

I have a Niamh - we chose it not realising it was popular here (glasgow) but am now glad it's quite well known as most people have heard of it before and therefore pronounce and spell it correctly. Love it:)

Very popular name, 2 in ds's primary school class, at least 7 in the school. Lovely name as long as you spell it the proper way ie Niamh not Neve which is just plain wrong.

That all sounds positive. I don't mind if it's popular-so long as it's not TOO popular ;) just having a wobble about it!

Even if you don't give her a nn, classmates will. Nim? Nevey? It's going to be a little odd, whatever.

I like this name but the correct spelling always flumoxs me! I know a Riamh (Reve) too which I also think is nice.

I think you should be ok, I'm in NI but have lots of family in England. There's quite a few Niamhs in my extended family over there. To be honest I find it quite old fashioned and a bit dated, a touch of the Joanne/Nichola about it.

I have one, she loves being the only one in her school (infant and junior) so not so popular here! Interesting spellings sometimes but she has never minded, pronunciation has never been an issue.
Nickname wise she went through a phase of enjoying being called Nee but mostly it's not shortened by anyone. Obviously biased but we love it, I wish I was finding it as easy to choose a name for impending arrival of DS in a few weeks time.

It's a lovely name and well known enough not to be an issue, after all Niamh Cusack is pretty well known.

I prefer Neve personally as I have heard it pronounced neam the other way but it has since become more popular so may not be the case anymore

I have a Niamh, I love it. When she was born my family tried to make me change the spelling .

I am English and live

Posted too soon!
Live in Yorkshire and know a rew Niamhs aged about 10 to 4 months old. I think the spelling is fairly widely recognised, even if not understood!

Niamh is lovely, and it's always Niamh, never Neve!

As a nickname / endearment people will say Niamhy, (as in rhymes with weavy). My 38yr old friends mum calls her this :)

It is a bit old fashioned here (in Ireland) here but still very nice.

Have you considered Aine?

Niamh is lovely, and spell it properly please - no Neevs or Niavs! I do think it's a bit dated in Ireland but that doesn't apply for you.

Not quite sure what Jane's point is - surely any name can be nicknamed? And a lot of em are weird or completely unrelated to the name.

Also, if Niamh is dated, Aine most definitely is. Nice name though.

Aoife, Siuin, Cara, Fiadh would be trendy enough.

I don't know any but I do know two Neve's

It's really popular round here. In DS1's year at primary there was a Niamh, two Neve's and a Neave.
DS3 has just started and has a Niamh in his class.

I think it's a beautiful name and as others have said its popular enough for people to know the pronounciaton. Has to be spelt Niamh though, not Neve!

Spelling will definitely be Niamh. Love the idea of baby nee!