Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Maeve if it rhymes with Dave? Or May?

31 replies

RuthB4 · 14/02/2017 03:28

My second baby is due in May. We don't know if we're having a boy or a girl but we have a boys name sorted.

At the moment, for a girl, we're trying to decide between the names Maeve and May, and i have reservations about both!

I think Maeve is such a beautiful name and we'd call her Mae as a nickname. I like the idea of her having the choice of going by either Maeve or Mae as she grows up.
My only hesitations are that a) We're not Irish! Does that matter? And b) My hubby is Dave. ....Maeve and Dave??! Does it matter that they rhyme?! We'd be calling her Mae lots anyway.

The other option is May which I think is really sweet and pretty. But I have a feeling it's really popular? Also, I'm not sure if May translates so well for an adult? It's perfect for a little girl. ...but a 35 year old woman?? Maeve seems more of a name that would be taken seriously as a woman.
Also, she'll be born in May. ....is it stupid to then call her May??

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Newyearnewbrain · 14/02/2017 03:32

I know a Maeve pronounced May-ver, I think it's lovely. The family is French.

BikeRunSki · 14/02/2017 03:37

The only May I know is in her 70s and it seems to work ok for her!

BikeRunSki · 14/02/2017 03:37

The only May I know is in her 70s and it seems to work ok for her!

PetalMettle · 14/02/2017 07:09

Maeve/Meabh is nice. I don't think it's an issue rhyming with your husband as you're not likely to be saying them a lot together. Different if it were siblings.
May is lovely. It was my granny's middle name and she used it her whole life. It's not like fifi

Mclaren37 · 14/02/2017 07:37

I really love Maeve. I don't think it matters at all that you're not Irish. I also like Mae but don't think you'll need it as Maeve is short and brilliant.
(Personally kind of love the daughter/daddy Maeve/Dave rhyme! You will say those names together a lot and it probably will become a 'thing', but a cool one).

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 14/02/2017 08:47

I prefer May, I think it's lovely.
I only at present, know mature ladies with this name.
It's definitely a name she can grow with.
Call her after the merry month of May ! 😀

TheTartOfAsgard · 14/02/2017 10:00

I love May as a first name - the only one I know is a Chinese girl I went to college with (spelt Mai).

Maeve is also lovely, easy to spell pronounce and as you said although it's Irish it's one of those names like Sinead, Niamh and Aisling that translate well.

Jojo13 · 14/02/2017 10:46

I think Maeve is lovely and wouldn't even think of shortening it to May/e as it's short and punchy enough as it is. Definitely wouldn't bother me the Dave rhyming thing,

Notso · 14/02/2017 11:05

The Maeve I know says it more like Meeve than Mave.

Mrsknackered · 14/02/2017 11:07

Both are very cute and age well!

babyinthacorner · 14/02/2017 11:12

Well... my Nanny was Mary but known as May (only found out she was Mary at her funeral!), born in May AND was Irish! So I'm biased, but I think May is lovely 😊

Also like Maeve - she's a badass character from Westworld so DH and I considered it for our baby!

pishedoff · 14/02/2017 11:12

I would pronounce Maeve as Mow-ve? Am I wrong?!

The shortened version of DS2's name ( and the one he's commonly known as) rhymes perfectly with DH name

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 14/02/2017 11:14

You don't have to be Irish to use an Irish name (despite how often its said on MN). You wouldn't think you'd need to be greek to use Katherine, or french to use Michelle, would you?

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 14/02/2017 11:14

I would pronounce Maeve as Mow-ve? Am I wrong?!

Yes, rather wrong.

pishedoff · 14/02/2017 11:16

Oh well you learn something new every day, I've never known a Maeve but always imagined it to sound like that!

Ordinarily · 14/02/2017 12:02

I like May and it's underused as a first name. I don't think it makes any difference whether May is the birth month or not.

EggsEleven · 14/02/2017 12:06

I don't think it matters if you're not Irish if you spell it Maeve. Would be different if it was spelt Meabh.

I love the name Maeve but it is a bit unfortunate paired with Dave. Dave and Maeve does sound like a bit of intentional ryhming.

May/Mae is also a lovely name. I would probably go with that due to the Dave issue.

RueDeDay · 14/02/2017 12:11

pished I think you are thinking of the colour, mauve!

marmitecheesetoast · 14/02/2017 12:12

I love both names, and think makes more sense to use May when born in that month anyway! I would probably go for Maeve because as you say it gives the option of Mae or Maeve. Both are lovely though.

I don't think the Maeve/Dave thing would really be a problem?

pishedoff · 14/02/2017 15:02

Ah yes Rue!

Florrie21 · 14/02/2017 16:37

Why not just grow with Mae? It's gorgeous.

Florrie21 · 14/02/2017 16:39

I personally wouldn't do Dave and Maeve I don't think and I prefer Mae born in May. Lovely names though, good luck.

spankhurst · 14/02/2017 16:40

Both are beautiful, I would choose May but Maeve is adorable too.

lindylove14 · 14/02/2017 16:43

There are lots of under 14s with May as a middle name but I can't think of any who use it as a first name.

MrsMarigold · 14/02/2017 16:49

Nice name, I know one who has just turned 40. Always thought Maeve rhymes with knave.

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread