Morven or Iona

[Scottishgirl85]

Apologies for the serial postings of Morven vs another name but this forum has been so helpful for narrowing down our list, thank you so much! What's your preference of Morven or Iona for our DD2 due in two weeks? Both Scottish names which is where I'm from but we live in SE England. DD1 is called Eira (pronounced Ay-ra, husband's Welsh side). Thank you!

I much prefer Iona.

Morv, every time. I love both but would be wary of the “I own a... (car/hat/shop etc etc)” issue with Iona. We sadly couldn’t use either as both are places in Scotland, as is our surname, so DDs name would have sounded like an extract from the weather forecast when read out.

Iona - don't like Morven

Iona. Morven is dreadful imo

Saw your 'Morven or Merryn' thread. OP, is it time to just accept you love Morven?

Iona

Sorry OP, but Morven sounds like a female Disney villain 's name to me!

Iona is so pretty.

I know Raines100... I'm driving myself mad. The reason I keep questioning it is the marmite reaction it gets, as can be seen from the last few posts. I don't want to have any regrets, DH is saying it's up to me and I feel so much responsibility to get it right!

Whatever you call your child someone won't like it because it's too popular, too unusual, too girly, too harsh, too long, too short, too difficult to spell, too difficult to pronounce, too grown up, too old fashioned etc etc. If you love it use it and tell your daughter if ever she complains that you chose it because you loved it so much.

Love Iona. Also like the way it is pronounced in Welsh -yona.
Eye-oh-na is perfectly nice pronunciation but I do think (some) people are going to have to be told how to pronounce it.

I like Morven although for some reason I thought it was Cornish.

Also like the suggestion of Iona as a middle name.

Morven. Really don't like Iona.

@Scottishgirl85 I know what you mean about the pressure to get it right!

I think Morven is a perfectly good solid name to go through life with. Even those who aren't keen won't be judging you for lumbering your daughter will a life-impairing moniker like Tallulah Does The Hula In Hawaii.

If you want everyone to like the name, you'll have to pick Ava or Olivia or Amelia. Personally, I'd rather choose the name I love and care less what other people think.

@Scottishgirl85, @Raines100 is absolutely right. I picked an Irish name for my daughter. I was reluctant because of the spelling and pronunciation issues but a year later I'm so glad I went for it. I love it and it's her name. She suits it so well! Don't tell anyone the name you've chosen till she's born. It's a seriously dick move to criticise a name then. Morven is a wonderful name. I'm excited for you!

I like morven but can’t quite imagine how English people might say it? I think I’d need to phone a friend in the SE and ask them to say it before deciding

@museumum RP accent here. MAW-vun.

Iona 100%

Thanks @rains. Tbh not so keen on maw-vun. Def a nicer name when the r is annunciated like Scots do.

I personally don’t like Morven but Iona is nice

We're in the home counties and not sure it would get mawvun when I imagine friends and colleagues saying it, but thanks for raising potential accent differences. Gosh I am so undecided, no idea how I'll make my mind up... Help!!!

I'm also Home counties. I would rhyme it was MAW-gun (Morgan)

The 'Maw' is to highlight the non-rhotic 'r' sound you will get down here, which I imagine will be the main difference between a southern English and a Scottish accent. I was going to say there won't actually be a w sound inserted, but there those that pronounce milk as 'miwk', so you might get that at times! The second syllable will just become a schwa as it's unstressed.

Thanks everyone, starting to lean towards Iona Alice after asking the in laws. I'll probably switch back and forth a million times...

Love both but prefer Iona

Iona Alice is lovely!