Baby girl name

[blossomberry]

We are currently love the name Fiadh (pronounced Fee-Ah) for our baby girl but I’m not sure if people will have problems with pronunciation. What do you think? Or any other girl name suggestions?
We also like Florence, Halle and Romy

I live in Ireland so I'm familiar with the name Fiadh, it's become very popular in the last few years.

If you're in the UK it'll inevitably get pronounced 'Fear' though. From experience I can tell you it's very hard to pronounce it properly with an English accent, I have to try really, really hard to stop it coming out as 'Fear'!

I like Florence and Romy too, Halle not so much.

That’s what I thought, such a shame. Although where I’m from it doesn’t sound too much like ‘fear’ but I can see how it might in some accents.

Love Fiadh.

Don’t hear Mia pronounce Mear so not convinced by that argument.

I love Florence

Thanks ladies. I wish I could find a name that could have Fia as a nickname but I can’t find one I love!

Fiamma - it’s Italian.

@blossomberry

Thanks ladies. I wish I could find a name that could have Fia as a nickname but I can’t find one I love!

Fiona?

Not keen on Fiona but thank you for the suggestion. Love the meaning of the name Fiamma (little fiery one)

Sofia? Nickname Fia?

Finola/ Fionnuala, nn Fia?

Don’t hear Mia pronounce Mear so not convinced by that argument.

Mia is Mear (as in 'Meerkat') to my ear (which, ironically, also rhymes).

To answer your question, OP, I'm in a pretty multicultural City, and, whereas part of me says people soon get used to names from all sorts of different languages, I have to say it isn't a name I've come across before, so I do think quite a few people will not know how to say it, or - even more commonly - how to spell it. Which is what you asked.

Could you just spell it as Fia to avoid confusion in the UK? Looking online that seems to be a common option. I’m Irish but not very familiar with the name... I think the pronunciation as Fear really depends on where you are as accents vary so much.

I think you would be endlessly correcting it, annoyingly

What about Ffion ? Or Finola ?

Sophia could also be Fia for short

Florence is OK, I think I like Flora better.. Fernanda, Fenella, Someone on here mentioned Fenn which I liked as well.

My friend has a daughter Sophia who she calls Fia

Meer may be how it is rendered in certain accents but it’s not the standard pronunciation. It’s a Scandi and Italian name - both pronounced Mee- uh.

I live in London and there are a lot of Mias here - never heard it pronounced Meer.

Thanks everyone. I think I’m most worried about people pronouncing it as fear or thinking it sounds like fear.
We still have a while to decide so hopefully we can find something we love just as much

Freya has a similar sound?

Once again, I can't hear any difference between Mee-uh and Meer, both sound the same as Mia to me. (which would rhyme with fear, and beer, and here)....... isn't language interesting ?

@BackforGood

Once again, I can't hear any difference between Mee-uh and Meer, both sound the same as Mia to me. (which would rhyme with fear, and beer, and here)....... isn't language interesting ?

It really is. I'm in London and would absolutely pronounce Mia to rhyme with fear, tier, beer, clear, sheer etc. I can't hear any difference in the way I say them. I don't have a "London" accent - I wonder if that makes a difference?

Phia short for Sophia is perfect. Not Halle it’s too much like Halitosis.

The thing is, the name Fiadh/Fia is an Irish, as in Irish language, name.

The 'ah' sound at the end of an Irish name has a much more definite, strong sound than English names with the same ending. It's almost emphasised, which most English people don't do.

Using Mia as an example, I as an English person will pronounce it 'MEE-uh', to rhyme with 'fear'.

An Irish person will say 'MEE-ah', but they will pronounce 'fear' quite differently due to their rhotic accent, more like 'FEE-urr.

I do find accents fascinating

Fiadh I haven’t heard that before even though I have some Irish friends. It is lovely. My nephew has a Gaelic name which I love.

People will pronounce it when they have heard you. Strangers won’t because the don’t pronounce Niamh correctly.
I know a little Florence which is lovely and it isn’t shortened yet.

I love Fiadh i dont think the pronunciation is a issue people get used to what you want. I live in the SE and would say and hear tear said to rhyme with ear and I would not say Fia that way more Fee Ah

Also you hear names said differently loke Sophia So Fee uh or So Phi Ah

I have a dd with an Irish name people get used to it .

Forgot to add what about Nia if you like the sound but worry about the F sound

I’d stick with Florence. Life can be hard for a kid with an unpronounceable name.