Thoughts on Fiadh

[Poppy101010]

So I'm 5 weeks pregnant with my first (early days I know !) . I had a miscarriage in August so fingers crossed all is well this time.

Anyway ... what's your thoughts on the name Fiadh for a girl? It's pronounced fee-ah.

Do you prefer the traditional Irish spelling . It would you go for Fia to avoid any confusion lol.

This was a name I liked during my first pregnancy but unsure how others feel about it.

@Poppy101010

Thanks everyone . I'm in Scotland and with my accent, it's definitely more "Fee-ah" than "Fear".

I have never really heard the name before so very surprised there is loads in Ireland - but that's a good sign !

I just think it sounds cute. No other reason to choose it 🥰.

There are 3 in DD’s class (5 year olds). 2 x Fiadh and 1 x Fia

@WhatHoMarjorie

The side-eye I'd be giving the parents of child called Fianna

Love Fiadh. Wouldn't be brave enough due to spelling issues but I think it's gorgeous

I really like it. Spell it the Irish way though. I'm English and hadn't heard it before but now I have and know how to say it!

I have a Fia. Short for Sofia I love it. Although I didn't think it through her older sister is Mia so now I have a Mia and A Fia

You’ve solved a mystery for me. Years ago, on the other side of the world, a friend’s mother had a cat with a name that sounded like Fee—ah, and which I’d never heard before. I was told the cat was named after the mother’s friend’s daughter but my friend had no idea how it was spelt. So now I know!
Thank you.
Nice name but ultra popularity would put me off.

Fiadh, Thea, Mia, Leah, Sophia...
samey

In in NI and I know a few wee Fiadh's. I like it. Fola is nice too.

Baby Fianna would be getting a wee side-eye from me as well, with her sister Saoirse and brothers Setanta and Pearse 😂 (I'm jesting but you would assume hardcore republicans).

Sorry, Fóla/Fódhla correcting my spelling.

Haha Saoirse is on my list. I think Saoirse Ronan has popularised it for non-Republicans 😬

I’m from England, live in Wales and I wouldn’t have the foggiest how to pronounce it if I saw the name written, or his to write it correctly if I’d just heard the name said.
As you’ve said how to pronounce it, it’s pretty but I’m sure I wouldn’t be alone with my difficulties so it really depends where you live I think

I think it's a lovely name. It is no 2 in the Irish top 10 names, but there still can't really be that many. 55,959 babies were born in 2020, take approx 50% to be girl, only 366 of those were called Fiadh.

It's not like top 10 names back in the day, you can check the records back to 1964 where Mary was the top name and 3471 girls were given the name that year!

I think any connotations with the name Saoirse must depend on where you live (or when) Atla? I don't think there are any republican associations with the name where I am (in the south of Ireland) now.

Fiadh has shot up in popularity in the last 10 years in Ireland, but IrishFarmer is right, there's a much bigger pool of names being used now.

@Muchtoomuchtodo

I’m from England, live in Wales and I wouldn’t have the foggiest how to pronounce it if I saw the name written, or his to write it correctly if I’d just heard the name said. As you’ve said how to pronounce it, it’s pretty but I’m sure I wouldn’t be alone with my difficulties so it really depends where you live I think

We can't be expected to name our children for the convience of English speakers though. On my travels the only people who seem to get in a flap about my name are monoglot English speakers.

I live in Wales and met a friend of a friend with a baby named Fiadh , and I thought
A that’s a daft spelling and
B she’s going to be correcting the spelling all her life
( the Mum is American , Dad from Scotland )

@loveisanopensore I wouldn’t say I get in a flap about names, and I am bilingual.
What I’m clumsily trying to say is that if the name being misspelled or pronounced wrongly would upset op, that might be a factor to consider.

@Atla

In in NI and I know a few wee Fiadh's. I like it. Fola is nice too.

Baby Fianna would be getting a wee side-eye from me as well, with her sister Saoirse and brothers Setanta and Pearse 😂 (I'm jesting but you would assume hardcore republicans).

Not forgetting the twins, Collins and Dev.

Lovely

Just reiterating the name is Fódla not Fola, especially if the siblings are Scáthach and Fianna

I think it’s a lovely name but in my accent ‘fear’ is ‘fee-a’ so I wouldn’t use it sadly

I’m not Irish or Scottish and I know how to pronounce it

I just went to google translate and where Fia is Irish for Deer, Fèidh is the Scottish for Deer. Is that pronounce Fay? I like it.

A small bit of background into the rise of the name Fiadh is given here OP -

www.thejournal.ie/readme/the-irish-for-2-5024546-Mar2020/

Fiadh has overtaken Emily and is now at number 2 in the 2020 lists.

@LizzieAnt I didn't realise Fia is an accepted modern Irish spelling - still prefer Fiadh though. What I really don't like is names spelled in non- standard phonetic ways which removes their charm - eg Neave, Allie (I guess the latter is ok, but a bit bland) or the worst I have seen Varry (instead of Mhairi).

@celestebellman
No, I don't like that either, though I guess I understand why people feel the need to do it. I'm in Ireland so it's easy to use the authentic spellings here, for first names at least. Of course, most surnames, placenames etc have long been anglicised here, often phonetically as you describe (and with varying levels of success at matching the original Irish sounds).

Varry is an authentic Manx spelling. Manx is a Gaelic language written using English phonics.

For people wanting a more substantial name than Fìadh, and to avoid it sounding like Thea or fear, here are some ideas:

Fiadnat, Fiadhnait, and Fianait are traditional names used in mediaeval Ireland. There are two saints with this name, which is Fìadh plus the feminine diminutive -nat. Like Aodhnat, Gobnat, Damhnat.

Similar girls' names include Fial, Fiamuin/Fiamain, Fíne, and Fithir.

Reminder ftaod that you don't need a fada for the i in ia, as it is a dipthong.