Niamh

[ilovemykids5]

Would you keep this spelling. I think it looks prettier as Neve.
We are not Irish but do have an Irish surname.

[quote XmasSadface]@LadyCampanulaTottington
Exactly.

Once upon a time Gaelic names in the UK came with a lot of stigma which is sad and I think its disrespectful to use them when you dont have a direct Irish link[/quote]
Op has an Irish surname. Is that not direct enough? Do you have to have been born in Ireland to use the name?

Is cóir cuí meas a bhéith agat nuair a thugann tú ainm dó leanbh. Ní gar d'aoinne cead a fháil, áfach. Cé hé nó hí an duine a bhfuil údarás léi nó leis cead a thabhairt? Myles na Gopaleen b'fhéidir?

My best friend's daughter is Niamh and she always gets called Naomi.

I think it's tricky. I never really understand why you'd pick a name for your kid that is highly unlikely to ever be spelt or pronounced correctly here (Irish or otherwise). Then again, I think spelling names phonetically just for ease fundamentally changes it and that doesn't feel right. Surely the name is the name?

I'd go with Niamh on this one. I think it's quite "mainstream" nowadays so doesn't fall under the above dilemma.

I’ve seen it spelt Neave too

[quote XmasSadface]@LadyCampanulaTottington
Exactly.

Once upon a time Gaelic names in the UK came with a lot of stigma which is sad and I think its disrespectful to use them when you dont have a direct Irish link[/quote]
I disagree with that.

Yes, prefer the Irish spelling by far even if not Irish. It’s a wel known name.

@MrsFin

Yes but Niamh is actually Gaelic not an origin of Gaelic. Not nearly the same thing.

So how do you feel about Chantal, Rhiannon, Penelope, Carmen, Louis, Bianca, Carenza, Aaron, Ethan, Hugo, Gareth......? I could go on.

@MrsFin, So how do you feel about Chantal, Rhiannon, Penelope, Carmen, Louis, Bianca, Carenza, Aaron, Ethan, Hugo, Gareth......? I could go on.

Ethan and Aaron are biblical. Spelling them the hebrew way coud be considered appropriation

Hugo and Louis - Latin and French. Both a bit too trendy for me but fine

Bianca - shakespearean

Rhiannon - usually mispronounced. Lovely in welsh but Ree-annun is awful

Carenza - did you mean Kerenza?

Chantal -not sure. OK if french maybe

Gareth - dated

Penelope - greek. fine

Carmen -would guess at spanish connection or that parents like opera

My dd has a polish surname and an Eastern European/polish first name and it's not caused any problems. My DH has a very polish name but is very much English and he constantly has people thinking he's polish but it doesn't bother him. I think most English people know how to pronounce Niamh

@JaneJeffer

Surely by now the U.K. is au fait with most Irish names?

No. They get misspelt and mispronounced

As a pp said Niamh is Nee-uv not Neev

Niamh is beautiful.
Neve is awful!

Niamph has become such a popular name I can't believe anyone is still unaware of it or unable to pronounce it!

It's a lovely name, but definitely swerve Neve as the spelling.

I’ve never seen it with a ‘p’! that’s a new one. I’ve seen it with a ‘b’ but not sure that’s right either.

Where did that P come from?! I suspect my iPhone is sick of last minute online Christmas shopping & is officially having a meltdown

I personally prefer Niamh.

But as a pp said, if you are living in Ireland, keep the spelling. If not, change it to Neve as pp said because most people will not know how to pronounce it outside of Ireland.

As an Irish person I beg you please don't change the spelling... its quite insulting that people take our names but see the spelling as a burden. Niamh is a beautiful name and deserves the proper spelling to go with it

I agree

Of the many Irish names people ask about this is one I think is very recognised. Maybe because of Niamh Cusack? So I'd keep the original spelling, though there are plenty of Neves about so just use that name if you like it more.

It’s very very popular in England I can’t see you having a problem with pronunciation. Definitely wouldn’t use Neve - just looks like you can’t spell.

Niamh looks nicer

@ilovemykids5

Would you keep this spelling. I think it looks prettier as Neve. We are not Irish but do have an Irish surname.

Haven't read the other comments yet but I disagree, Niamh captures the Tir na nog other wordliness but Neve just looks like a 3rd generation American took a crack at using an Irish name.

I'm such a snob. Strike me down dead. But altering the spelling of folklore heroes that are thousands of years old.... it's not an improvement.

I'm going to be hung drawn and quartered for my post! I'll get my coat.

I am English and have a Niamh. My great great grandparents on my mothers side were apparently Irish but that's so far back it's irrelevant really.

Some people mispronounce it. More people misspell it but it's never caused a problem. Lots of names have multiple spellings but you don't hear people saying not to use Catherine or Steven because of it.

I didn’t know how to pronounce this name before I read this thread. I prefer Neve

Do scríobh Fia
Niamh captures the Tir na nog other wordliness but Neve just looks like a 3rd generation American took a crack at using an Irish name.
For some reason all Niamh-like people I have met are sensible shoes type of women. The sort who is on the hockey team and organises the raffle. I suppose it does mean misty and cloudy and ethereal but it feels like a lovely solid hug however it's spelled.