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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Fiadh or Aoife in the UK

81 replies

Jacketandbeans · 25/02/2022 08:23

I started another thread looking for a name to go with our two Irish boys names.
We had pretty much written off the Irish girls names due to spelling issues with the ones that we like.
However I can't help feeling like she might wonder why she was the only one without an Irish name. Just wondered what people's thoughts are on these two
Aoife - Eefa
Fiadh - Fia (like Mia or Tia but with an F)

They both have beautiful meanings and I think Fifi would be a cute nickname for both of them. We live in England, interested to know if people would know how to pronounce them over here and thoughts on the names.
Thanks!

OP posts:

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intwrferingma · 25/02/2022 08:24

If you're Irish and want an Irish name, go for it! Teachers and kids will get it quite quickly. We are supposed to be a multicultural society and ought to be able to cope.
They're nice sounding names

SGChome20 · 25/02/2022 08:25

I wouldn't know how to pronounce these ones as I've never come across them before but I wouldn't let that put you off too much if that's the names you really like.

Bumtum126 · 25/02/2022 08:25

Probably need to be ready to spell out either name or explain how they are said again and again.

Margaritawithlime · 25/02/2022 08:26

We have two Aoifes in my sons school. Not an issue at all! Go for it

leopooh · 25/02/2022 08:29

My Irish cousins grew up in London in the 80s with these names. No problem with them then & Aoife is much more common now.

Piapea · 25/02/2022 08:29

Both are lovely but I would be afraid that Fiadh would sound a lot like 'fear' in many English accents. Where in England are you based?

Cattitudes · 25/02/2022 08:30

I personally think Fiadh might be easier for someone who has encountered neither name before as they will automatically start it correctly then get confused. Aoife, while a lovely name, has the potential to be pronounced completely differently by someone who doesn't know her and yes people who know her will get used to it but for example the receptionist at the doctors will not.

Fiadh also makes Fifi look more appropriate as a nickname because it starts with an F!

whatsagoodusername · 25/02/2022 08:31

Oh, I thought Aiofe was Effy, not Eefa. So I'd get that wrong.

I would have no idea how to pronounce Fiadh, but I'd ask because it's an obvious Irish name.

I really like Fiadh.

RightOnTheEdge · 25/02/2022 08:32

I think they are both lovely.
I do know how to pronounce Aoife because I used to work with a racehorse with that name!
I think I like Fiadh an tiny bit more but I love them both.

I have a name people spell wrong a lot and my children have a foreign surname that always needs spelling out or people ask how to pronounce it but it's not a big deal.

leopooh · 25/02/2022 08:32

I really don't find the baby names board representative of real life. I'm constantly coming across people with names Ive not heard before, it's not a big deal. The benefits of a multicultural society & shock horror plenty of people have non english names (except in some places the MNs on this board live in 😆)

GrendelsGrandma · 25/02/2022 08:40

Fiadh I'd not know how to say, then I'd pronounce it the same as fear when told. Aoife is well known enough now.

fleurpots · 25/02/2022 09:03

I wouldn't know how to say Fiadh, but know quite a few Aoifes who live in the UK so wouldn't have a problem with that.

They're both very pretty.

seekinglondonlife · 25/02/2022 09:10

I know of Aoife already, never heard of Fiadh. It's a nice name, but depending on what region you are in people might assume it is Thea (as they will say Fia) so that would put me off. I hate the name Fear-door now for this reason 😞

Original poster

Jacketandbeans · 25/02/2022 09:11

@Piapea we live near London. I'm English, DH is Irish. I do worry about the fear thing, but I tend to say fear more like 'smear' so less emphasis on the ee-a being two separate syllables if that makes sense.
We considered Thea but then we realised lots of people say Fia for that, so we might as well go with the Irish name that we like better anyway.

Fiadh has the option of the spelling Fia, which I/she could use if she wanted. Fiadh on birth cert definitely, but I believe Fia is becoming a recognised spelling so could be used at work or school if she really struggled with being a Fiadh.

Thanks for the responses so far, keep 'em coming, really useful.

OP posts:

hilbil21 · 25/02/2022 09:13

There are two Aoife's in my sons class in Scotland. It's becoming popular here.

Original poster

Jacketandbeans · 25/02/2022 09:14

Fiadh is an Irish name that has only been recently used in Ireland but is super popular. It is currently number 2 in the Irish baby name stats, so has had a ridiculously steep rise in popularity.
On that basis I think it will gradually shoot up the charts here too, in case that influences anyone's opinion!

OP posts:

Mumatoo · 25/02/2022 09:19

I over heard an English couple in Queen Charlotte’s discussing a baby called Fear... it took me a while to realise it was a baby with an irish Mum who was actually called Fia.
Fia is hugely popular in Ireland at the moment but I’m not so keen on the English. Adding the R really changes the sound as does dropping the R in a name like Orla (Oh-la in London).
I think Aoife is easier in the UK but from personal experience I would go for a name that doesn’t invoke the rhetoric R as your child will grow up pronouncing it the way their peers do not how you do.

BreakingUpWithMyPhone · 25/02/2022 09:26

I think Aoife is lovely, and it would be nice next to her siblings' Irish names.

FelicityPike · 25/02/2022 09:32

Aoife is incredibly popular here in the west of Scotland and has been for a number of years.
Loads of Irish names are actually.

LizzieAnt · 25/02/2022 11:26

Both lovely, though I think I prefer Aoife OP. It's more Eefeh than Eefa, though it's a subtle difference I know.

MunchyMonsters · 25/02/2022 11:37

I love them both and honestly, even if you don't know how to say a name you hear it a few times and people learn.

emmathedilemma · 25/02/2022 11:39

I like them both and i think they're relatively well known that people won't struggle too much with spelling and pronunciation.

MumsMetHer · 25/02/2022 11:44

I would have pronounced Aoife as AYfuh (first syllable rhyming with hay), and would have asked how to pronounce Fiadh.

But it doesn't really matter - like most people, I would have made the effort to learn once told. Just try to model patience to her, rather than irritation, when people make mistakes.

00100001 · 25/02/2022 11:45

Aoife

Literally no-one will know how to pronounce Fiadh

Somatronic · 25/02/2022 11:59

I know people with insanely complicated Irish names living in European countries with few issues. People will learn how to say your daughter's name. They may struggle with the spelling but that wouldn't put me off.

As you said, you can always spell it Fia, and I heard on the radio today that it's now the most popular baby name in Ireland so I'm sure it'll make it's way across the water soon.

When I was in primary school there were 5 Aoifes in my class in Ireland. It's so common here that there are plenty of Aoifes in Britain by now.

My friend group has a theory that all Aoifes are a bit nutty, but that's just a bit of fun 😀

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