Eithne or Enya

[Snowbell99]

Do you like Eithne? It's from Irish mythology. At the moment thinking about adding it to my list but not sure.

Do you know how it is pronounced exactly?

I found everywhere that it's like Enya but want to make extra sure because Eithne looks like it would be slightly different to me?

Is Enya better?

I believe Eithne is pronounced Enya in Donegal.

But I've known a lot of (non-Ulster) Eithnes over the years and they've all pronounced their name as eth-nah.

Eithne is pronounced Eth-na where I'm from in Ireland.

Oh. ETH-na is not exactly my favourite, a bit harsh.

Eth-na is the only way I've heard it pronounced. Doubt there's been a baby eithne for at least 40 years... Enya is definitely better, but still not to my taste.

My lovely step mum is Eithne, most definitely pronounced eth-na

There were a few baby Eithne in the early 2010s but not since then or at least less than three per year in Ireland.

Is it dated in Ireland? If so to which generations? 70s/80s or earlier?

I'd say the average Eithne is in the 50 - 70 age group.

Yes, it's dated in Ireland.

I know one aged 10, named after her granny, who is about 70.

It can be pronounced Ethna or Enya. Enya is more correct but Ethna would have been the more popular pronunciation.

It peaked in 1966, it wasn't very popular than either. There hasn't been one since 2013.

www.cso.ie/en/interactivezone/visualisationtools/babynamesofireland/

[quote irishfarmer]It peaked in 1966, it wasn't very popular than either. There hasn't been one since 2013.

www.cso.ie/en/interactivezone/visualisationtools/babynamesofireland/[/quote]
I am wondering if it was ever really common prior to 1964. Pity that the statistics don't go back further

I'd go for Enya. I'm Irish in Dublin and I've known a few, one was a friend of my mother's and she said it more like Eh tNa. There was a glottal stop in the middle of the word which made it sound like a Danish name. I didn't like it at all. pREfer Enya.

I assumed it was said Ethnee, I don't think many people would read it as Enya outside Ireland

I love it, I know a toddler and a 64 year old Eithne - both living in Yorkshire but with Irish heritage and both pronounced Eth-nah. (They both have issues with people pronouncing it eth-nee though).

I've only ever pronounced it Eth-nah. I'm Irish.
I assumed the Donegal pronunciation "Enya" was a derivative (?) of Áine (which I would pronounce Aw-nyah)

The singer Enya was born Eithne - in Donegal.

I'd go for Enya - had chosen this for DS3 if he'd been a girl. It's a beautiful name.

Dh's 1st wife was called Eithne, pronounced ETH-na. She will be about 60 now. She's Scottish but I don't know if she has Irish heritage.

I prefer Enya plus I like Enya's mudic

I'd go for Enya because it can only be pronounced one way. With Eithne you would be contending with the Eth-na and Eth-nee pronunciations. I really like Enya.

I know two. One Eithne (early 30s) who pronounces it Enya and the other (80s) pronounces it Eth-na. I knew the younger Eithne first so Enya is always my go-to pronunciation until told otherwise.

forvo.com/word/eithne/

As a pp said, the singer Enya, a native Irish speaker from Donegal, is Eithne Ní Bhraonain.

It's pronounced Et-na where I am in Munster, but I believe when the name was revived a mistake was made. The t sound shouldn't really be pronounced (as far as I know). I think that ship has sailed though

I know one, in her 20s and she pronounces it Eth-nee. It's lovely!

The singer Enya was born Eithne - in Donegal. was going to say the same.

I once knew a nun who pronounced it eth nee

I know an Eth/ne. A most beautiful lady (in side and out)
So smart but withbeautiful manners, wonderful nature and personality.
Posh as feck but totally oblivious to it.
Just a wonderful person

I'm not Irish. I've never seen or heard the name. I initially read it as Eth-Nay or Eeeth-Nee. I would never have thought it was pronounced Enya- which I love.

*Eithne Ní Bhraonáin, I should have said.

I prefer Enya.