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Baby names

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

Nevaeh

139 replies

gonutkin · 28/09/2022 11:49

I need honest opinions on the name Neveah, the infamous heaven spelt backwards.

I like unusual names but nothing that looks completely made up. I also don't usually ask for anyone opinions of our childrens names as I believe as long as we like it that's all that matters.

We are struggling for a name for our girl and came across Nevaeh, I do like it and the meaning with it. We are religious but not as strongly as others may be.

Is it honestly a nice name or not.. I've seen comments over the years about it being a bit of a chavvy name.. don't really know why but I'm curious to see what people think. I think it's a lovely name but am apprehensive. We have others on our list so it's not our number 1 choice but I'm curious if others opinion of it.

Thanks!

OP posts:
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clpsmum · 28/09/2022 11:50

I don't like it. Always sounds a bit tacky to me although not sure why tbh. Your choice though. Good luck hope she arrives safely xx

SpinningFloppa · 28/09/2022 11:51

Horrible

AriettyHomily · 28/09/2022 11:51

Awful awful awful

maddy68 · 28/09/2022 11:52

My sister has just called her baby that. It's awful. No-one knows how to say it and everyone I know has had a giggle about it

LunaCrystal · 28/09/2022 11:52

Its used a lot where I live- very chavvy

Unicorn717 · 28/09/2022 11:53

I don't like it but at least spell it the right way if that's what you're going for.

nancydroo · 28/09/2022 11:53

It's okay. I don't find it horrible. It's no longer an uncommon name now though.

AdInfinitum12 · 28/09/2022 11:53

I think it sounds chavvy too.

ImHavingAnOldFriendForDinner · 28/09/2022 11:54

Chavy and horrible, there are a million better names out there.

RandomMusings7 · 28/09/2022 11:55

Dreadful! Made-up, try hard, yoonique (but not quite anymore)

How about Maeve instead?

Hbh17 · 28/09/2022 11:55

Well, it looks completely made up, so I think you have your answer......

kuvira · 28/09/2022 11:58

I don't like it. First of all, I'm not sure how to pronounce it, and it's a trouble to remember to spell (I always want to write "Neveah").

Secondly, it's a made-up name that only really exists because of an American rock singer who was on MTV Cribs around the year 2001 (I am not joking). I like names that have a history, positive associations and namesakes, and Neveah just doesn't fit that.

And lastly it has some negative social connotations (i.e. the "chav" name comments), which I personally would not feel comfortable lumbering a child with.

However, if you can overlook all those things and still feel the name is right for you, by all means go for it.

PlantDoctor · 28/09/2022 11:58

The way you have spelled it is not "heaven" backwards either. That would be Nevaeh", which sounds worse to me

MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake · 28/09/2022 11:59

The main issue is that it's got to the point where it's seen as a joke name, the poster name for all things a bit silly and made up. There's a name in Scotland that you sometimes find on older women, Senga (Agnes spelled backwards) and that's been mocked for decades.

If you're religious and don't fancy any saints' names or biblical names you could go for one of the virtue names like Honor, Joy, Felicity...

Needmorelego · 28/09/2022 11:59

I personally think it's quite a pretty name. It's only odd when people make a big deal about the Heaven part.
As long as you don't follow up with the "it's Heaven backwards....." every time you say the name then most people wouldn't even make that link.

NothingTraLaLa · 28/09/2022 11:59

Awful. It’s the kind of name a 13-year-old might imagine for their future baby with [insert celebrity crush of choice here].

SummaLuvin · 28/09/2022 11:59

I don't like it that much to look at and I don't know how to say it - in my head it's Nev-Ay-Ah, which I don't find nice. I also think a kid with this name would have to often explain both spelling and pronunciation, which isn't the end of the world, but I would have to like a name a lot to choose that for them.

However, as I have said before here, while what is said on this forum isn't worthless, it should be taken with a pinch of salt. This is not a perfect cross section of society, I believe it skews white and middle-class. Then add in the fact that the individuals choosing the frequent this board have an above average interest in names (why they are here in the first place), so you won't get a proper idea of what the general population will think, the judgement level is greater. Most people will hear it, think 'oh thats odd, never heard that before' then move on.

PlantDoctor · 28/09/2022 12:00

PlantDoctor · 28/09/2022 11:58

The way you have spelled it is not "heaven" backwards either. That would be Nevaeh", which sounds worse to me

Actually, your title is spelled one way and the main text is the other.

50percentNamaste50percentGoFuckYourself · 28/09/2022 12:01

need honest opinions on the name Neveah, the infamous heaven spelt backwards.

Look again. Is it haevan spelt backwards.

Awful horrible name invariable spelt wrong. Don't do it

SillyFood · 28/09/2022 12:01

Do you pronounce it like Nivea? As in the crappy moisturiser? Are you particularly religious? If you want to call her Heaven, call her Heaven. Reversing it seems a bit like reciting the Lord’s Prayer backwards to me. If you’re Satanists I guess it might be cool though?

Beamur · 28/09/2022 12:04

How it is pronounced?
Tbh I just thought it was a quirky way to spell Neve/Niamh.

Dreamingcats · 28/09/2022 12:04

I don't mind it. It's a bit of a funny one because I thought it was pronounced like Neeve-ah for ages so I still have a double think about the pronunciation. But I don't think anything negative about it when I meet one. I actually much prefer it to Maeve.

Don't point out that it's heaven backwards to people! Surely everyone knows by now.

mrsmccormick · 28/09/2022 12:05

It's shite. Don't do it.

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 28/09/2022 12:06

It looks awkward and non-intuitive when written down, making it hard to know if you’re pronouncing it correctly. It’s also easy to not notice when you’ve misspelled it, as you have perfectly demonstrated by mistyping it in your OP.

And on top of that, if it’s meaning you’re interested in, to me it seems inherently empty and daft. Reaching for profundity and missing by a long way.

Spelling something backwards — just why? Love backwards is Evol; Star backwards is Rats. Those aren’t somehow nice baby names because of the meaning of the backwards word.

WaltzingWaters · 28/09/2022 12:07

Not a fan I’m afraid