Aoife - if not Irish?

[Helpneeded12345]

I love the name Aoife. It is my all time favourite girls name but neither my partner or I are Irish (my great-grandparents were Irish but this is a very long way back!)

I would love to hear your thoughts. Do you think it is ok to use Aoife if not Irish or would it be weird / cultural appropriation?

I'm particularly interested in opinions from anyone Irish - would it be offensive?

[sunglassesonthetable]

Mary is a classic example of a name in English becoming closely associated with Ireland. Ditto Bridget.

Yes you rarely here of a Mary now in the UK. Could be the tide will be turning soon.

[Tucci]

I’m from West of Ireland, you certainly have my permission no worries. ☘️

[KirstenBlest]

@Enko , it's not though. Aoife is irish and from an irish origin.
Mary is an english name originating from Maryam/Miryam/Miriam,or Maria.

[Enko]

@KirstenBlest

@Enko , it's not though. Aoife is irish and from an irish origin.
Mary is an english name originating from Maryam/Miryam/Miriam,or Maria.

Maryam etc all original from Hebrew so again using your.logic Aoife becomes English
The mere.fact a name is used common I'm a country doesn't change their origin and doesn't make them.off that country. They remain from their core.

Much like English origin from a mix of Germanic peoples—Angles, Saxons, and Jute

[KirstenBlest]

@Enko , that's not my logic at all. Maryam might be hebrew, but Mary is the english form of the name, just like Marie is the french form, etc.
Aoife doesn't fit the pattern, because it isn't a biblical name or from a hebrew origin. It's an irish name that is used in England.

[Enko]

@KirstenBlest

@Enko , that's not my logic at all. Maryam might be hebrew, but Mary is the english form of the name, just like Marie is the french form, etc.
Aoife doesn't fit the pattern, because it isn't a biblical name or from a hebrew origin. It's an irish name that is used in England.

Being the English form. Doesn't make the name English is what I am saying. The name Mary is still Hebrew. It has been anglicised yes but that does not make it an "English name' it is the Anglicised version of a Hebrew name

[KirstenBlest]

We'll just have to agree to disagree @Enko. As far as I am concerned, Mary is an english name. That there are many irish, welsh and scottish women called Mary does not make it an irish, welsh or scottish name.

[Enko]

@KirstenBlest

We'll just have to agree to disagree @Enko. As far as I am concerned, Mary is an english name. That there are many irish, welsh and scottish women called Mary does not make it an irish, welsh or scottish name.

No and that was my point. Names can become so normalised they get to be seen as of that country. In my opinion Aoife is going in that direction. To me Mary will never be an English name though a anglicised one.

[KirstenBlest]

@Enko, Aoife won't be an english name because it is irish. It's not an anglicised version of the name.
You probably don't think that Elizabeth, Charles, Philip, Andrew, Anne, Henry, William or Catherine are english names either.

[Enko]

@KirstenBlest

@Enko, Aoife won't be an english name because it is irish. It's not an anglicised version of the name.
You probably don't think that Elizabeth, Charles, Philip, Andrew, Anne, Henry, William or Catherine are english names either.

So much for agreeing to disagree ha.

In answer to your question I have a keen interest in onomastics.

[Grassisbluer]

Off I trot to google...😅

[Webbing]

I know a 9 year old Aoife living in Uk - she explains the pronunciation as Aoife rhymes with FIFA.

I think it’s a great name and if you live in a fairly cosmopolitan area it will work fine. If you are based in a locality that’s maybe not as mixed and there will be anti Irish feeling then perhaps it’s not the best choice.

[MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake]

@ReadersD1gest

It's fine, it's quite popular in some parts of London! Not so much in Ireland anymore, oddly.

I've just looked and it was 32nd most popular girls' name in Ireland in 2021. So still going very strong indeed considering it was a top 10 name through most of the 80s, 90s and 00s.

[Chickenkeev]

Irish here, wouldn't be offended at all. In fact, i'd take it as a compliment really!