Is ‘Neev’ a nice name for a baby boy

[sonta8]

Hi,

We are expecting a baby boy soon and I have been researching names. We are from India and we want to name the baby something that is derived from one of the Indian languages. And at the same time easy to pronounce for people in UK.

I love the name ‘Neev’. It’s a boys name in our culture and means foundation. But on research found that it sounds similar to the Irish girl’s name Niamh. So two questions:

1. What do you think of the name? You think it’s easy to pronounce?
2. Will he get bullied for a name that’s also an Irish girls name? I want to believe kids have moved forward from bullying people on gender identify and attributes in this world where people can be gender fluid. But just want to be sure that I am not creating a problem for him in school etc.

What about Neem?

I am South Asian heritage and live in London too - it’s absolutely fine in this area. I know two boys and one girl with the same name - I didn’t realise it was a unisex name until I met the girl. It’s a beautiful name, easy to read and impossible to pronounce wrong.

Despite being born and brought up in London, I didn’t know the name Niamh until I was an adult - it’s just what you are exposed to. Anyone seeing Neev with an Indian surname won’t blink

No it's not particularly nice.

In my experience in London, no.

(My daughter has a traditional female Welsh name. Her best friend's younger brother has a traditional Indian boys name. They are both shortened to the same three-letter nickname (which is also a Jewish boys name, to add to the confusion!) No-one - as far as I know - has ever said anything about this!

In short: I think in London it's fine and it's a lovely name!

It’s a lovely name. Kids don’t get teased for names much these days (teacher) and there’s a Neev at my school of Indian heritage. It’s not an issue at all - it’s a perfectly nice and normal name.

I think it's lovely.

OK, maybe outside of Ireland then. I wouldn't pronounce Neve anything like Niamh.

I love the name for a boy!

Going a bit against the grain. If there’s another name you like I’d go with that because kids can be cruel and a boy with a girls name can be bullied - thinking especially in secondary school. Lots of things you can’t avoid but I’d probably not give him that name