CP: help me spell a name for LO

ksulli · April 2011

I'm in LOVE with the name Aibhlin, but that's the Gaelic spelling, which I know would never fly where we intend to live in the States. The pronounciation is exactly as it's spelled, except the B is pronounced like a V.

[Poll]

FyshWyfe · April 2011

For such an unusual name, I'd eliminate any extra letters (e.g. h's). It's pretty, I like it.

melmacd18 · April 2011

Me too. I agree on eliminating the extra h, but I think Avlin would get confused with Alvin a lot.

ETA: By me too, I mean that I agree with PP that I like it. Meant to quote.

MommySteph2009 · April 2011

Why not just leave it the way it is?

pettycrocker · April 2011

If it's supposed to be a hard A, I would go with the Ai spelling, the Av seems more like a soft A to me.

Cute name

katie4253 · April 2011

MommySteph2009:
Why not just leave it the way it is?

ditto, I'd leave it.

LyndseyLC · April 2011

this reminds me of my great aunts name was Avinell. and everyone called her Avi

Cardinal99 · April 2011

katie4253:
MommySteph2009:
Why not just leave it the way it is?
ditto, I'd leave it.

I agree, I would just keep the traditional spelling.

COMomma81 · April 2011

I'd keep the original Gaelic spelling. Pain? Yes, but I don't think Americanizing the spelling does the name any justice and you'll absolutely still have to end up spelling it for people. My understanding is that the name is supposed to be pronounced like Ave-leen (rhyming with the beginning sound like "wave"). If that's the case, and you're determined to change the spelling...I'd go with something more like Aveleen. It's pretty!

pettycrocker · April 2011

COMomma81:
I'd keep the original Gaelic spelling. Pain? Yes, but I don't think Americanizing the spelling does the name any justice and you'll absolutely still have to end up spelling it for people. My understanding is that the name is supposed to be pronounced like Ave-leen (rhyming with the beginning sound like "wave"). If that's the case, and you're determined to change the spelling...I'd go with something more like Aveleen. It's pretty!

Aveleen is cute!

I was reading it as Avelynn

JennV514 · April 2011

I would use the traditional spelling.

MilMom2B · April 2011

I'm not familiar with your spelling but I assume it's the same as the Celtic Eibhlin. Pronounced "Ev Leen" or "Ayv Leen" (and sometimes even Eileen)

The English equivalent of this name is Aveline. So, I would probably go with this.

Kudos to you for picking such a beautiful name (I love my Irish heritage and wish I could get DH on board with some of my favorite Celtic names)

Firefly9 · April 2011

fogleer:
I would go with the traditional spelling. I think most people have heard of the name Siobhan at least, so the bh=v might not be as unfamiliar as you think. Besides, I'd rather have to explain it and know I spelled my child's name correctly, than always worry I was getting laughed at by those in the know for butchering a traditional name. But I admit, I'm kind of snobby about those things.

I was going to say the same thing about Siobhan. While it isn't popular compared to a lot of names we are used to, it's a common Gaelic name in the US. People get used to it. I'd leave it the way it is, no Americanized spellings.

For reference on how it's pronounced: https://www.babynamesofireland.com/pages/girl-names-a-c.html

aesf · April 2011

i like the traditional spelling.

KittahMama · April 2011

DH is from England but is mostly Welsh. We named our daughter Cerys. Everyone says series or sar-is (like sarah)...

We still don't care. We stuck with the traditional and just say "nope, but close!" and tell them how it is pronounced. After the first time, we never have to tell them again.

My point? If you like the traditional, stick with it. That's what we did.

ksulli · April 2011

Thanks for the input ladies. I do prefer the traditional spelling and have used the sibhon argument a few times. My DH isn't sold on the name and the spelling is one of his concerns, plus we have a mouthfull of a last name. Still don't even know it LO is a boy or girl, so we aren't fighting too hard on it. I'll keep you posted!