questions about the name CAOIMHE

bread&jam · September 2011

This is my and my husband's guilty pleasure name (pronounced KEE-va). We would love to use it but do not like the way the anglicized version of the name looks (Keeva), and we are wary about the spelling problems it will pose if we use the Gaelic version. So here are my questions:

1) Do you like the way this name sounds?

2) If you had to choose would you spell it in the traditional, Gaelic or would you use the anglicized version?

3) Another variant of this name that is popular in Ireland and Scotland is Keavy (pronounced KEE-vee). Is it better than the original?

Any other thoughts/ideas are appreciated. I am wearing my big girl panties today and want your honest/upfront feelings about this name! Smile

FWIW, my husband's family and our last name is distinctly Scottish.

Spookster · September 2011

mj.reilly:
1) Do you like the way this name sounds?
Yes. I love the name Caoimhe!
2) If you had to choose would you spell it in the traditional, Gaelic or would you use the anglicized version?
Traditional Gaelic ? ALL.THE.WAY. No question.
3) Another variant of this name that is popular in Ireland and Scotland is Keavy (pronounced KEE-vee). Is it better than the original?
No. To me, Keavy sounds like a nickname, not a full name. It would be a cute nickname for Caoimhe, though. I also just don't like "K" names.

Yes

BelleIsa · September 2011

A girl I went to school with was Keave (pronounced Kee-vee) and I always liked it.

forensicmama · September 2011

1) Do you like the way this name sounds? YES!!!

2) If you had to choose would you spell it in the traditional, Gaelic or would you use the anglicized version? TRADITIONAL!

3) Another variant of this name that is popular in Ireland and Scotland is Keavy (pronounced KEE-vee). Is it better than the original? I PREFER THE ORIGINAL!

I love that your surname is very Scottish! GO FOR IT! Big Smile

Dominique1219 · September 2011

1) Do you like the way this name sounds?

Yes.

2) If you had to choose would you spell it in the traditional, Gaelic or would you use the anglicized version?

Gaelic

3) Another variant of this name that is popular in Ireland and Scotland is Keavy (pronounced KEE-vee). Is it better than the original?

Don't like it, I could just imagine your DD being called "Skeevy Keavy"

Liz4444 · September 2011

I like the pronounciation, but never would have gotten there with the spelling. I'm not familiar with tradition Gaelic names and I'm going to go out on a limb and say most Americans wouldn't get this one. I think she will have a lot of people seeing her name on paper whether it be in school or a job interview/resume and she will spend her whole life looking at people whose faces look like Tongue Tied .

I wouldn't, just based on the fact that you will be making her life very, very difficult. Unless you plan moving to Scotland or Ireland in the very near future.

HannahO28 · September 2011

I'm going to go with no. I wouldn't want it as a name. I hate having to spell my name out for people. And hearing people slaughter the pronunciation would get old fast. You as a parent can prepare yourself for that, but I don't think it's something you should expect that your child will be up for.

That is, of course, assuming that this child will be living in America. If you'll be in Ireland or some place where people will 'get' it, then I think it's quite pretty.

KtB0605 · September 2011

1) Do you like the way this name sounds?Yes, this is one of my favorite Irish/Gaelic names. 2) If you had to choose would you spell it in the traditional, Gaelic or would you use the anglicized version?I would definitely use Caoimhe. 3) Another variant of this name that is popular in Ireland and Scotland is Keavy (pronounced KEE-vee). Is it better than the original?No, I like Caoimhe.

sugarpumpkin716 · September 2011

it's ok. i just have a hard time with names that are (yes i understand it's a different background than english/american) pronounced so totally different than they're spelled. keavy i do not like. it's too close to skeevy.

sweetpea2003 · September 2011

"Name nerds" will love this name.

Everyone else will be confused and be completely puzzled.

Because the majority of the world are not baby name experts and (assuming you are in the US) the majority of Americans aren't familiar with Gaelic pronounciation, I give this a . Sorry.

EastCoastBride · September 2011

Love the name, but have a problem w the spelling. I have a friend who named her DD saoirse and I have to look it up every time I want to write it. I have a really hard time remembering how to spell it, and I love the name! This is the same for me. Love the name, but I know I'd never remember how to spell it.

msmerymac · September 2011

1) Yes, I like it.

2) I would use traditional. I'm not overly familiar with this name, but I recognized it as Gaelic and figured it was something like Keev-ee.

3) I don't really like Keavy because it looks like Heavy. I prefer Caoimhe.

4) My last name is Scottish too! My dad is half Scottish.

annabelle.27 · September 2011

1) no, I don't like the way it sounds

2) I'd probably choose the traditional version, despite the annoyances that will come with spelling it. It's an ethnic name- might as well embrace it.

3) don't like keevee any better.

lulling · September 2011

I like the sound of the name. I agree that the name Keeva looks...ummm..so-so. But the Gaelic spelling is going to have people pronouncing the name Kayomi. Like Naomi with a K. I don't know if you live in an area with a lot of people that are familiar with Gaelic, but I know here in the midwest it would be Kayomi.

I prefer Keeva to Keavy.

shopgirl_07 · September 2011

I love the sound of the name but the spelling is going to be a b!tch and a half. I'm fairly familiar with Irish/Gaelic names but I didn't know how to pronounce this one. As someone else mentioned, it's one of those names that people will have to look up every time they try to spell it.

I wouldn't say don't use it, but just know that it's going to be difficult.

laurakaz13 · September 2011

I do love it. But I do see a lifetime of your child having to spell her name for people. I always hated that with my maiden name.

Puppylove*85 · September 2011

I like the pronounciation but I would use the Keeva spelling. Many people would have no clue how to pronouce or spell that name.

kerribear1717 · September 2011

Like the name since you told us how to pronounce it. Living in America I would do Keeva. I like how it looks. My mom wanted us to use Graeme (for Graham) but I couldn't do it. I don't want everyone to guess at my kid's name.

plunderb · September 2011

I am conflicted about the use of hyper-"authentic" Irish names among non-Irish speakers. To me, it feels a bit like appropriating the culture of an historically marginalized group and focusing on the aesthetic rather than the political. I sort of see it in the same category as white people who get "tribal" tattoos because they look cool, but don't really understand the political implications of the art form. I feel similarly cringe-y when non-Hawaiians use Hawaiian names like Leilani just because it's so beautiful. I am not making the argument that people should only use a name from their own cultural background. I'm just saying that when there is a differential in power, the person from the imperial/conquering culture should be circumspect about appropriating aspects of the subjugated culture for aesthetic purposes.

Now, I don't know your situation. If you or members of your family speak Irish or are involved in Irish politics enough to know what the implications of Irish-language usage are, then Caoimhe is a great name. Full speed ahead, and no reason to change the spelling. Where I live, there really are a decent number of Irish speakers, and I do think they have lovely names (even if many are difficult to spell). If the extent of your Gaelic heritage is that your husband has a Scottish last name, I would think long and hard about using this name. Ask yourself where you fit in the history of Ireland and whether your use of the name would be a show of pride in your heritage or an unwelcome intrusion by a conqueror, even if the only thing you share with Cromwell is your language. I can't know what your situation is, but those are the issues that come to mind when I see Irish names.

naflmj · September 2011

Typically I am all for the traditional/cultural spellings and I love Gaelic names but this one is tough. I think it's really pretty but a lot of people would butcher it...that being said if you love the name use the Gaelic spelling and people will eventually get it. We did go with the Scottish Graeme and have had surprisingly few issues however I work with i Niamh and people butcher it daily, she doesn't seem to mind and is a very assertive young woman.

g00dg0llymsm0lly · September 2011

1) Do you like the way this name sounds? Honestly, no- by sound alone I would assume said child had ghetto parents who threw random sounds together and called it a name.

2) If you had to choose would you spell it in the traditional, Gaelic or would you use the anglicized version?The Gaelic way, absolutely!

3) Another variant of this name that is popular in Ireland and Scotland is Keavy (pronounced KEE-vee). Is it better than the original? No.

queenbone · September 2011

1) Do you like the way this name sounds? No, it sounds like Kiva, which is a type of building and the name of a building where I had studio classes for 2 yrs. It also seems like another variant of the Kiley/Keeley type names, which is not my cup of tea.

2) If you had to choose would you spell it in the traditional, Gaelic or would you use the anglicized version? Gaelic if you must use it. I just feel like this would be a very difficult name to have in the US. It's not as familiar as Siobhan nor as intuitive as Xochitl.

3) Another variant of this name that is popular in Ireland and Scotland is Keavy (pronounced KEE-vee). Is it better than the original? All I can think of is "She's not Keavy, she's my sister."

curlylocks3 · September 2011

bread&jam:
This is my and my husband's guilty pleasure name (pronounced KEE-va). We would love to use it but do not like the way the anglicized version of the name looks (Keeva), and we are wary about the spelling problems it will pose if we use the Gaelic version. So here are my questions:
1) Do you like the way this name sounds? I think it sounds beautiful, I had never heard of it before.
2) If you had to choose would you spell it in the traditional, Gaelic or would you use the anglicized version? Traditional Gaelic.
3) Another variant of this name that is popular in Ireland and Scotland is Keavy (pronounced KEE-vee). Is it better than the original? I know this won't be a popular answer, but yes.
Any other thoughts/ideas are appreciated. I am wearing my big girl panties today and want your honest/upfront feelings about this name!
Its not a popular opinion (and it might even get me flamed), but I honestly don't like using such distinctively different names when the majority of people your child will interact with will not know how to pronounce it. I feel like its not fair to set your kid up for a lifetime of correcting pronunciation or, for a younger child, being teased about it.
In elementary school a kid the year ahead of me was named Oisin. I remember my mom telling me how to pronounce it but I was one of the few kids who knew the correct pronunciation (or used it at least), the rest of the kids just called him some hopelessly butchered form of it. His younger brother was named Kieren- still a Gaelic name but more not so different. And they had a very Irish last name. I'm not sharing this story to be mean, I'm just saying kids aren't always the nicest and they'll find ways to make fun of everyone but why make it so easy?
Personally, I think Caoimhe is a beautiful name but if it was me I'd pick a name that won't cause her so much hassle.
FWIW, my husband's family and our last name is distinctly Scottish.

guilletskichuk · September 2011

Liz4444:
I like the pronounciation, but never would have gotten there with the spelling. I'm not familiar with tradition Gaelic names and I'm going to go out on a limb and say most Americans wouldn't get this one. I think she will have a lot of people seeing her name on paper whether it be in school or a job interview/resume and she will spend her whole life looking at people whose faces look like .

I wouldn't, just based on the fact that you will be making her life very, very difficult. Unless you plan moving to Scotland or Ireland in the very near future.

This.

I don't know that I like the anglicized spelling. It reminds me of all of the popular "K" names that don't sound as beautiful as this.

And I'm not a fan of Keavy. Makes me think of "Heavy".

BFab11 · September 2011

Assuming that you live in the US, I would not go with this name. It's a beautiful name, and I love it, but you will be hard-pressed to find ANYONE she encounters who has any idea at all how to pronounce or spell the name.

Imagine having to pronounce and/or spell (probably several times in a row) your name to every single person you meet ever, unless you visit Scotland/Ireland or meets someone from there who is familiar with Gaelic names. If you live somewhere where the name will be recognized by a fair amount of people, go for it. Otherwise, it's a lifetime of frustration, misspellings, and confusion.

Kitty Holland · September 2011

plunderb:
I am conflicted about the use of hyper-"authentic" Irish names among non-Irish speakers. To me, it feels a bit like appropriating the culture of an historically marginalized group and focusing on the aesthetic rather than the political. I sort of see it in the same category as white people who get "tribal" tattoos because they look cool, but don't really understand the political implications of the art form. I feel similarly cringe-y when non-Hawaiians use Hawaiian names like Leilani just because it's so beautiful. I am not making the argument that people should only use a name from their own cultural background. I'm just saying that when there is a differential in power, the person from the imperial/conquering culture should be circumspect about appropriating aspects of the subjugated culture for aesthetic purposes.
Now, I don't know your situation. If you or members of your family speak Irish or are involved in Irish politics enough to know what the implications of Irish-language usage are, then Caoimhe is a great name. Full speed ahead, and no reason to change the spelling. Where I live, there really are a decent number of Irish speakers, and I do think they have lovely names (even if many are difficult to spell). If the extent of your Gaelic heritage is that your husband has a Scottish last name, I would think long and hard about using this name. Ask yourself where you fit in the history of Ireland and whether your use of the name would be a show of pride in your heritage or an unwelcome intrusion by a conqueror, even if the only thing you share with Cromwell is your language. I can't know what your situation is, but those are the issues that come to mind when I see Irish names.

This seems to nail it in the head.

salt78 · September 2011

I agree with PPs that it's too difficult a name to have here. It's lovely, but no one would ever be able to say it correctly. (My family is very Scottish too and I still don't think it's a good idea.)

Thankful1000 · September 2011

bread&jam:
1) Do you like the way this name sounds? Yes!
2) If you had to choose would you spell it in the traditional, Gaelic or would you use the anglicized version? I don't think I would go with the Gaelic. It is too far from what it sounds like in english. It's a shame to say this, but no one will ever be able to spell the name correctly! At least give people a chance!
3) Another variant of this name that is popular in Ireland and Scotland is Keavy (pronounced KEE-vee). Is it better than the original?
This is ok, but I don't love the Y.
Any other thoughts/ideas are appreciated. I am wearing my big girl panties today and want your honest/upfront feelings about this name!

imimahoney · September 2011

I think the name sounds beautiful but as a teacher, who teaches in a predominately Irish Catholic town, I would have NO IDEA how to pronounce it and have never seen it.

IMO this name would be butchered all.the.time.

gimmietimmies · September 2011

bread&jam:

This is my and my husband's guilty pleasure name (pronounced KEE-va). We would love to use it but do not like the way the anglicized version of the name looks (Keeva), and we are wary about the spelling problems it will pose if we use the Gaelic version. So here are my questions:

1) Do you like the way this name sounds? Yes, love it.

2) If you had to choose would you spell it in the traditional, Gaelic or would you use the anglicized version? Gaelic, no question

3) Another variant of this name that is popular in Ireland and Scotland is Keavy (pronounced KEE-vee). Is it better than the original? No, stick with the original, Keavy makes a fine nickname though.

Any other thoughts/ideas are appreciated. I am wearing my big girl panties today and want your honest/upfront feelings about this name!

FWIW, my husband's family and our last name is distinctly Scottish.

My take about dumbing down names may be different than the other ladies, since I'm not American. I live and work in an area that has a large immigrant population, so it is common to see cultural names that are different than what sits in the top 100 baby names. The second generations don't Anglecize either, so we get used to either asking about the correct pronunciation or spelling. After a while, you get better at recognizing how names should be said/spelled.

My dd (E) doesn't have the easiest name, but she has a strong personality, so even at 5 if someone doesn't know how to say her name, she'll correct them and then add, "It's okay, so now you know." It's okay for people to learn something new!

mintea · September 2011

I think it's lovely and I like to think I am a good name-pronunciation-guesser but here I would have said "Keema" at best. What about Kiva?

alliejo725 · September 2011

bread&jam:

This is my and my husband's guilty pleasure name (pronounced KEE-va). We would love to use it but do not like the way the anglicized version of the name looks (Keeva), and we are wary about the spelling problems it will pose if we use the Gaelic version. So here are my questions:

1) Do you like the way this name sounds?

Blech. No. You people need to get over this idea that all Irish names sound AWESOME.

2) If you had to choose would you spell it in the traditional, Gaelic or would you use the anglicized version?

I agree that the anglecized version is ugly, but insisting that your child go through the constant struggles of Average Joe trying to figure out how the hell to say her name (in the name of "educating people about Gaelic names," no less) is beyond stupid/selfish.

3) Another variant of this name that is popular in Ireland and Scotland is Keavy (pronounced KEE-vee). Is it better than the original?

You say Keavy, I hear "skeevy."

krissymoves · September 2011

I agree with the others that if you're living in the U.S., most people will not have a clue how to pronounce the name, which seems unfair to your child. Could you use it as the middle name instead?

moxie9 · September 2011

I went to high school with a girl named Caoimhe, and I love it. Her dad was from Ireland, though, and I think all of her brothers and sisters had Irish names.

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