Can we talk about Niamh/Neve?

Manderlin923 · March 2014

DH is totally against adding Niamh because of the pronunciation issues. I love the sound, though. I think Neve also means snow in Spanish, which makes me extra like it. Baby name buffs, how do you feel about anglicized versions of names? Does it take it down a few notches for you? I think the look of Niamh is prettier, but I do think it would be a headache to deal with spelling/pronunciation.

absolutelymaybe · March 2014

So, how do you pronounce Niamh?

I think Neve is pretty.

ashiscute · March 2014

Try it out at Starbucks or Panera or something and see the reaction you get.

Honestly, I think it's beautiful but I think more people would pronounce it wrong and spell it wrong than get it right. I personally wouldn't use it.

Helenahhandbasket · March 2014

I think if there is a well know anglicized spelling, it's OK. So in this case I like it.

I wouldn't "make up" an anglicized spelling though.

KTZ17 · March 2014

I love Niamh!! Nieve (nee-ev-eh) is Spanish for snow, and the name used in Spanish is Nieves. I do agree with PP that people might pronounce it like Neve Campbell if you spell it Neve, so I might just go with the original spelling if you'll have to correct people anyway. Either way it's a gorgeous name.

Helenahhandbasket · March 2014

MauiBliss said:

I'd use the original spelling. My name is three letters. Three. Two of them repeat. Americans still get it wrong. Every. Damn. Time. So, I'd just use the beautiful original spelling. Sure, she may have to correct some people, but I'd rather have the original. Same with my own name. We probably could have added another letter to make it more clear when we moved to the United States, but my mother wanted to maintain the integrity of the spelling.

@mauibliss have you mentioned your IRL name before? I don't want to put you on the spot and I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I can't come up with what your FN is. Ana?

Dr.Loretta · March 2014

I'm a purist when it comes to name spellings and their origins, as evidenced by my daughter's VERY Irish, practically unpronounceable name. Especially if you want people to pronounce it properly, I'd go with the original spelling and just tell people how to say it. I do it all the time with DD and it's not a big deal. Most encounters go like this:

"What's her name?" I tell them

"What?" I smile my knowing smile and repeat it

"How do you spell that?" With a lot of vowels (or "the spelling won't help you)

"Oh, it's pretty" Thanks, we really like it

Dr.Loretta · March 2014

HisGirlFriday929 said:

Dr.Loretta said:

I was checking out your blog - your DD is ADORABLE!!

Thanks. We like her

amy006 · March 2014

I'll be honest, I've never heard this name before and definitely would have mispronounced it

now I know though, and it's very pretty! I see no issue in using Neve but you'll still get Nev a lot.

blu-eyedwife · March 2014

I worked with a Niamh - she was actually from Ireland, so it wasn't just a matter of being true to the name.

IMO, I feel like it's one of those names where if you hear it once, you always remember that's how it's pronounced. It sticks with you. But at the same time, I know it was almost a joke in the office when a new person would call and start stumbling over who they were calling for - we always knew to direct that call to her.

I personally would use Niamh, I think you're going to have to pronounce the name for people in either direction (because as you said, Neve might get the Nev pronunciation)

AlphabetFish · March 2014

When it comes to Gaelic/Irish names, let's face it--they are VERY hard for English-speaking people unfamiliar with them to pronounce. I'm familiar with this name and still thought "Nee-um" when I looked at it initially. If you're living in the USA (or any other country far from Ireland), you WILL have to spell it and explain the pronunciation to people pretty much every time a new person learns her name.

If you're okay with that, and you're okay with the fact that, after a certain age, your daughter will have to do the same thing throughout her life, then go for it. Personally, for me, I think spelling is Niamh will cause more issues than it's worth.

==N== · March 2014

It's quite possibly my favorite name ever. Niamh that is. Neve is not as good. I do know a nieve pronounced the same way. But Niamh is fantastically wonderful.

tlong · March 2014

blu-eyedwife said:

I worked with a Niamh - she was actually from Ireland, so it wasn't just a matter of being true to the name.

IMO, I feel like it's one of those names where if you hear it once, you always remember that's how it's pronounced. It sticks with you. But at the same time, I know it was almost a joke in the office when a new person would call and start stumbling over who they were calling for - we always knew to direct that call to her.

I personally would use Niamh, I think you're going to have to pronounce the name for people in either direction (because as you said, Neve might get the Nev pronunciation)

This. Along with another PP, I have never heard this name before and would have absolutely mispronounced it. At the same time, if it were Neve, I would have pronounced it the same as Nev Campbell. For me personally, it's a pretty name but maybe just too complicated here in the states. Not only for you to explain, but also for her as she gets older.

streamtrax41 · March 2014

AlphabetFish said:
When it comes to Gaelic/Irish names, let's face it--they are VERY hard for English-speaking people unfamiliar with them to pronounce. I'm familiar with this name and still thought "Nee-um" when I looked at it initially. If you're living in the USA (or any other country far from Ireland), you WILL have to spell it and explain the pronunciation to people pretty much every time a new person learns her name.

If you're okay with that, and you're okay with the fact that, after a certain age, your daughter will have to do the same thing throughout her life, then go for it. Personally, for me, I think spelling is Niamh will cause more issues than it's worth.

Exactly.

My son is Kilian because I was afraid everyone would pronounce Cillian "silly-ehn."

beachbride5 · March 2014

i have seen niamh used with the spelling neave, which i think reads more like neev than neve does for some reason... probably because i associate neve with campbell and know how she pronounces it.

i have always taken the anglicized spellings of gaelic names for my kids because the alternative is just bound to set them up for confusion. declan and eavan seem more clear to the majority of people they will come in contact with here in the us than aiobheann and deaglan. when i named declan, that was also before leap year, breaking bad, or revenge- so hardly anyone knew how to pronounce it anyway. i got a lot of dEE-clan that first year.

still a beautiful name either way!!

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