Aibhlinn Spelling and Sister for Gemma

donehue · August 2014

We just found out we are having another girl in December. DD#1 is Gemma Giuliana. Last name is super italian (11 letters, 5A's). I am 100% Irish (-American). MN has to be Maria or Silvana. First round of name picking yielded Evangeline and Zara, everybody loves Evangeline, especially my in-laws, but now I'm feeling it's too boring/safe/popular for me. I want a very sophisticated name as opposed to cutesy. I've loved Eden and Ciara, but DH is meh on those. I also love Neve because it has Irish and Italian meanings, but my italian FIL didn't like calling the baby 'snow' (it's a January baby!), which ruined it for DH. Now DH and I both love Aibhlinn, which is Gaelic for "longed-for child" and pronounced "ave-leen". We don't want to saddle our child with that spelling, but can't figure out a translation that keeps that pronounciation - any advice??? Any thoughts on how these go with Gemma? TIA!!

DaisyZH · August 2014

I really like Evangeline, I actually think it's much more sophisticated than Eden or Ciara. Neve is very sweet.

I'm no help with Irish names, it sounds very pretty but I have no idea on spelling.

SpartanChick88 · August 2014

*lurker*

DD is Ciara - everyone calls her Sierra or See-ah-ra. We knew it would happen but still love her name for its Gaelic roots. Moral of the story: if you love it, use it

**lurker out**

conradraging · August 2014

My thought is, if you're going to use an uncommon name, you should spell it properly. Sure, she will have to correct people, but it's better than making up a spelling to get the pronunciation you want.

Dr.Loretta · August 2014

Love Aibhlinn. What about Moira?

conradraging · August 2014

Hey temporary thread jack since you guys seem to know Irish names.

Is Caoilinn just as legitimate a spelling as Caoilfhionn? Because I don't want to dumb it down to "Keelin" or anything, but I've seen it written both ways and I'm not sure if it's legit or not.

blu-eyedwife · August 2014

I'd keep the original spelling. I don't know of a good translation that won't look like a jumble of letters or be mispronounced anyway. As it is, I think you're going to get a lot of "Evelyn" just because people are more familiar with that name. If you're going to have to pronouce/repeat it anyway, might as well stick with the traditional spelling.

donehue · August 2014

Thanks, everyone! Not sure I can sell Gaelic spelling to DH, but maybe I can recapture my love of Evangeline. If only my in-laws weren't now shoving it down my throat

Dr.Loretta · August 2014

Eabha is another one DH threw my way the other day. Pronounced like Ava. Might be a consideration.

daystardreams · August 2014

I love Evangeline.

greysweatshirt · August 2014

also in the minority but I just cant get behind any of the traditional spellings....to me it just looks like an excessive use of vowels and she'll have to deal with morons like myself that call people Sio-ban instead of Shavonne.

I see no problem with Aveline... and Aveline Maria is a stunning name.

Havana2014 · August 2014

conradraging said:

Hey temporary thread jack since you guys seem to know Irish names. Is Caoilinn just as legitimate a spelling as Caoilfhionn? Because I don't want to dumb it down to "Keelin" or anything, but I've seen it written both ways and I'm not sure if it's legit or not.

Yes, both are fine and these days I'd say you're more likely to see Caoilinn. I love Aibhlinn. My current front runner is Ailbhe

Kitty Holland · August 2014

Luhdashuh said:
I'm in the minority here, but I'm not a huge fan of Gaelic spellings and don't consider it dumbing it down. I've seen Aveline, but I do think people would remember it as Evelyn or Adeline.

This. I am Irish, but still, unless you live in the Gaelic speaking parts, even within Ireland this name is didficult. I think it's ok to use the English language spelling, especially because Gaelic is not phonetic and so unfamiliar to English speakers living in the U.S.

mandikins27 · August 2014

I think that anyone in constant contact with your child will be corrected once maybe twice then its not an issue. I say use it

4N6s · August 2014

Avlene.

andrieya · August 2014

Eden or Evangeline

Coconuthead · August 2014

I like Aibhlinn or Aveline. Good luck!

catwine · August 2014

Agree with those who say to keep the spelling! I have a little cousin Siobahn (pronounced Sha-von) and I think it's a great tribute to her father's Gaelic side.

Kitty Holland · August 2014

christinafromflanders said:
Agree with those who say to keep the spelling! I have a little cousin Siobahn (pronounced Sha-von) and I think it's a great tribute to her father's Gaelic side.

Here's my point exactly: the correct Gaelic spelling is Siobhan. Siobahn makes no sense in Gaelic since you need the BH to make the English V sound.

CoozieInMyPurse · August 2014

Evelyn and Miriam both mean wished-for child. I would imagine that Evelyn and the name you love are related.

oliversbear · August 2014

I find that the Gaelic spelling might be out of place with a sibset including Gemma.
The sound of the name is lovely, I would just go with an Anglicized spelling to keep the name-styles consistent.

Kitty Holland · August 2014

bromios said:

Okay, everyone who is saying, "But it will get misspelled!" I gotta tell you that I have been, on restaurant tickets, on mail, and even when getting someone's autograph once:
Charolette
Charlut
Charelet
Sharlut
Sharlott
Sherlot
Scarlett
Sharelot
Sharlon (wtf?)
and (my favorite) Sheerlite

It's Charlotte, people, it's not rocket science, and yet strangers spell it wrong more often than they spell it right. I also have had more than one person look at my name written down and say, "Scarlett?" Stupid gonna happen, no reason to give up a beautiful name to accommodate it.

I get it, but there's a difference between misspelling because of stupidity and this. It's like asking people to be able to read your child's name in Chinese characters or Cyrillic. But maybe it's worse because it looks like the Roman alphabet, but is already been translated from the original Gaelic variation into what looks like standard Roman letters. Because of this the pronunciation is unknown to most everyone and makes little sense to English speakers. That BH that causes the confusion is a single letter in Gaelic type.

If you insist on the Gaelic spelling, then I think it's a better choice to use the original on a birth certificate if you want to preserve the name or honor someone, and then use the English language equivalent for most interactions. People are not dumb because they are unfamiliar with the pronunciation rules of a language that is spoken as a first language by fewer than 100,000 people in a script that has been translated into Roman letters.

As an Irish person who is proud of my Irish heritage, it screams trying too hard. I have an Irish born aunt who is called Evelyn. When pronounced with an Irish accent, it sounds like "eave-line."

This is especially true when the sister is Gemma and the name is not common. Sean would be an exception because it's so common and familiar.

conradraging · August 2014

bromios said:
Okay, everyone who is saying, "But it will get misspelled!" I gotta tell you that I have been, on restaurant tickets, on mail, and even when getting someone's autograph once:
Charolette
Charlut
Charelet
Sharlut
Sharlott
Sherlot
Scarlett
Sharelot
Sharlon (wtf?)
and (my favorite) Sheerlite

It's Charlotte, people, it's not rocket science, and yet strangers spell it wrong more often than they spell it right. I also have had more than one person look at my name written down and say, "Scarlett?" Stupid gonna happen, no reason to give up a beautiful name to accommodate it.

This. People can't even spell Melissa. Not a reason not to use a name you love/spell it properly.

Dr.Loretta · August 2014

Kitty Holland said:

bromios said:

It's Charlotte, people, it's not rocket science, and yet strangers spell it wrong more often than they spell it right. I also have had more than one person look at my name written down and say, "Scarlett?" Stupid gonna happen, no reason to give up a beautiful name to accommodate it.

I get it, but there's a difference between misspelling because of stupidity and this. It's like asking people to be able to read your child's name in Chinese characters or Cyrillic. But maybe it's worse because it looks like the Roman alphabet, but is already been translated from the original Gaelic variation into what looks like standard Roman letters. Because of this the pronunciation is unknown to most everyone and makes little sense to English speakers. That BH that causes the confusion is a single letter in Gaelic type.

If you insist on the Gaelic spelling, then I think it's a better choice to use the original on a birth certificate if you want to preserve the name or honor someone, and then use the English language equivalent for most interactions. People are not dumb because they are unfamiliar with the pronunciation rules of a language that is spoken as a first language by fewer than 100,000 people in a script that has been translated into Roman letters.

As an Irish person who is proud of my Irish heritage, it screams trying too hard. I have an Irish born aunt who is called Evelyn. When pronounced with an Irish accent, it sounds like "eave-line."

This is especially true when the sister is Gemma and the name is not common. Sean would be an exception because it's so common and familiar.

I have to disagree. Especially with a DD who has a very Irish, and properly spelled, name. With the way the world is these days, you're going to get kids from everywhere, with culturally significant names. Some will be easier to pronounce than others. With the ability to look up anyone's name on the Web in 20 seconds, and parents who will easily explain spelling/pronunciation, I see no reason to further dumb down a name just because.

donehue · August 2014

Update - after some research into the name Aveline we are really liking that name. The French meaning Hazlenut is whatever, but the association with the Germanic Avila ('desired') and St. Theresa of Avila are interesting enough for me. I will tell her how the name came about. Our top place name right now is Aveline Maria (nn Avie) to go with sis Gemma Giuliana. The whole fam would be Marco, Christine, Gemma and Aveline - I like that flow! Thanks for everyone's input!!

Want a personalized experience?

Aibhlinn Spelling and Sister for Gemma

Re: Aibhlinn Spelling and Sister for Gemma

Choose Another Board

Search Boards