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[Opinions] Names with tough pronounciations
Names like Caoimhe, Niamh, and Siobhan are very tricky. Ausra is, too. Can you think of any other tough pronounced names? Which would you do, (in Niamh's case) Neve or Niamh? Keeva or Caoimhe? Shervan(or Shevan) or Siobhan? EDIT: I forgot Aoife, that I am starting to like, too.

This message was edited 7/16/2008, 8:25 AM

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from all the responses, i don't think i'm pronouncing these even close to how they should be. They seem pretty difficult. My name's been pretty screwed up, and it's not that hard. (it was even printed as "Aliegha' on a certificate once, that spelling is just disgusting to me, like I should cough or something at 'gh'.
Although i do love names like those :D
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Sadly, both I, Colleen, and my sister Deirdre, have had our names butchered throughout our lives. I dont think they're that complicated looking like the names you've listed, but it seems to be an issue.I think that the Classic spelling on most of your names is MUCH preferable, and I love Siobhan, I hate seeing it as chivonne, or shahvanne or any other kreatif looking names
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I don't find those names hard to pronounce at all but then I am Irish. I can't think of any of the top of my head that I find hard to pronounce.I would stick with the original spellings. Neve, etc make me cringe. And I have to add Siobhan does not sound like "Shevan" or even, God forbid, "Shervan".
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Though I usually prefer original forms, in the US I think it'd be a lot easier to use an English transcription for Gaelic names. Gaelic spelling is just so foreign to Americans that a little Niamh would have to spell out her name multiple times before a person got it. I went by the gaelic pronunciation of my name for a little while and it was a major pain. It's done for other languages and was done for Kathleen, so I don't see English transcriptions as terrible. Eglantine and Aurelia are tough for me, but they aren't so counterintuitive that I'd change the spelling.
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Niamh and Aoife are my top two names for a girl. My parents are from Ireland so these spellings are non-negotiable for me.
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I love Tadhg for a boy. Its pronounced tiig like the the beginning of tiger.
I would love to use it but I don't think I could because of its spelling.
I'd use Niamh though, its quite popular in England so most people know how to spell it.
And for the spellings, always stick to the original!
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Caoilfhionn. That's the name that got me to love Irish. So many seemingly unnecessary letters. Awesome. :)
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Saoirse and Solange are tough to pronounce, or at least they would be to someone who doesn't know they are not pronounced the way they are spelled (I pronounced Solange as "So-lanj" for years).In answer to your questions, I'd go with Neve, Keeva, Siobhan.
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