Caoimhe pronunciation

tommy83 · 09-02-2018 3:18am #1

Hi
Due in May and picking baby names. We are currently in Canada and have a question regarding pronunciation.
We prefer the name pronunciation Keeva vs Queeva.
Question is;
What is most popular? In what region?

Ave Sodalis · 09-02-2018 3:24am

Due to extreme bias, I'd go with Kee-va. It's mostly just the northern half of the country (or more from about Sligo upwards), but I feel Qweeva (which is how most of the rest of the country pronounce it) makes it sounds like you've got flem stuck in your throat.

Peregrinus · 09-02-2018 3:27am

"Queeva" is standard in English, although in Irish the standard pronunciation would be somewhere between the two.

riffmongous · 09-02-2018 3:53am

Kweeva, I've never actually heard anyone say Keeva, seen it written in places of course but never one (south of the country)

ardinn · 09-02-2018 3:57am

Mary

Dank Janniels · 09-02-2018 4:11am

Im no linguist but I think the "caoi" bit is pronounced "Qwee" as in Cen caoi a bhfuil tu

catrionanic · 09-02-2018 4:18am

It’s a north/south thing. Growing up in Belfast, I knew loads of Keevas. Moved to Dublin and suddenly everyone was Queeva.

I much prefer Keeva. Queeva makes me think of queef.... I’ll say no more!

Ultimately in canada nobody will have a notion anyway, so go with whichever you prefer!

Ave Sodalis · 09-02-2018 4:30am

Dank Janniels wrote:

Im no linguist but I think the "caoi" bit is pronounced "Qwee" as in Cen caoi a bhfuil tu

It depends on where you are, caoi is "kee" in some areas

Peregrinus · 09-02-2018 5:02am

Ave Sodalis wrote: »

It depends on where you are, caoi is "kee" in some areas

This. The Ulster pronunciation isn't quite as hard as "keeva", and the Munster/Connacht pronuncation isn't quite as soft as "kweeva". Both sounds are somewhere between those two extremes, but the Ulster pronunciation leans more towards -k-, whereas in points south it leans towards -kw-.

So, for Tommy83, the relevant consideration may be which part of Ireland he might live in in the future. North of a line drawn more or less from Drogheda to Sligo, his daughter will get called "keeva"; south of that line, more like "kweeva".

She can, of course, try and steer people towards her preferred pronunciation, but this usually has limited success. It's generally easier to go with the flow.

If he stays in Canada, all bets are off. Nobody will have the least clue how the name is pronounced. My niece Caoimhe lives in Sydney. When they see it for the first time, people tend to goggle at the name and then assume that it must rhyme with "Naomi", which is the only vaguely similar name they have ever seen. But they are more willing to accept correction than Irish people, who tend to have their own ideas about the correct pronunciation and are unwilling to abandon them.

DunnoKidz · 09-02-2018 5:11am

Peregrinus wrote: »

...
If he stays in Canada, all bets are off. Nobody will have the least clue how the name is pronounced. My niece Caoimhe lives in Sydney. When they see it for the first time, people tend to goggle at the name and then assume that it must rhyme with "Naomi", which is the only vaguely similar name they have ever seen. But they are more willing to accept correction than Irish people, who tend to have their own ideas about the correct pronunciation and are unwilling to abandon them.

+1 ^
Check out the last 20 seconds of this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwstj9FJHGg

FA12345 · 10-02-2018 9:26am

I know a girl who is from the north of ireland where her name given is Keeva... she lives in Dublin now and keeps being told that shes pronouncing her own name incorrectly - it should be Qweeva! It's HER name!! I prefer the sound of Keeva myself but also love northern Irealnd accents :-)

LirW · 10-02-2018 4:14pm

I simply wouldn't go with that name because of that stupid word of "Queef" that exists... if you don't know what it is, google it.

Ave Sodalis · 10-02-2018 4:33pm

Unless you pronounce it Kee-va

mcmoustache · 10-02-2018 4:33pm

It's not pronounced "Quee" or Kwee or whatever in Irish. It's more like "Ku" + "eeva". I'm not sure where the "w" sound got in there.

Tell me how · 10-02-2018 4:37pm

In Clare, it's pronounced Queeva.

rockatansky · 10-02-2018 4:43pm

catrionanic wrote: »

It’s a north/south thing. Growing up in Belfast, I knew loads of Keevas. Moved to Dublin and suddenly everyone was Queeva.

I much prefer Keeva. Queeva makes me think of queef.... I’ll say no more!

Ultimately in canada nobody will have a notion anyway, so go with whichever you prefer!

Ah Nordy folk and their weird be name pronunciation!

Ciaran..... Keerin
Roisin..... Rosheeeeeen

Professor Moriarty · 10-02-2018 4:48pm

Unless you know Irish, you won't be able to pronounce it exactly right. Queeva and Keeva are close approximations depending on where you are but they both lose the softness of the 'aoi'.

Hurrache · 10-02-2018 4:51pm

Never heard it pronounced Keeva, the ones I know, well all 2, 1 from Kilkenny, pronounce it the other way with the Q

super_furry · 10-02-2018 4:52pm

Don't think I've ever heard of it be anything but Queeva.

Tenigate · 10-02-2018 4:57pm

Kee-va.

Tbh.. if she'll be brought up in Canada I'd spell it Keeva. Saves that silly banter of silent letters etc.

Ave Sodalis · 10-02-2018 5:05pm

Tenigate wrote:

Tbh.. if she'll be brought up in Canada I'd spell it Keeva. Saves that silly banter of silent letters etc.

Please don't

DunnoKidz · 10-02-2018 5:18pm

Ave Sodalis wrote: »

Please don't

Think of the child... in Canada.

Isn't it difficult enough to go thru life with a name you have to re-pronounce to everybody then spell out (sometimes slowly and repeatedly) every time you talk to a company on the phone?

riffmongous · 10-02-2018 5:27pm

DunnoKidz wrote: »

Think of the child... in Canada.

Isn't it difficult enough to go thru life with a name you have to re-pronounce to everybody then spell out (sometimes slowly and repeatedly) every time you talk to a company on the phone?

It's the 21st century now, people can just Google it.

So nordies say Keeveen and Keelta?

Crea · 10-02-2018 5:30pm

Qweeva in Limerick

catrionanic · 10-02-2018 5:31pm

riffmongous wrote: »

It's the 21st century now, people can just Google it.

So nordies say Keeveen and Keelta?

Yup!

DunnoKidz · 10-02-2018 5:35pm

riffmongous wrote: »

It's the 21st century now, people can just Google it.

So nordies say Keeveen and Keelta?

Sure, next time I am on the phone with a company, I shall ask them to google my name for the proper pronunciation and spelling.

Professor Moriarty · 10-02-2018 5:37pm

DunnoKidz wrote: »

Sure, next time I am on the phone with a company, I shall ask them to google my name for the proper pronunciation and spelling.

Dunnokidz is very easily pronounced.

Tell me how · 10-02-2018 5:38pm

DunnoKidz wrote:

Sure, next time I am on the phone with a company, I shall ask them to google my name for the proper pronunciation and spelling.

How often does it actually take to spell your name and how often does it happen?

It's not like 3 minutes every day of your life.

DunnoKidz · 10-02-2018 5:50pm

Tell me how wrote: »

How often does it actually take to spell your name and how often does it happen?

It's not like 3 minutes every day of your life.

Repeatedly and more than you think. It's been enough of an annoyance (in different ways) over the years, that I wished my parents named me anything but.

Off-topic...

DunnoKidz · 10-02-2018 5:51pm

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

Dunnokidz is very easily pronounced.

cos it aint spelt DunnoCaoidzhe

riffmongous · 10-02-2018 6:14pm

DunnoKidz wrote: »

Sure, next time I am on the phone with a company, I shall ask them to google my name for the proper pronunciation and spelling.

If a company has your cv they can see it there and google it before you get on the phone to them. Which company do you think would be better to work for, the one that doesn't care to or know how to google a name or the one that doesnt?

Ave Sodalis · 10-02-2018 6:14pm

DunnoKidz wrote:

Isn't it difficult enough to go thru life with a name you have to re-pronounce to everybody then spell out (sometimes slowly and repeatedly) every time you talk to a company on the phone?

Not really, no? I've never really had a problem. It's easy enough to say and once you say it's Irish, people are usually accepting of it. I've very rarely had to repeat it more than once.

riffmongous · 10-02-2018 6:16pm

catrionanic wrote: »

Yup!

Crazy!

Lia_lia · 11-02-2018 11:54am

tommy83 wrote: »

Hi
Due in May and picking baby names. We are currently in Canada and have a question regarding pronunciation.
We prefer the name pronunciation Keeva vs Queeva.
Question is;
What is most popular? In what region?

Never heard it pronounced anything other than ”queeva”. I’m from Kerry.

I have a hard to pronounce Irish name and was born abroad and hated having an Irish name that no one could pronounce. Hated it! Just giving my experience! Saying that I love my name now and also really like the name Caoimhe.

Manic Moran · 13-02-2018 12:08am

We are going through the same problem here in California. I am imaginng my future kid at age five or six trying to explain to teachers or friends the spelling and pronunciation of his/her name. And, no, I do not believe “go google it” is something my child should have to say. As a result, much though I would like a good Irish name, we have concluded that even something as simple as “Aisling” may be ruled out. We are also refusing to further “Americanize” the spelling of Irish names. Much though I would like something akin to Caoimhe, the kid will be an American and will have to conform to American realities. I’m unconvinced Canada will be much better, but we’re not you. Just my two cents from a similar position.

Milly33 · 13-02-2018 5:01pm

I would be thinking Queeva, never heard it any other way except from people who cant pronounce it. Keeva sounds like a car or a chicken dish

Conor1974 · 13-02-2018 5:38pm

My daughters name is Caoimhe (queeva) and we have been on a few cruises where you have to present your sea pass card every time you get on or off the ship or at the bars/kids club and every single time without fail she was called K Oh Me.
A lot of the English just ended up calling her Quaver which is close enough

riffmongous · 16-02-2018 4:44pm

Manic Moran wrote: »

We are going through the same problem here in California. I am imaginng my future kid at age five or six trying to explain to teachers or friends the spelling and pronunciation of his/her name. And, no, I do not believe “go google it” is something my child should have to say. As a result, much though I would like a good Irish name, we have concluded that even something as simple as “Aisling” may be ruled out. We are also refusing to further “Americanize” the spelling of Irish names. Much though I would like something akin to Caoimhe, the kid will be an American and will have to conform to American realities. I’m unconvinced Canada will be much better, but we’re not you. Just my two cents from a similar position.

What is the american reality exactly? I certainly don't mean any disrespect here but when I was looking down through the list of victims of the recent school shooting I was struck by how unusual most of the names seemed to me, I wouldn't be able to pronounce or conversely spell the vast majority of the second names correctly without being told how, Feis, Beigel, Dworet, Anguiano, Alhadeff, Parodie, Hoyer, Schentrup, Schachter. I'm guessing quite a few are jewish by how german they sound, but regardless they are going to have to explain their names in school and work in future

Caoimhe pronunciation

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