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Caoimh - kweeva
Siobhán - Shivawn
Sinead - Shin-ade
Níamh - Neev
Grainne - Grawn-ya
Sorcha - Surka
Bláthnaid - Blawnid
Clíodnadh - Clee-ona
Órlaith - Oar-la
Ciara - Kee-ra
All these names make sense when one understands Irish grammar and pronunciations, but I can absolutely see how people elsewhere would struggle with these.
I wonder if its an accent thing but I've allways heard Niamh as "Nee-uv" and not "Neev" and I know quite a few Niamhs.
Nee-uv is correct. The 'i' carries the stress, as indicated by the accent, so the 'a' turns into an unstressed vowel /ə/.
To anyone else who has studied Irish, this is purposely a simplification.
Ah Ok. I get ya. I wouldnt say I "studied" Irish despite doing it for 16+ years lol. I can read and write it, and speak it, but the actual intricacies of the phonetics is beyond me.
I did an MA in Welsh and Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth.
I did a few courses involving Old Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and while I enjoyed them I definitely can not speak any lol
Ond, mae fy Nghymraeg ddim yn ofnadwy.
Oh... I always though Siobhan was really pretty, but it turns out I was just pronouncing it wrong.
Thanks for sharing this! Found a few others as I was looking up my family members names:
Kevin - Caoimhín Maeve - Meadhbh