What do you think of the name Nevaeh for a baby girl?

Question

My friend just found out she's having a girl. She told me she likes the name Nevaeh (pronounced Neh -vay-ah, Heaven spelled backwards). She wanted me to take a poll on it, because she likes it, I think it sounds kind of like an African name. (I thought Heaven sounded better)

It wouldnt be bad at all if it sounded like an african name. but the mom and the dad are 2 pale white people so I'm pretty sure theyre not going to have a black baby. their kid might get hell for their decision when she starts going to school.

Answer 1

Well if she thinks it a unique or in any way unusual choice, you might want to clue her in. It's a recent creation that's already among the 50 most COMMON choices out there! LOL Also, she might want to be prepared for the poor child's literal name to be "Nevaeh-heavenspelledbackwards," in essence, because every parent currently choosing this (often assuming it IS unusual enough to warrant such an explanation LOL) feel the need to tack this on each and every time they make an introduction.

Trendy and overused to the max, if you ask me. I'd much prefer an attractive, real name that actually has a "heaven" meaning, if that's what appeals.

Celia
Diana
Diantha
Leilani
Noelani

Or simply a Biblical name or one with obvious religious ties (again, if that's what attracted her to "Nevaeh" to begin with).

Mary
Tabitha
Talitha
Naomi
Miriam
Eve
Evangeline
Angelina
Damaris
Dara
Abigail
Abilene
Lydia
Chloe
Vashti
Esther
Havilah
Jemima

Seriously, there's no end to the options, ranging from obviously well-known to far less common. It's likely she could find a perfect name that isn't a trendy, modern creation and that millions of other parents aren't latching onto at the same exact time.

For what it's worth, you might want to mention to her that, despite its assumed positive intent, many feel "Nevaeh" actually reflects quite a negative connotation -- the opposite of Heaven being, well, Hell. Not the most well-thought-out trend, in my opinion (though few are LOL).

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

Personally, I wouldn't name my daughter after any of the $luts from Flavor of Love which is where she probably got the name in the first place. (actually the girl wanted neveah to be her stage name). I am also white and my bf is african american, but I chose the name Vanessa for my little girl because I always find it corny when interracial couples, like ourselves, pick out some wacky "Nasqueesha" like name, because the baby is HALF black. What about the white half? My Bf agreed as well.

Answer 3

Personally I think it stinks...to me, heaven backwards is hell. I think it's gonna end up being some kind of fad name that will be laughed at ten years from now, but I also know if a mom has her heart set on a name for her baby, there's not much anyone can do to persuade her otherwise.

Answer 4

Well ... the meaning of Neveah is lovely, and the reverse spelling is clever. But my general sense is that naming your child Heaven, Neveah, Destiny or Chance is just a bit too much.

I like unusual names, including place names like Avalon and India, nature names like Bay and Ocean, and noun names like Journey and Story, too.

But the thing about Neveah is that's it is already fairly common and more than a little downmarket. No racial judgments there at all ... it's just that Neveah is the kind of name I expect to see on the nametag of the girl who makes my chalupa at Taco Bell, not on the business card of my financial advisor.

If she's stuck on Neveah, perhaps she can tuck it in as a middle name, and choose a name that looks skyward, but a bit less obviously, like:

Annalisa - "graced with God's bounty"
Amaris - "promised by God"
Carys - "love"

Or there's always Eden.

Good luck to your friend!

Answer 5

Heaven is much better
Celia is much better, it means heaven

Neveah is a bad name, It has not meaning, it just heaven spelled backwards

Heaven was rank 253 last year
Celia was rank 707 last year
Neveah was rank 43 last year
Nevaeh was rank 996 last year, that were people thinking they were using Heaven spelled backwards, funny

If she want to name a child that means heaven, go with Celia

Answer 6

It's too "tryndee," and both Heaven & Nevaeh are a bit tacky sounding. Just don't tell her that. LOL.

Here are some good African & African-American names for other options:

Ngina
Ngozi
Njeri
Nyah

And it's not African but what about Nadia or Nadie?

Answer 7

The flower girl in my best friend's wedding was Nevaeh. I think it's a very beautiful name and I hope she uses it. Maybe she should name her Nevaeh Heaven.

Answer 8

I hate it. Heaven is a lot better. And it drives me nuts that everytime I have ever heard it, it is always followed with "it is Heaven spelled backwards."

Answer 9

I was gonna name my baby Nevaeh but i started herin the name to often

Answer 10

it's a bit tacky - and really common. what about niamh/neve instead?

PS would it be a bad thing if it sounded like an African name?