Alternates for Ivy

Girl Names
1

Hello Berries.

In a thread in the “baby names” section, people were talking about names ruined by their sounds.

My favorite, top-of-the-list girls name ever is “[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]”… But it was pointed out their multiple times (by different members) that [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] makes them think of IV, like a hospital injection, drip etc… I had never made this connection, and now the name is a little ruined for me… Especially because I’m a nurse. Am I going to hear it all day?

What do you think?
Is [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] ruined?
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you have any alternate suggestions?

My next favorite first names would be [name_u]River[/name_u] (i love the “v” sounds), or [name_f]Juliet[/name_f].

2

I do not think [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] is ruined. Really!

I am from the Midwest. Where I live, people pronounce [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] and I.V. differently.

When saying [name_f]Ivy[/name_f], the emphasis is on the long “I” sound.

When saying I.V., the emphasis is on the VEEEEEEEEE.

Does that make sense?

Personally, I would not have connected the two. I don’t think [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] is at all ruined.

Possible alternatives:
[name_u]Haven[/name_u] (Not an “I” name, but I get the same vibe from [name_u]Haven[/name_u] as I do from [name_f]Ivy[/name_f])
[name_f]Irene[/name_f]
[name_f]Iris[/name_f]
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] with a nickname of [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] or [name_f]Issie[/name_f]
[name_f]Calla[/name_f]
[name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]
[name_f]Pippa[/name_f]

3

I think [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] is such an established name that its passing similarity to I.V. drips is just a nitpicky quibble, doesn’t ruin the name for me at all. When you say [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] people will immediately connect to the name, I doubt they’ll think of the drip unless they’re the type to overanalyse and overthink things.

Alternatives:
[name_f]Evie[/name_f]
[name_u]Eden[/name_u]
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
Aven
[name_f]Eva[/name_f]

4

I don’t think [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] is ruined, but I see how it could be different for you. Some more names like [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] (either sound/sense and/or with a V):

[name_u]Avi[/name_u]
[name_f]Avis[/name_f]
[name_f]Cecily[/name_f]
[name_f]Iona[/name_f]
[name_f]Leonie[/name_f]
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]
[name_f]Livy[/name_f]
[name_u]Tavi[/name_u]
Vibia
[name_u]Vida[/name_u]/[name_f]Vita[/name_f]
[name_f]Viveca[/name_f]
[name_u]Vivian[/name_u]
[name_f]Zoe[/name_f]

5

I have to admit the IV sound did ruin the name for a while for me but then i came around to it in the end as it is a slight pronunciation difference and most people don’t think of the drip… but yeah it does kinda grate on me occasionally! But my DH loves it and it is a very nice name…

I also love [name_u]River[/name_u] for a girl :slight_smile:

Some alternatives i have considered:
[name_f]Ione[/name_f]
[name_f]Liv[/name_f]
[name_f]Lyra[/name_f]
[name_f]Ida[/name_f]
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]
[name_f]Eva[/name_f]
[name_f]Eve[/name_f]
[name_f]Lila[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f] or [name_f]Viola[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Vi[/name_f])
[name_f]Avril[/name_f]
[name_f]Ziva[/name_f]

6

I adore [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] and my connection to it is all romantic crumbling cottages and secret gardens so I don’t worry about the IV thing. But if you do, the similar-sounding or similar-quality names I like are:

[name_f]Ione[/name_f] (eye-ohn-ee)
[name_f]Opal[/name_f]
[name_f]Hazel[/name_f] - v’s and z’s do it for me, not sure why. I like their vibrant, zesty buzz? [name_f]Hazel[/name_f]'s a nature name with a green feel, the nature [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]-alternative for me.
[name_f]Xanthe[/name_f] (zanth-ee)
[name_f]Jessamine[/name_f] and [name_f]Bryony[/name_f], which are also vines and thus go together in my mind, but they aren’t as simple and lushly green as [name_f]Ivy[/name_f].
[name_f]Emerald[/name_f]
[name_f]Viveka[/name_f]
[name_f]Cicely[/name_f]
[name_u]Vivien[/name_u]
[name_f]Zara[/name_f] - Something about [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] and [name_f]Zara[/name_f] has the same feel to me?
[name_f]Veronica[/name_f]

[name_f]Lily[/name_f] & [name_f]Violet[/name_f] feel a bit different than [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] to me, but closer than many of the other floral names I like.

7

I like [name_f]Ivetta[/name_f] (nn [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]).

8

I don’t think [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] is ruined, personally, but if the IV thing bugs you now, it’ll bug you a lot more when it’s your kid’s name, so I’d just refrain from using it. There are plenty of lovely alternatives!

[name_f]Eva[/name_f]
[name_f]Vienna[/name_f]
[name_f]Livia[/name_f]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Irie[/name_f]
[name_u]Kiva[/name_u]
[name_f]Niamh[/name_f]
[name_f]Yvette[/name_f]
[name_u]Everly[/name_u]
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]
[name_f]Aveline[/name_f]
[name_f]Irene[/name_f]
[name_f]Estelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Odette[/name_f]
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f]
[name_f]Adeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Edie[/name_f]
[name_f]Louise[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]

9

Thank you so much for the responses guys!

@ Loislane: That makes total sense… I’m from [name_u]Sydney[/name_u], Australia, and “[name_f]Ivy[/name_f]” is emphasised “EYYYE-vey”, where as IV is emphasised “ey-VEE” (a lot shorter), like you said.
[name_u]Haven[/name_u] is lovely… i’ve never considered that before, but I like it :slight_smile: [name_f]Pippa[/name_f] is definitely on the list as a nn for [name_f]Phillipa[/name_f].
[name_f]Isadora[/name_f] is my favourite of your suggestions… gives me a similar feel to [name_f]Ivy[/name_f]. :slight_smile:
Thank you!

@ Perrygirl… I think the point of being an established name is true… It has such a long history, it’s not exactly a new name… So that’s redeemable, I guess…
I love your suggestions of Aven and [name_f]Evie[/name_f]. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think [name_f]Evie[/name_f] works as a stand alone name?

@Davisellu… your suggestions are right up my ally!
I especially love [name_f]Avis[/name_f] and [name_u]Avi[/name_u] (I havent heard these before!) and [name_f]Livy[/name_f]. [name_f]Cecily[/name_f] is interesting, i really like it, very different and older-sounding.

@BettyDogooder: Thankyou for your honesty, especially since i see that you’re considering it as a top name too. So you realised the association early on and managed to move past it? Thats hopeful :slight_smile: i just get the feeling that it’s going to grate on me a little too… i thought it was the perfect name, and now there’s this one little thing…
I think i really love your suggestion of [name_f]Liv[/name_f] (and the previous suggestion of [name_f]Livy[/name_f]). [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] is adorable but i’m afraid that in 5 years it’ll be super popular. [name_f]Violet[/name_f] is on my long list. [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] is beautiful! another name i haven’t considered before…

@stripedsocks, This is exactly why I love it! You are totally channelling my thoughts… Your suggestions are both unusual and adorable, thank you. [name_f]Hazel[/name_f] is super high on my list, I’ve always loved it, It’s my grandmothers middle name, and it feels a lot like [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] to me. Also, myself, my mum and my nan all have hazel eyes (so that’s cute too)…
I also love [name_f]Zara[/name_f], [name_f]Cecily[/name_f], [name_f]Emerald[/name_f] and [name_f]Opal[/name_f]… They feel similar too. Especially [name_f]Zara[/name_f]… and see above for [name_f]Cecily[/name_f].

@rkrd: [name_f]Ivetta[/name_f] rocks! Never considered it before, but [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] is definitely an accessible nn!

@callmecalliope: That’s what I’m afraid of… it’s really bugging me now… is it going to be worse in 5, 10 years time? Your alts are awesome. Especially [name_f]Vienna[/name_f], [name_f]Irie[/name_f] (beautiful!!!), [name_f]Aveline[/name_f], [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] and [name_f]Daphne[/name_f] (loooove). [name_m]How[/name_m] do you pronounce [name_f]Niamh[/name_f]?

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!!! [name_f]Ione[/name_f] and [name_f]Iona[/name_f] were really beautiful and popular, but I’m not entirely sure of the pronounciation…
Also [name_f]Cecily[/name_f] and [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] came up a couple of times… . both very lovely.
I’m seriously considering [name_f]Hazel[/name_f], [name_f]Irie[/name_f], [name_f]Isadora[/name_f], [name_f]Liv[/name_f] ([name_f]Livy[/name_f]), [name_f]Evie[/name_f], Aven, and [name_f]Cecily[/name_f] now… time to revise the list…

:cool:

10

My sister is named [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u] after our grandmother [name_f]Iva[/name_f] [name_u]Jean[/name_u]. My grandmothers nick name was [name_f]Ivy[/name_f], so [name_f]Iva[/name_f] could be an alternative. I personally love both

11

Gah! This had never crossed my mind, but now it’s kind of ruining the name for ME! Especially because I have an intense phobia of needles… (one of the main reasons why a home birth appeals to me is that they’re less likely to stick me with an IV!)

Sigh. I’m so sorry. It totally WAS “romantic crumbling cottages and secret gardens” for me, too. I can understand your disappointment that several people made this unpleasant connection! I don’t think it has to be completely ruined, but, still. Disappointing. :frowning: