I have loved this name for a while, especially because I love how it sounds and looks with middle [name_f]Sabine[/name_f]. However [name_f]Neva[/name_f] also sounds like Never with an accent. Also if pronounced incorrectly (I pronounce it as nee-vah), it even more so sounds like never. My last name is also a verb and if someone were to “never _____ (my last name)” it would be a negative thing. I’m worried that [name_f]Neva[/name_f] may be made fun of by friends or teachers because someone has pronounced her name incorrectly during attendance or something of the sort. Is [name_f]Neva[/name_f] to close to Never?
I pronounce [name_f]Neva[/name_f] the same way as you and don’t think it sounds like Never, especially when reading it; I wouldn’t have connected it with sounding similar to [name_f]Neva[/name_f] with an accent. I’m located in the US, but do understand how it could sound different elsewhere. If you live somewhere where local accents and pronunciation would mean that other people would hear/say it differently then I might reconsider.
As far as how it sounds with your last name, it’s hard to say without knowing your last name. If it’s something potentially negative then I might reconsider but if it sounds similar to something innconet like “never sleeps” or “never eats” I wouldn’t let it bother me.
If you are like me and also in the states, I wouldn’t worry about any puns or jokes being made. It really doesn’t sound like never with my pronunciation and accent and making a joke out of it would really be a stretch [name_f]IMO[/name_f].
I would not have connected it to never. You could always change the spelling to [name_f]Neeva[/name_f] or another variant of it bothers you, but I like the original spelling of [name_f]Neva[/name_f] better.
I think with the popularity of [name_f]Eva[/name_f] it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
By the way, [name_f]Neva[/name_f] [name_f]Sabine[/name_f] is delightful!
[name_f]Neva[/name_f] pronounced like nee-vah doesn’t sound like never at all to me unless perhaps I was putting on a thick Australian accent? If you live in the States, I think it’s fine.
I’m in [name_f]Canada[/name_f], also pronounce it nee-va. I think people may occasionally mispronounce it (because people can mispronounce any name) but as soon as she corrects them, no more problems. I don’t think kids would take her name, say it with a funny accent and then make it to the word never, seems like too far a stretch.
I would never have thought of [name_f]Neva[/name_f] (I also say this NEE-va) sounding like “never”.
I mean, if you pronounce it like Neh-va, yeah it does sound a little like Never with an accent. Neev-ah (which I believe would be the go-to pronunciation in the States), does not. And like somebody said, with the popularity of [name_f]Eva[/name_f], I think most people would pronounce it correctly.
I don’t think it’s too close, and having worked in classrooms and daycares I want to assure you that making fun of names is a rare occurence. That sort of judgement is far more likely to happen from adults, and it’s easy enough to put another adult in their place. And in the case of [name_f]Neva[/name_f] is seems unlikely in either case.
Sidenote: if a teacher ever makes fun of a child’s name for any reason, take it up with administration immediately. It’s extremely unprofessional and I wouldn’t let my child remain in a classroom with a teacher who behaves that way.
I don’t think [name_f]Neva[/name_f] sounds much like Never. In fact, I doubt anyone will make the association. My first instinct upon seeing this name was to pronounce it with a long “e,” and I think that will be the case in most places.
Omg thank you guys so much! I was seriously considering not using the name but you all reassured me. Thank you for your honesty!
[name_f]Neva[/name_f] = nee-vah
Never = neh-ver
Not at all similar to me. [name_f]Neva[/name_f] is sweet!