Alanneabh
Alanneabh Origin and Meaning
A newly minted name for 2024, Alanneabh comes from the Irish term of endearment, a leanbh, meaning "my child". Introduced into the lexicon by Self-Build-DIY-Instagrammers Cat and Ciaran (who use the handle castlequarterhouse), it shares the same origin as the better known Alannah.
After receiving many questions about their daughter's unusual name, Cat took to Instagram stories to explain. The inspiration behind the name was Claire Keegan's book Small Things Like These which their elder daughter was studying at school. On her noting the importance of the phrase a leanbh in the novel, her parents were struck by how pleasing it sounded and by its potential as a name.
Pronounced a-LAN-iv (or ah-lyan-iv, depending on where in Ireland someone is from), the spelling may confuse though unfamiliar with Irish names, but it does make an unexpected and distinctive option.