Nevaeh

Heaven spelled backwards; a heavenly association.

Nevaeh carries its central idea in an unexpected place: read its letters backwards and they spell heaven. That gives this modern girls’ name a link with the sky, religious ideas of heaven, or a place of happiness, depending on how a family understands the word. The association is built into the spelling rather than a literal translation of Nevaeh. Spoken in English as nuh-VAY-uh, it has three syllables and a bright, stressed middle. To the ear, the soft opening and trailing vowel can give it a gentle, lilting feel. On the page it looks more unusual, so there is a contrast between its flowing sound and its less predictable written form. The exact spelling N-e-v-a-e-h is essential to its hidden message—a detail that may appeal to parents who want a name with a personal meaning.

Etymology: Nevaeh is a modern English name formed by reversing the letters of heaven. Its connection with heaven comes from this deliberate wordplay, rather than from an older word pronounced Nevaeh.