Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

1 2 3

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Setanta or Oisín?

52 replies

Annarose2014 · 09/03/2016 10:17

I've always really liked the legend of Setanta and it's a name that can be pronounced by non - Irish people too. And it's a bit less common which I like.

BUT: the fucking TV station!

With Oisín, it's cute and I don't know anyone who dislikes it.

BUT: impossible to pronounce outside Ireland? Will it be a total pain as an adult?

Opinions please!

OP posts:

Report

ThirstyNell · 09/03/2016 10:21

Are you in Ireland??? Love Oisin, people will learn how to pronounce it, if you're abroad.
Setanta is awful, anywhere.

DramaAlpaca · 09/03/2016 10:24

Oisín is lovely and not difficult to pronounce once you know how to say it.

I'm not a fan of Setanta at all.

NameChangeEr · 09/03/2016 10:27

Oisìn all the way. Who cares if you have to tell people to pronounce it? It will only be once and it is a weird MN obsession for the "poor child" I think my name needed spelling is awesome and different

Annarose2014 · 09/03/2016 10:30

We're in Ireland so I have no qualms about the pronunciation here.

But I have a name impossible to pronounce outside Ireland and tbh it's always been a bit irritating.

OP posts:

MagicPotion · 09/03/2016 10:32

Oisin is a wonderful name. Yeah, the non-Irish will fluff pronunciation first time they see it but they'll get used to it.

Setanta - you just can't get away from the sports channel, I'm afraid .

SoupDragon · 09/03/2016 10:35

I have bog all idea how to pronounce Oisín but I still prefer it to Sentanta!

(Actually, it's not bog all idea as I know it has a nice sound and is a popular name from reading about it on MN.)

SoupDragon · 09/03/2016 10:36

Setanta. Not Sentanta.

RockUnit · 09/03/2016 11:10

I like Oisín.

Setanta sounds feminine to me, I think because it ends in a. It also reminds me of Santa.

PaulAnkaTheDog · 09/03/2016 11:16

Setanta is the sports channel to me, not a name. Sorry.

MNetter15 · 09/03/2016 11:20

Doesn't Amanda what's her face have a ds called Setanta? I don't like it at all, sorry.

I love Oisin (can't seem to do the fada)

JanetOfTheApes · 09/03/2016 11:21

I know loads of Oisins, they have no bother once they say it once, its not like some of the tough ones (Caoilfhionn or Risteárd, anyone?)

My cousin is Setanta. He predates the channel but he hates it now because everyone mentions that. And his wifes english family call him Sultana (they think its funny, he less so).

So yeah, Oisin gets my vote.

Annarose2014 · 09/03/2016 11:24

Oh God, Sultana. ...

I'm glad I posted - I didn't realise it'd be so unanimous!

OP posts:

TeaPleaseLouise · 09/03/2016 11:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DontKillMyVibe · 09/03/2016 11:26

I know a few Oisin's in London and no one seems to have a problem with the pronounication of it. Those that did/do are told once and then get it right - it's pretty easy to remember.

Setanta is awful, sorry. Mainly due to the TV channel ruining it!

UsernamesAreAPainInTheBalls · 09/03/2016 11:35

I like them both equally but I know what you mean about the TV channel. If you like setanta what about Senan? I think it's lovely and easily pronounced outside Ireland although fwiw my sister is living in the uk (we're Irish) and has a completely simple Irish name (think Orla/emer kind of name) and she still has people spelling and saying it wrong

YakTriangle · 09/03/2016 11:37

I didn't even know Setanta was a name outside of the tv station. If I had heard it before reading this thread I'd have assumed they were named after it, like kids in America being named ESPN.

Eigg · 09/03/2016 11:40

I'm Scottish and know how to pronounce Oisin, I have no idea how Setanta is pronounced (never heard of the station).

Scarydinosaurs · 09/03/2016 11:40

Oisin is absolutely one of my favourite names. If I didn't have a DD Orlaith and a sister Roisin I would use it (too similar to Roisin and I'd rather avoid siblings with the same initials).

MitzyLeFrouf · 09/03/2016 11:46

I've never really liked the name Oisín, it reminds me of 'gushing'. But it's probably more well known in the UK since Jeremy Clarkson clobbered one!

I know a young Setanta and I always think the name is a bit unwieldy, plus it's a bit like calling your kid Hercules isn't it? A lot to live up to. And yeah, the TV channel.

Annarose2014 · 09/03/2016 11:54

Senan has already been nabbed by my friends son, unfortunately.

OP posts:

lljkk · 09/03/2016 11:56

Is Oisin said more like OHsheen or oSHEN?

MitzyLeFrouf · 09/03/2016 11:59

It sounds like uh-sheen.

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

lljkk · 09/03/2016 12:00

UH-sheen or uhSHEEN? Which syllable is emphasis?
On youtube I thought it was like OHsheen, but somehow the sheen part is shorter than a usual full ee sound.

Annarose2014 · 09/03/2016 12:01

UH-sheen.

OP posts:

MitzyLeFrouf · 09/03/2016 12:01

Equal emphasis I'd say, hence uh-sheen.

Flip

1 2 3

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.