I need some advice on the name Sorcha

[Caitni]

Afternoon ladies

I grew up saying "Sor-sha" (it was used as the Irish for Sarah for a girl in my primary school class although even then we knew it was a name in its own right) and I love that pronunciation. But I really don't like the "proper" pronounciation of "Surr-i-ka" (am rubbish at phonectic spelling but hope you get my drift). I grew up in Cork City btw.

We've decided we'd like an Irish name if we have a girl (we're pretty much decided on the boy's name) and I've really got "Sor-sha" in my head. I'm Irish, married to an American, and we live in the UK (London). We're unlikely to ever live in Ireland, but obviously there's lots of family in Ireland, so there will a strong connection to the auld sod, iykwim.

What's the verdict on the "wrong" pronunciation? Especially when (like me) you've got quite strong feelings about not anglicising names...

And any other Irish names you love?

I should add that the following names are out: Orla, Aoibhinn and Sadbh (all used in my family), Saoirse (way too "up the IRA" for me), Caoimhe (tmi alert but sounds like a word for fanny farts in America apparently so absolutely banned by my yankee husband), Siobhan, Sinead, Ciara (I know about 15 of each).

Thanks in advance

[CitizenPrecious]

Roisin, Eilis (can't spell either of em, but they're reeeal purdy)

[thick]

[titfertat]

I also used to know a Sorcha pronounced Sorsher. I love Niamh and Maeve.

[dizzycringles]

have you had a look on here its a brilliant Irish baby naming site and gives you the pns as well

[Caitni]

Citizen Roisin is lovely, but not for us (again I know too many). Eilis is a contender, as Elizabeth is a name on both my side and my DH's side but it doesn't really work with our boy's name (for purely family reasons) and the boy's name is a long term contender (as in, if we don't have a boy this time we'll save it for a future son, as it's after my dad).

Titfertat out of curiousity, where did you know this Sorcha? Niamh is on the shortlist but my DH thinks Maeve sounds too sensible ( beyond me, especially after I tried to explain who Queen Maeve is in Irish myth ).

Dizzy I have indeed been on that site, but it's a bit too Limerick for me (where Frank McCount was from - my Mum is also from Limerick city).

[CitizenPrecious]

What does the baby's surname begin with?

[titfertat]

The Sorcha I knew was English but I can't remember where from exactly - I met her in France. She'd be about 35 now I reckon. Presumably not the same one you know?!

[RorysRacingReindeer]

I like Sorcha (they pronounce it the way you want to) - she and her sister Caoimhe (but spelt Keeva ithink)live a couple of doors down.

What about Blaithnaid or Brigid?

[dizzycringles]

just thought it might give you a few ideas

[harimosmummy]

Sor-a-ca

Means sunshine / light in Gaelic

Personally, I couldn't use it but only because my dog was called Dorcha (dor-a-ca) which means darkness (he was black)

I have lots of cousins called Sorcha (well, 3) and there are a few (generally Irish / Irish descendants) Sorchas around here.

I like Grainne, personally. Or Orla

[harimosmummy]

Oops. Orla is out, isn't it???

[biggirlsdontcry]

how about molly ?

[dizzycringles]

am trying to think of all the names in Dh's family

Dypna
Orla
Rosin
Rosamund
Maeve
Mabhe (I can never spell that right sorry)
Niamh
Aiofe
Teresa
Marie
Constance
Mary known as Molly
Caitlyn

will keep thinking

[dizzycringles]

Bronagh
2 x Siobhan

Cara
Eibhlin
Eimer
Grawyna (no idea how to spell that one sorry!!)
2 x Kerry

I knew a girl at uni who was Cleona and liked that with potential nn Cleo

my favourite that I had wanted for DD3 was Muiranne (pn Murrin/Mirren) which I love love love

and incase you're wondering my best friend is from Southern Ireland - DH isn't related to the whole island

[Caitni]

CitizenP surname starts with C.

Dizzy it has been useful, mainly for my DH to see Irish names and get used to them (his initial reaction to most of them is "what? how do you even say that? )

Titfertat interesting...I've heard the "Sorsha" pronounciation called the French way of saying it but perhaps it is more common in England... The Sorcha I knew was actually a Sarah, although Sorcha's not actually the Irish for Sarah at all!

Rory I like Blaithnaid so it's on the list. Bridget is OK but it was the name of my primary school (St Bridget's) so is forever associated with school and her magic cloak and making St Bridget's crosses and the like...

Haribos are you in Ireland? And if not in Ireland, are they all pronounced "Sor-a-ca"? I love the meaning (the meaning of any name is important to us, but especially as we're both fair haired, so the child is likely to be blond/light haired). Grainne is nice but I kind of have the granna word association so not sure if I could use it...and sadly yes, Orla's out!

Biggirls erm, I don't really count Molly as an Irish name as such - sorry! And a bit too Dublin (Molly Malone, Molly Bloom) for a Corkonian such as myself!

[Caitni]

Dizzy at your DH not being related to the whole island! Some good ones there (and some ones i don't like - why would anyone inflict Dympna on a person?). Aoife is a bit too popular for me (plus I have two cousins called it). I also like Muireann - do you think it's easy enough to pronounce?

I also knew a Cleona but way prefer Cliona...unfortunately I've already come across English people who just cannnot pronounce it (it comes out as *Clee-en-er" - way too close to cleaner for me).

Caitlyn is out for me - I view it as a made up Irish American name (which I definitely want to avoid since the baby will in fact be Irish-American). Especially as I go by Cait in Irish and it's more of a "cotch" sound than anything. "Cotchleen" just doesn't sound right to me...

[reservejudgement]

I'm in Ireland and I do know some Sorchas who are pronounced Sorsha though I think of it as "wrong" myself. ( Sorry, but if it's any comfort I am known as a bit of a pedant!)

Blaithin ( pronounced Blawheen, meaning little flower)
Cliona ( should be pronounced Cleena, though I think that may depend on preference/province
Aoibhinn ( pronounced Eeevin) meaning beautiful
Raonad, don't know the meaning, sorry!
Etain ( pronounced Ay-tawn)
Ailbhe ( pronounced Alva)
Eibhlin ( Evleen)

[mathanxiety]

How about:
Ailbhe (pr. Alva, means noble)
Realtin = little star (pr Rale-TSEEN or Rale-cheen) sorry can't do fadas, there's one on the e and the i.
Doireann (pr Dirrin, means sullen )
Aine (pr Awnya = Anne)
Blaithin (= little flower, pr Blaw-heen)
Neassa (pr Nassa)
Niamh
Muireann
Aifric
Siofra (pr SHEE-uh-fra)
Aislinn or Aisling -- dream or vision
Ailidh -- (pr EYE-ly)
Dearbhla (pr Der-vla or Jer-vla)
Alanna
Bronach or Bronagh (sorrowful)
Caoilfheann or Caoileann (pr KEE-lan, means slender and fair)
Clodagh (pr KLOW-da, rhymes with snow-da)
Cliodhna (pr KLEE-uh-na)
Eithne (pr Enya or Eth-na)
Fionnuala or Finnola
Nuala
Loinnir (LINN-yir, means brightness)
Iseult
Sibeal (Shi-BALE, fada on e, Cybil)
Triona (Tree-uh-na) short for Caitriona

You could always pronounce Sorcha with a guttural ch and avoid the hard k sound.

[Caitni]

reservedjudgement and mathanxiety some great suggestions there - thanks! Reservedjudgement I knew a Raonad growing up - we used to call her radish .

Mathanxiety thanks for reminding me Cliona can be spelled Cliodha...that may help prevent the problem of it being "Clee-ner" in England (I posted about that further down). Dearbhla is also a contender.

Siofra is lovely but just sounds like siopa to me I'm afraid

And, strangely, the doireann I knew growing up was quite sullen (didn't know that's what it meant - I don't like it because of her so hadn't even looked at it this time).

By a gutteral "ch" do you mean "cha" as in "cha cha cha"? Sor-cha pronounced like that may well work for me...in fact, I think that's what I was trying to get at with "Sorsha" (I am rubbish at trying to spell things how i sound them!).

[madwomanintheattic]

i knew a little girl called sorcha (pronounced sorsha lol) in glasgae. she'd be about 9 now?

tis the only one i know.

i know a 'sile' which had me confused for aaaaaages. (essentially sheila...)

[mathanxiety]

By guttural ch I mean like a German soft ch sound, like liebchen, not cha cha cha. You make the sound with the back of your tongue not quite pressed to the roof of the mouth, not like sh.

The Siofra I knew growing up had a fada on the i, so it was SHEE-uh-fra, otherwise it is a bit close to siopa

[ilovemydogandmrobama]

Um, I'm American and don't get the 'sounds like fanny farts?'

[pushmepullssantassleigh]

My Irish friend and her English DH have called their DD Sor-sha. I think it's a beautiful name

[bellissima]

Well I thought it was Sor-sha. And surely if you grew up in Cork City you have the final say and full credibility points! (see somewhat 'tense' remarks on correct Scottish pronunciation of Catriona in another thread.....argh one must tread delicately....)

[ihaveaheadache]

My friend just named her baby girl Sorcha. They pronounce it Seer-sha. I love it and think it's more beautiful everytime I say/hear it.

[ihaveaheadache]

My friend just named her baby girl Sorcha. They pronounce it Seer-sha. I love it and think it's more beautiful everytime I say/hear it.