Thumbs up or Thumbs Down for the name Niall??..

[Phillipo]

We're contemplating calling our first baby boy Niall (due in July)... I hadnt ever heard of it before until my fiance came home one night from a night out with the boys and said he got talking to a boy called Niall (which is pronounced like the river Nile) I thought it was too random and weird as i'd never heard of it, but lately i've been hearing it pop up everywhere!!
Its Irish / Celtic and means 'champion'... I love the meaning of it!!!
But I still need some convincing!!!..
I have an irish brother in law, but thats about it... Would it be weird to call him a name thats 'irish' if i'm welsh??

Thoughts pleeeeease??? Help!!!!

:) :o

[albertswearengen]

I love it but I'm Irish and would have considered it but here in Scotland it's pronounce Neil.

[Adoptionrulesok]

thumbs up

[KeemaNaanAndCurryOn]

I like it too and it was on our list had we had another boy.

[squoosh]

It's ok. I find Irish names a bit boring. As I'm Irish I can say that! They just seem so workaday. It's definitely a familiarity and contempt thing.

But yes nothing wrong with it. Niall Quinn is as decent a man as footballers can get. :)

[Stellan]

I knew a Niall who pronounced it as you suggest but I always thought it was pronounced like Neil.

[squoosh]

In Ireland, Nialls are always pronounced Nile.

In Scotland it's Neil, which is a waste of the name imo.

[Phillipo]

Thanks guys!! I'm not a fan of the scottish / or welsh way of Neil either... Thats why i'm a bit worried calling the baby Niall, if people got it wrong!!
Suppose you get fed up of hearing the same names in Ireland Squoosh, as we do here in Wales... thats why i wanted something a bit different, but not too different!!!

:o)

Thanks everyone x

[badtime]

It's not like you're calling him Conchobor or something. Niall is a reasonably well known name even over here among the heathens.

[BBQJuly]

I like it.

[badtime]

Also, I have a friend with this name and he is from the Home Counties. He says that it was generally pronounced properly unless he met an arsey Scot.

[Phillipo]

Lol - badtime!! I'd probably never heard of it as i dont watch football, so have no idea who the infamous 'Niall Quinn' is... so i think thats why it was a bit alien to me... but you're right... its not like i'm calling him Orville or something weird and random!! I suppose you hear the name Niall every day like we hear Rhys or Thomas!!!! Gets a bit mundane after a while!!
Think its a winner then!!! :) x

[squoosh]

Niall Quinn is actually really nice! He shines like a beacon amongst footballers. Does a lot for charity.

[Phillipo]

Yes, my other half tells me he's a bit of a ledge!! So that can only be a good thing!! Theres nothing worse than liking a name to call your baby, but then knowing someone, or knowing 'of' someone who is a really horrible person!!

[tunaday]

Like it. Unusual but simple. Have only ever come across one at school and his was spelled Nile.

[MrsSnow]

DH is a Niall pronounced like river nile.
Scottish MIL calls him Neil
Scottish FIL calls him nile
Obviously couldn't make their minds up !

[Phillipo]

Lol!!!! ;)

[RetiredDJ]

I'm Irish and my brother is Neil (pronounced kneel)
My Scottish/English cousin is Niall (pronounced Nile)

They are two different names. Like Sarah and Susan.

And for the record, I love the name Niall. Good choice! Big thumbs up!

[Phillipo]

Cool!!! :) Thanks RetiredDJ :o Just gets annoying when i tell people in work the name, and they cock their nose up!!! Suppose you're not going to please everyone tho are you!!

[RetiredDJ]

I think it's a name that doesn't date easily, can't be shortened and is an all round winner (IMO). If you and your hubby like it, then screw the naysayers! lol!

[Phillipo]

Lmao!!! - My sentiments exactly!!!!! :o

[squoosh]

Oh and there's Niall of the Nine Hostages! Every Irish child learns about him.

Terrible bad man he was, kidnapped St Patrick, brought him to Ireland and sold him!

So Niall's could be seen as entrepreneurial? :)

[Phillipo]

Eeeeeek!!!! Lol - i prefer the other story of the other Niall better!! haha :S