Irish short list

[Aiwo]

As my DH basically wants to name nuns we went back to the drawing board from Caitlín after deciding that people saying Kate-Lynn would be too much of a battle. Although it could possibly be a middle name

So we think this is the short list.

Bláithín
Máire Bríd (double first name)
Deirbhile
Gormflaith

[SharonBotts]

I love Blaithin and Deirbhile.

[Paperbacked]

As my DH basically wants to name nuns

I agree on Caitlin as Kate-Lynn being soul-destroying.

I find Bláithín a little cutesy, as indeed I do any -ín endings, and Gormfhlaith is slightly Gobnait-ish for my taste, sorry. Máire Bríd sounds slightly indecisive to me, possibly because I'm not aware of an Irish tradition of double-first names, or not to extent it happens in the UK?

Deirbhile is lovely and gets my vote.

Caoilfhinn? Muireann? Méabh? Ríonach?

[manicinsomniac]

Do you live in England or Ireland? I have no idea how to pronounce any of those and I thought I was fairly well versed in Irish names, or at least the ones commonly used in England (Niamh, Caoimhe, Aoife, Ffionhuala, Sorcha, Roisin, Sinead etc)

My best guess at these would be:
Blay-thin
Mahri-Bride
Dare-vile
Gorm-flay

I'm assuming I'm very wrong! Not that it's necessarily a problem to choose names that you might need to explain. In my head, I don't really like any of them but if I knew how to say them I might think they are lovely!

[RudeElf]

Ooh Deirbhile is lovely. My favourite out of that list although i'm not sure of the pronunciation of Gormflaith.

[LadyAntonella]

Bláithín is my favourite - it's lovely. Blathnaid (sp?) is nice too I think.

Of the other ones you listed I like Gormflaith best.

[Rainatnight]

Are you in England? I'd really worry that the last one would become 'Gorm-less' in school.

Etáin? Seóna?

Deirbhile's nice.

Máire Bríd definitely nun-ny!

[LastGirlOnTheLeft]

I don't really like any of those. What about Blathnaid? Or Aoife? Or Briana?

[RudeElf]

I would pronounce them;

Blawheen
Moyra-Breej
Deervla
And, umm Gormly?

[3luckystars]

Deirbhile is the best of them.

[LastGirlOnTheLeft]

I have a friend called Deirbhile and her nickname is Derv the perv!

[3luckystars]

Do you actually like any of them?

[villainousbroodmare]

Deirbhile by far my favourite of that lot.
Bláithín is too flowery for me, Máire Bríd both plain and fussy somehow. I knew an elegant and athletic Gormfhlaith but I'd fear it wouldn't travel at all well.

I adore Muireann.

I wasted Emer on my cat and may have to rename the feline if I ever have a little girl.

[LadyAntonella]

I'd really worry that the last one would become 'Gorm-less' in school.

Oh yeah...

[almondfinger]

I've never heard of the last one ever, where in God's name did you find it?

If you live in the UK and give her any of those you are setting her up for a lifetime of hell, how to pronounce it, spell it etc

There are lots of beautiful Irish names, sorry but none of your choices are.

[RudeElf]

Beautiful is a matter of opinion. The UK does not end with london. Plenty of places in the UK are very well experienced in Gaelic names. Being asked to pronounce and spell your name is not a lifetime of hell. Perspective please.

[MuttonCadet]

Wow almond who pissed in your coffee?

I'm in the north of England, and would have to ask for pronunciation / spelling the first time. But then I'm always asked to spell my surname, which I've managed without it making my life a living hell

[MuttonCadet]

Wow almond who pissed in your coffee?

I'm in the north of England, and would have to ask for pronunciation / spelling the first time. But then I'm always asked to spell my surname, which I've managed without it making my life a living hell

[mrsmeerkat]

What about Eithne ?

I think it is gorgeous.

[NatashaRomanova]

Bláithín and Deirbhile are the nicest. Máire Bríd just doesn't sound right but then again we don't really do double first names. It also reminds me of the Nuns (sorry). I don't like Gormfhlaith at all. It reminds me of Gobhnait too i'm afraid

[almondfinger]

Constantly spelling your name is a pain in the arse!

I'm Irish and had to look up Deribhile as I always thought it was Deirbhle. And that's my favourite on the list.

I usually step away from baby name threads and should have tonight.

[Sophronia]

Blaithin is my favourite.

[Parney]

Brídín
Although the -ín names are a bit 'páistúil' once a certain age is reached as a PP has already said. I do like-Bláthín.
Fiadh/Fia
Erin

[RudeElf]

Fiadh/fia is becoming very popular where I am.

[LonestarStateOfMind]

Villainousbroodmare I love the idea of Emer the cat who could at some point be stripped of her name.

From your short list op I'd go with Deirbhile.

[Canyouforgiveher]

I'm not really mad about any of them but Gormflaith is really not good. It does't look nice, its pronunciation is going to be a contact sport that will be won by with Gormless. I really wouldn't do it.

There is a tradition of two first names in many parts of Ireland. Often to distinguish various Marys/Johns/Bridgets from each other.

Dubheassa (sp?) is also a lovely name.

I agree in principle to the idea of naming from your culture without worrying too much about spelling/pronunciation but I gave my dd an old Irish name that is way easier to pronounce and spell than any of these (we are in part of USA where people are well used to names from other languages) and at age 13 she started using a simple shortened version which was anglicised. She couldn't bear the constant constant mispronunciations. I don't think I ever heard her called into a dentist or doctor's office or any situation with new people really where they got her name right first go- ever. Even though nearly everyone said "oh that's pretty" once she explained the pronunciation, they never got it right the second time either. She got really tired of it.