Irish DD names, not irish

[WyldeGharlique]

my dad is Irish, but DH and I are English

We have a DD already who is a Roisin (after a much-loved relative on my dad's side) and are now expecting another girl.

We were going to go with a more traditional name this time eg. Eva, Eliza) but now the name Orla is growing on me.

Roisin and Orla?

Is it a bit too much Irish, given we aren't Irish? It feels a tiny bit silly maybe- like I'm trying to make 'a thing' of my Irishness. But I'm not, I just love the names. And I think I'm a teeny bit in LOVE with Orla

[purplefox]

My friend has three children and all have Irish names but there's no family connections to Ireland whatsoever.

I like Orla though I prefer the spelling Orlaith

[Iknownuffink]

Lovely names.

[SantanaBinLorry]

Both lovely. We have two boys, one with (more commonly) American name and one with a Spanish name. We're English.
Mix it up I say :)

[ElspethFlashman]

I think Orla is probably generic enough to get away with.

It's not one of my faves as I went to school with about 15,000 Orlas but I can see the appeal. Easy to spell and pronounce and feminine enough.

[CremeEggThief]

I think it's grand. Your dad's Irish and it's a nod to their heritage.

[HeffalumpHistory]

I love Orlaith, Niamh, Clodagh

[manicinsomniac]

I know a couple of little Orlas and neither are Irish, nor have Irish parents.

I would expect and Irish Orla to be Orlaith.

So, no, I think it's fine.

[babyblabber]

No it's fine, it's not an overly "Irish" name with loads of extra vowels, Hs and fadas.

For the record I'm Irish and have never met an Orlaith or even heard of that spelling except on here. Orla much prettier

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

The one I know is an Orlaígh.

I think the pair is fine and Orla is a lovely name.

[WyldeGharlique]

Brilliant, thanks!

[Haudyerwheesht]

Orla (orlaith) is lovely. My grandparents Were Irish and Dd has an Irish name.

[AngelsWithFilthySouls]

Love it and would have been our name if DS had been a DD. We're not Irish (Scottish) and would have used the Orlaith spelling.

[DramaAlpaca]

Lovely names, they are beautiful together.

[Scarydinosaurs]

I have an Orlaith, it's a family name and I LOVE it.

Did you know it means Gold? It is such a beautiful name.

And I believe Roisin was the code name for Ireland during WWII.

You have an excellent taste in names!

[BennyTheBall]

I really dislike Irish names, as a rule.

But I don't mind Orla. And that spelling is much nicer than the uglier (imo) versions.

[mrsschu]

It does sound a bit like you're trying to make something of your Irish connections but so what, I suppose. Not a fan of Orla, I went to school with dozens of them so when I hear "Orla" I think I'm about to doze off with boredom. It's one of these Irish names that I'm sure no one in Ireland would use any more but has gotten a bit trendy in the UK, maybe because it sounds a bit "different". I'm not keen on it. I also dislike the English pronounciation of it which is like "Aww..la" rather than "Oar-la" which is how an Irish person would say it.

[mathanxiety]

Another here who is puzzled by the Orlaith spelling. It would be most unusual in Ireland and I think it just adds a layer of complication in the UK to a name that has a perfectly fine spelling in Iris (Orla).

I don't think it's laying on the Irishness to have a Roisin and an Orla. Orla is becoming popular even among people with no Irish heritage.

Or is gold; Orfhlaith (pr. Orla) is gold prince, but the name was always used for women.

[cosmicglittergirl]

I didn't realise Orla was Irish, so not everyone will think that.

[CremeEggThief]

Oh yes, please make sure the r is pronounced. "Ola" is awful! It's OARRLA!

[Iguessyourestuckwithme]

Cara or Niamh

[IoraRua]

God yes, watch the pronunciation.
It is nice though. Aoife?

[Mottled]

Fine. Lots of 'English' children about with names from numerous backgrounds. Lovely names btw.

[TyrionLannistersShadow]

Polkadots the fada over the i in Orlaígh would make it Orly not Orla , in Irish.

[PolkadotsAndMoonbeams]

I didn't know that Tyrion. Perhaps I've just been saying her name wrong for years!