A name for our baby boy to be.. The First Shortlist!

[mrsbean78]

So dh and I are both Irish and living in the UK.. We'd like a name that's a bit 'Celtic' but not unpronounceable.

Here's our list so far:
Brendan
Declan
Finbar
Oran (ok, ok, you won't know how to pronounce it but it's oh-run with the stress on the oh)
Liam
and.. (not particularly Irish)
Tom

Our surname is O'Neill, if that helps! So apart from Tom, keen on the 2-syllables.

Anyone who has any other suggestions, please wade in!

[LynetteScavo]

I like Oran, Declan and Finbar best.

[SoupDragon]

I was abut to say I liked Oran but I don't think the Oh sound goes with your surname.

[screamingabdab]

I like Declan, and Finn, though not Finbar - Finn is pretty popular at the moment

I love Lorcan, and also Gabriel (DH vetoed that)

[FlightHattendant]

I like Tom the best...could you have Thomas?

[screamingabdab]

Also, what about Patrick ?

[mrsbean78]

Patrick is just too Irish (and a bit too stereotypical). Tom is dh's favourite, but I think it's a bit common these days.
Lorcan is like a Dublin chav's name to me! Sorry!

[GoldenSnitch]

How about Torin?

[screamingabdab]

I didn't know that about Lorcan (never been to Ireland in my life !)

[Metella]

Liam has been hijacked by non-Irish people.

I like Finbar and Declan but Finbar can be shortened to Finn (nice) whilst the only shortened form of Declan I've heard is Decky (not-so-nice ).

[mrsbean78]

Poor old Lorcan was probably some saint or something, but that's what it means to me! As my mam always says about this name he'd be 'lurkin'... in the shadows with a knife'

[screamingabdab]

What about Evan (I know it's not Irish, but it has a similar feel to your names and is easy to spell)

[proverbial]

Lorcan is the Irish for Lawrence/Laurance. St Lorcan/ Laurence O'Toole was a 12th century Archbishop of Dublin, the first native Irishman to be a bishop (they were normally Normans) He was the patron of orphans and children in poverty and did many great works.

[mrsbean78]

Ah, the guilt.. Poor old Lorcan spent his life doing good works and then gets associated with knife-wielding thugs..

[proverbial]

Maybe the Fair City influence?

Theres always St Barry....

[weaselbudge]

i like Finn (never heard of finbar before)I don't think it matters that Tom is popular - it's a good solid name that will always sound great.

[mrsbean78]

Nicely spotted proverbial! To be honest, I'd forgotten all about him but I bet he's at the root of all this Lorcan-related trouble! Hey I could call my boy Bella! Now there's a name to conjure with..

Weaselbudge, I know Tom's a classic.. but I'd ideally like something that I haven't come across at work. Peril of working with kids in particular.. You know how it is, you just associate names with people/kids you know.. and I can think of some pretty belligerent Toms and wish that I couldn't . Not that they were bad kids.. but they weren't my kid and the name is a bit less fresh for me.

[Tidey]

I like Liam and Finn, but I'm not keen on Finbar cos of the Rubbadubbers. Tom is a lovely name but I suppose it might be too plain or common for a lot of people's tastes. Declan is okay. I don't like either of the others.

[KateF]

I like Brendan, Liam and Tom. My friend has a Liam and an Aidan (love Aidan) and I like Ciaran as well. They're all "normal" names but not overused, except maybe Tom.

[pointydog]

Brendan - not keen
Declan - ok
Finbar - much prefer Finn but I suppose thaty could be the nickname
Oran - like it, like the sound
Liam - like it (although they are always trouble )
Tom - like it

Good choices!

I like Aidan and Patrick too.

[slowreadingprogress]

It has to be Oran O'Neill, surely Sounds lovely to me and it's unusual. Good name!

[pointydog]

Oran O'Neill is pretty damn cool

[Caitni]

I really like Brendan and Declan (even with Dec-y as the nn). I LOVE Finbar...but then I'm from Cork so I would say that . One of my pet hates is Finn as a proper name, probably as I just can't separate it from Finbar...Oran is pretty unusual, so if you want something more unique then this is a good 'un (works v well with your surname). Not too gone on Liam - bit too Oasis for me. Love Tom - a total classic.

[Caitni]

PS Mrsbean at your mam and her take on Lorcan

[jellybeans]

I like Brendan

[screamingabdab]

What about Spike