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Baby names

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Original poster

Boys name shortlist. honest opinions please

65 replies

BarbieLovesKen · 31/12/2010 13:12

Despite having ages yet, Im really panicing about a boy's name - to a point that Im getting worried as there is very little I actually love. Most are just ok and anything I do find pretty nice, dh hates and vice versa.

We adore our Ds's name - possibly a little too much as we're finding it very hard to follow it if that makes sense. Am worried if this ones a boy, he'll be getting a second best name as it couldnt possibly be as nice as ds's name (to us anyway). I know that sounds silly . (Ds's name is Oisín)

We're pretty much set on a girl's name. (Most likely Kate Gabriella or Kate Scarlett a la Gone with the Wind but could possibly be an Adrienna/e or Gabrielle/a too)

Anyway, would really appreciate if you could have a look at our list of boy's names (and be as blunt as possible please as really, Im we're not in love with any!!!)

My shortlist:
Iarla or Iarlaith (pronounced Ear-la)(is this girly? probably my favourite, I think but still not completely sold on it.
Naoise pronounced Nee-sha (too girly?)
Blaine
and suprisingly (different from the rest)
Alfie and Harry (I know these are hugely popular in UK, but arent here, havent heard of either and quite low down in charts).
Did like Elijah but think I've gone off it now.

DH's shortlist:
Tomás
Cian
Cianan (this isnt even a name, as far as Im aware)
He has also mentioned Cíaran and loves Cathal (irish for Charlie)

I know, some of his are perfectly nice names but I find them terribly boring and ordinary as in theres 600 of each around here. (p.s. we are Irish and are living in Ireland)

Could you give me your vote or thoughts on each? Thank you all so much.

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threefeethighandrising · 03/01/2011 00:16

Possibly not the name for you as it's Welsh but throwing this one in anyway. (DP is Scottish. I'm Welsh / Irish / English / Estonian!)

I love Taliesin, from the Mabinogion stories. It's got a great story behind it, involving a shapeshifting witch and is basically about how Taliesin came be a great poet. As Ossian was from a tribe of warrior bards I reckon it would go well. Unfortunately I don't think I'll ever get DP to agree on that though!

I'm guessing Welsh names are out though? Grin

threefeethighandrising · 02/01/2011 23:58

Iarla Ó Lionáird from <a class="break-all" href="//hwww.myspace.com/afrocelts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Afro Celt Soundsystem is pretty cool IMO.

FWIW I completely agree that people get used to unusual names once they get to know the child. The name becomes that child's name rather than some strange name they've never heard of. And they also get used to pretty normal names they don;t like too! I really didn't like my friend's pretty normal name choice for her DD. I'm Blush to say I didn't hide it too well (I would never critise someone's name choice now!). The thing is once I got to know her as a little girl, the name grew on me. I love her name now and can't imagine her being called anything else.

Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 02/01/2011 22:40

threefeet Ossian looks beautiful, I really like that. Smile

Spidookly I said to dh what you did about Iarla and Naoise. I told him to disregard anyone elses thoughts or perception and in his own head just listen to the sound of the name and give an honest answer as to whether he likes it or not. He says in all honestly, he really does love Iarla. It has a nice sound.

I stupidly said the name to my cousin tonight, who was up visiting, she immediately said that it was a girl's name, which made me doubt it again but then she went on to say she loved Noah/ Luca/ Joshua type names, which, despite being perfectly lovely, arent to my taste and I suppose I had the realisation that it doesnt really matter what RL people think as we all will have different tastes (as per the Ben suggestions yesterday). Once the name is given to the child its the childs name, if that makes sense and people will get used to it. I just shouldnt have mentioned suggestions before birth.

Not so sure about Tiernan now Blush, as both our DC have 2 syllable names ending in n and I think it'll sound a little OTT.

Any other thoughts on Iarla?

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soccerwidow · 02/01/2011 17:24

My SIL would be so pleased to hear that there is a real life Tiernan running around this world!
Grin

spidookly · 02/01/2011 10:40

TheSec looking at the angle of that accent, Nàois is a Gaelic name, rather than Irish. I'd make the same guess as you as to how it's pronounced.

The Irish version is NEE-sha.

TheSecondComing · 02/01/2011 10:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

spidookly · 02/01/2011 04:32

Barbie you may not get that "right, that's the name" moment. We had exactly the same problems coming up with a nice girl's name fir what turned out to be dd2. Like you, I was hoping for a boy since we gad that name sorted.

In the end we had to decide from our list the morning she arrived (a list with a few Blaines on it, I might add). Once she was here I just decided "we have thought about this too much, this child is being named by lunchtime", and I love the name we picked for her. And so, it seems, does everyone else - had so many compliments, way more than with dd1 (still best name ever IMO)

basically, chill out a bit you have some lovely names there - Iarla, Tiernan (NOT Fionn, too weird)

How about Rúadhán?

The thing I really like about Oisín and Iarla is that they don't both end in n.

Caoilte?

Ps Iarla is a very manly name, same as Oisín.

threefeethighandrising · 02/01/2011 02:19

The Scottish version of Oisín is Ossian, and the Welsh version's Osian. You say the Welsh version Osh-an, and I've heard Scots pronounce it both Osh-ian and Osh-an, and also Osss-ian (although the last one is an Anglicised version and therefore just wrong IMO Grin)

tebbles · 02/01/2011 00:40

Tiernan. That is how I thought it was pronounced. I like it best out of all the suggested names and it goes nicely with Oisin.

Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 02/01/2011 00:11

Hmm Torin means Chief

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Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 02/01/2011 00:11

Torin is going on the list!!! never heard of this and think its lovely - dont know how DH will like it though.. thank you. (whats the scottish version?)

theseconcoming loved Conal but its too like Conor, who would be a very close 1st cousin (as his mother and I are very close, they will have same childminder and only 2ish years between them).

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TheSecondComing · 02/01/2011 00:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

threefeethighandrising · 02/01/2011 00:00

How about Torin?

threefeethighandrising · 02/01/2011 00:00

Tiernan would probably be my favourite from your list. Like you I prefer the more unusual names. Well actually we have very similar taste in names indeed, my son's name being the Scottish version of yours!

Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 01/01/2011 23:48

Tiernan is prounounced Tear - nan and yes, your right - it is a good, strong boy's name... hmm...

Am so suprised you met a girl named Fionn - but that does back up my point very slightly (ish)? Grin

Hmmm Rheodan...

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tebbles · 01/01/2011 23:41

I have always thought Fionn was a girls name. I have only met one though, she was around 2 years old.

I really like Tiernan, is it pronounced phonetically? It looks nice and is definitely a atrong boy name.

Nightstar · 01/01/2011 23:39

Kiernan I would have thought?

Lorcan or Rheodan?

Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 01/01/2011 23:39

and I know I do have absolutely ages and ages considering Im not due until May but with my 2 DC I knew the name very, very, very early on and was definate and loved it and had a few months of being very happy and sure about it before the birth. Im that sort. I need it to be that way.

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Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 01/01/2011 23:36

Oh I dont mean that - at all, I'd adore either a boy or girl - its just the damn name.

(sigh)

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Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 01/01/2011 23:35

Hi Minione (waves) how are you? I loved Aidan, think that was going to be the name before we conceived until I met a horrible little boy with that name and it really turned me off... (thats really nasty of me, no little boy is horrible, he was just.. hard on my nerves I suppose).

I like Conor but have 2 in the family and its popularity turns me off. Love Sean but DN whos just a couple of months old is named this. I loved Fionnan and mentioned it to dh but he hates it. Angry

feethighandrising thank you Smile

So new list:

Iarla
Naoise (I know, I know but I cant bear to get rid of it yet. Dh is never going to go for this anyway so dont know why Im adding it)
Tiernan
Fionn
Tomás
Cian

Oh lets face it, the last 2 Im never going to go with. Funnily enough, I find Fionn much "girlier" than Naoise or Iarla (in particular Iarla), not that Fionn is girly, I just find it girlier than these 2, if that makes sense.

Actually, realistically, I think its Tiernan or Iarlaith as front runners at the minute simply because these are slightly less usual than all the others, and we both have actually Shock managed to agree that we like the sound of them. Most people saying Iarla is girly is really putting me off though, and of course I commited the ultimate sin and said my boy's names at a big family dinner today, to which I received screwed-up-nose type faces and "yucks" and "too girly" and about 40 suggestions of either Ben or Jack.

Everyone cross your fingers this is a baby Kate.

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threefeethighandrising · 01/01/2011 23:16

Fionn is lovely,and it goes well - Fionn Mac Cumhaill is Oisín's father in the legends.

Minione · 01/01/2011 22:02

Hi Barbie, Dh is Irish and we both love Irish names. Our darling son who was born sleeping is Malachy Aidan, several members of his family are called Oisin and there is an Iarlaith too! Most of his family have trtaditional irish names, I think they're fab! How about:

   Aengus
   Fergus
   Conor
   Fionnan
   Seamus
   Cillian
   Ruairi
   Cormac
   Eoghan
   Euan
Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 01/01/2011 20:36

Oooh I really like it soccerwidow I dont know why this one hadnt entered my head. I've just rang dh (as hes working tonight) and Shock Shock he said thats really nice. It goes well with our surname too and our dds name.

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Original poster
BarbieLovesKen · 01/01/2011 20:33

You see I absolutely love Tiernan (thanks for reminding me of this one actually - is going on the list!) but am worried its too similiar to Tir na nÓg and story of Oisín and makes us sound a little obsessed/ OTT?? or am I overthinking that one?

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soccerwidow · 01/01/2011 20:28

DN was going to be Tiernan, which was supposedly an old Irish name according to sil baby-name book Hmm but as DN was a Niece not a nephew she ended up being called Tierney.

I know a family where all the Grandchildren have biblical names - Micah, Elijah, Malachi, Samuel, Elias, Judiah are some of the boys names that I can remember.