Is Saoirse too unusual, and are we allowed to `adapt` the pronunciation??!!

www.babynamesofireland.com/pages/girl-names-n-z.html

How does "seer-sha" sound like sore-arse? unless you are really prounouncing it incorrectly? And being quite rude, given that there is a Saoirse on the thread.

My niece is Saoirse ( Seer-sha)
I know a Sorcha ( Sur-i-ka) but I have heard it pronounced Sore-sha which doesn't seem right to me as I think ch in Irish is usually pronounced like a soft "k" but each to their own.

When I told my bosses who are from Northern Ireland what my new niece was called, they immediately assumed my dsis was "a bit of a Republican" when in fact, like Saoirse86s's Mum she was just a bit of a hippy! "Freedom" does not just have to mean freedom from British Rule, it can be skipping-through-the-buttercups freedom as well!

Outside of Ireland and people with Irish background, surely the majority of current Saoirses are likely to have been inspired by Saoirse Ronan. I'd bet most people hadn't encountered the name before this young actress came to fame, it is not an old-established name.

As a result I feel the name Saoirse will date very quickly. Everyone will be able to guess the age of a Saoirse! And sorry, it still makes me think 'sore arse'.

As you may be able to tell Saoirse is my name!

I haven't read this thread so don't know what's been said really but though I'd give my thoughts anyway.

I pronounce it sersha. My mum's Irish, from Carlow, and that's how she pronounces it. I think it's often to do with where you're from and your accent. There are lots of "normal" names that are pronounced differently just in england because of different accents. How is Saoirse different?

For my mum it kind of was a political statement but for different reasons. My middle name is Mandela so it's like Freedom Mandela. Hippy mum!

I have no issue with people spelling it wrong or telling people how to pronounce it. I was actually the first child of my age to learn how to spell my own name! I like that my name's different and I've still never met another Saoirse.

I have a daughter called Saoirse, we picked her same because it reminds me of a girl I knew growing up who was always smiling, and I liked the english translation -freedom. It is not a political statement and I don 't think would be considered as such by the majority of people I know, I am very upset that anyone would suggest such a motive.

The Sorcha I knew was pronounced "Saw-sher" I nearly named DD after her.

I think it is lovely and as a teacher have no problems spelling it or pronouncing it neither do her friends. I certainly don't think about political leanings when I hear it.

1. Lydia
2. Robin though I would go for Robyn for a girl
3. Brooke - not so keen
4. Saiorse, looks pretty no idea how to pronounce
5. Alba ... sorry, but this is a make of DVD player in our house!

I'm Irish, and teach the Irish language too. Saoirse should be pronounced Seer-sha. I agree with other posters that when said in an English accent (different pronunciation of the letter r ) that it sounds funny. A friend of mine is English and when I hear her mention her dd's friend Síofra (Sheef-ra) it always sounds funny. (The name means little fairy, by the way, which I think is sweet)

Sorcha should always be pronounces with a hard "ch" sound and with a u sound (short vowel u sound) for the o. I've heard people here pronouncing it Sore-sha and I will admit that I feel very catsbumsmouth about it.

Saoirse is quite a common name here now, but remember an aquaintance of mine naming his first daughter Saoirse (pre-Good Friday Agreement) and I did think "hmm, who knew that's where his political leanings are". I don't think there's any political association with it at all now.

PS I had a child in my class called Saoirse last year - she's Muslim, her dad's from Pakistan, so the name is definitely crossing cultural barriers now!

haven't read the whole thread, so apologies if someone's already said this. saoirse is pronounced "sor-shuh".

it's very important that people understand any subtext of the names they choose. Particularly if they are choosing names from a culture not their own.

YSad. but not rare. People chose the name Saoirse because of its meaning at one point. .... and I've just read on another thread that bobbidazzler actually grew up in London, not Ireland! so I'm going to file this under no point discussing! Have a nice day.

It's fair enough that that is your opinion, Valium, but I'm sure you'll agree that it's sad that your experiences have led you to that.
Siofra is gorgeous.

Spidookly, you didn't bring the thread down. It was naive of me to think that I could present something as being my personal experience/perception without having somebody argue with that when it is such a sensitive subject. It's a minefield.

Yes, and this very Irish name does have a sort of baggage about it that other names do not have. I suggested Síofra as an alternative.

I have my own past and my own personal experiences which I'm not going to apologise for so back at bobbidazzler. The Saoirses I met growing up would have conformed to that category, which in my opinion was not just patriotic, but focused on hating the British.

But bear in mind spidookly that there are scores of Irish patriots- The vast majority- who do not want any violence done in their name. The post Bobbi was referring to was from a poster who thought that this very Irish name reminded her of the people who you are referring to- Well it's a sad state of affairs if you can't give your child an Irish name without it being a political statement.

I imagine that since the Irish word for Gaelic is "Gaeilge", it's not too much of a faux pas to use it...

Agree spidookly.

Bobbi - this week an Irish mother has had to bury her 25 year old son because of the patriotism people on this thread are seeking to distance themselves from.

That impulse to distance comes from a good place, and the "patriots" mentioned are indeed bastards.

Also the language we speak in Ireland is called Irish. Gaelic is spoken in Scotland.

Sorry to bring the thread down.

"If you love the name then go for it but be prepared to have to constantly spell it/pronounce for people"

And remember that she'll have to do that too for the rest of her life!

I like Saoirse! I think it's very pretty. (And yes, thanks to Ms Ronan, even we Americans can pronounce it now :) )

My Irish friend Sorcha pronounces it Sarah-keh (at least that's how it sounds to my ears!)

Agree with spidookly :) Sorcha is definitely Sor-uh-cha (ch as in the scottish loch, not a hard K)