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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

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

114 replies

Bex22 · 08/04/2011 22:07

Expecting DD3 end of June. We all like Saoirse but have been saying it Ser-shuh rather than Seer-shuh which I understand is the more authentic Irish pronunciation. Firstly, is it going to present numerous spelling difficulties from all sides, and secondly, does it matter that we are saying it in our own way so to speak??? The trouble is that my 4 year old DS and 2 year old DD are now big fans of this name, as said the wrong way, and I do think it is really pretty and would go well with Elizabeth which I want to use as a middle name after a favourite aunt. We are no stranger to slightly unusual names as DS is Seth and DD is Elwyn, so what do you all think?? Too weird or what??!!

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ConstanceFelicity · 08/04/2011 22:22

Did you mean to say your DS is Elwyn? Because that is a pretty macho Welsh boys' name...

I like Saiorse but think it's disrespectful and annoying for her to chande the pronounciation. Sorry.

Original poster
Bex22 · 08/04/2011 22:19

Yes I like Livia too, and my DH isn't so keen- don't you think people would mis-hear it as Olivia though?? Also quite like Lucia- trouble is our surname is also an L with a 2nd syllable d too- or am I over-thinking this??!!!

OP posts:
pitterpatterfeet · 08/04/2011 22:17

I like them in this order of preference (I have Irish roots mind so biased!)

  1. Saiorse
  2. Alba
  3. Brooke
  4. Lydia
  5. Robin
MrsTittleMouse · 08/04/2011 22:17

Another vote for pronouncing it correctly.

Just think of all the MN threads about poor unfortunates called Why-von-ee (Yvonne) and See-ann (Sian) and how everyone sniggers.

reddaisy · 08/04/2011 22:16

Brooke is a tacky American style name to me, I love Lydia and don't like the others. I also love Livia by the way which has been vetoed by DP and reminds me of Lydia.

thebestisyettocome · 08/04/2011 22:16

I have a friend whose daughter has this name and to be honest, I'm always really conscious that I may mispronounce it because I find it difficult to say. I don't find it a particularly attractive name. I think there are far nicer sounding names out there you could choose Smile

MortaIWombat · 08/04/2011 22:15

Saoirse sounds like Lloyd Grossman trying to say 'Sasha'. It's definitely unusual. Grin

Needanewname · 08/04/2011 22:15

Don;t like any of the new names, but this is your baby and choose a name you like, you will never find a name that is loved by all!

Needanewname · 08/04/2011 22:14

Please pronounce it correctly, your LO will soon learn how to say it properly once they hear you doing so.

Lovely name btw

Original poster
Bex22 · 08/04/2011 22:12

Thanks for your opinions, exactly what I was worried about. Ok, next questions then, what do you think of these- in no particular order- Brooke, Lydia, Robin or Alba??! Be as honest as you like!

OP posts:
reddaisy · 08/04/2011 22:12

Oh and I agree with MsHighwater about pronouncing it. If there is just one correct way of saying it then you should say it like that and just "retrain" your DD and DS otherwise it will look like you don't know how to pronounce your own child's name properly.

reddaisy · 08/04/2011 22:10

TBH I have always wondered how to pronounce that name so it will be one she has to explain a lot.

MsHighwater · 08/04/2011 22:10

Seth and Elwyn are unusual but relatively easy to spell. If you want to avoid a difficult-to-spell name, you don't want to call your new dd Saoirse. I think also that if you are going to choose a decidedly "ethnic" name, it is preferable if you pronounce it authentically, if you can.

pitterpatterfeet · 08/04/2011 22:09

I like the name but would stick to the correct pronunciation - I always thought it was "sheer-sha"

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