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Original poster

Sorcha... pronunciations?

392 replies

pinkytheshrinky · 11/09/2011 06:45

I know that for the most part this name is pronounced Sor-kha but I met a nice older lady years ago who was a Sor-sha - I do really like this name and it is top of the list for my new dc. What do you think?

I do also have two other dds with Irish names who's spellings have been Anglicised so I do have form for this....

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Species8472 · 20/09/2011 20:06

LillianGish I didn't mean to sound arsey, sorry Smile.

Original poster
pinkytheshrinky · 20/09/2011 19:54

No I prefer it my way (and goodness only knows I have had time to think about it) I don't want the sh sound at the beginning or give her a boys name. I am keen to avoid the Irish spelling as well as it makes things more difficult. And when you say the Irish way - which one? Several versions have been suggested here and is your peculiar to a region?

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sorchatallulah · 20/09/2011 19:50

As far as I remember, nobody pointed out the similarity. I hadn't really thought about it until now! I pronounce my name the Irish way though, and Seoirse is pretty much the "Sorsha" you want. Actually, a search for "Seoirse" on Facebook is bringing up a brave few more girls than boys - what about going for that spelling? It's more Shor-sha than Sor-sha but I'm sure a lot of people barely pronounce the h. A lot of the Irish puritans here might get angry at the fact it's a "boys' name" but at least it's spelt right, they can't complain there :P And like I said, seems to be getting a lot more common for girls. Hopefully not so common it wipes out the boys' name, though...

Original poster
pinkytheshrinky · 20/09/2011 19:48

and how do you pronounce yours?

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Original poster
pinkytheshrinky · 20/09/2011 19:45

can you direct me to that thread sorchatallulah? what did others think?

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sorchatallulah · 20/09/2011 19:34

Jesus, this is weird. I thought it was a troll post for the first few pages.

I find it pretty hilarious though as my name's Sorcha and my top boys' name at the minute is Seoirse :D Think I posted a thread about it. If I use it and ever meet someone who calls me by my son's name I'll be so bloody confused...

Original poster
pinkytheshrinky · 20/09/2011 19:33

Yes it is surprising how hurtful it is actually, I hadn't quite bargained for that. She will love it, my children all like their names, like the fact that they are the only one in their school with those names and people always comment positively on them and are very complimentary.

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LillianGish · 20/09/2011 19:30

Species - I don't have any preference, I was just curious. I'm absolutely astonished by how strongly everyone feels about this. Who would have known? That's my point really - I wouldn't have consulted anyone on the names I gave to my dcs for fear of getting such a reaction. I think having had such a reaction it would be hard to feel the same about the name.

Species8472 · 20/09/2011 19:27

Yes, it's certainly been a heated debate....I couldn't believe it when I saw my DD's name in MN most active topics, I had to have a look! Kind of wish I hadn't now tbh, as some comments have upset me as well. Hope your DD loves her name as much as you do Grin

Original poster
pinkytheshrinky · 20/09/2011 18:45

Species, thanks for your input. I really don't feel I am going to fuck up her life by giving her this name. I still think it is a beautiful name, your daughter is lucky to have such a pretty name. I might be misguided but really the level of vitriol thrown at me is way too much. What is really unpleasant is this is about a real baby, my daughter to be and being so horribly bitchy about it really takes the shine of a name that I have waited 10 years to use. I love it (and the person who was called this) very much and people are just trying to make as much shit stick to dissuade me. It is nasty and I am flabbergasted by how mean people have been to be honest.

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Original poster
pinkytheshrinky · 20/09/2011 18:40

But I don't understand this at all. The examples I have cited show that the rules are variable when adapting names. I am sure this rule is variable in all languages. I was just trying to show that names borrowed from other languages with the CH in have different pronunciations.

Math - your whole argument has been about the end of the word and now it is about both syllables. My Celtic name book does say that the first syllable is pronounced Sor - I am also aware it is pronounced Sur and I am sure there are more subtle versions of that sound too. I know this must have a regional variation as most vowel sounds in most languages.

And again someone from Scotland is saying it is the standard pronunciation there - It matters not how many words you keep throwing at me, there is precedence here - you might not like it but there seem to be more people saying it in the way I prefer than the various traditional pronunciations.

If this pronunciation is so very illogical, why are there so many?

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mathanxiety · 20/09/2011 18:13

'Charles has been changed from the French pronunciation but the spelling has not changed... Sacha is another name which has been imported but the spelling has not changed. Charlotte has remained with the soft sha at the beginning - things are adapted to suit.'

You previously complained that names have been Irishised so why not Anglicised, and I posted to illustrate how this has happened in Irish (with pronunciation and spelling both changed). Now you are illogically again referring to the Anglicisation of names as if that is some sort of fair comparison that makes what you are doing ok. There is clearly a gap where your apprehension of the meaning of words and the function of logic should be. (This explains why you insist on pronouncing it not just with the SHA but with the SORE mispronunciation as the first syllable too and why there are others in the same boat)

'but actually does everyone need to understand the language and history and culture of the country they pick a bloody name from? '

Just the language would be fine, or actually, you wouldn't need to understand the language, just accept that it is different from yours and subject to different pronunciation rules. What you have done is treat a name as if it were nothing more than a combination of letters whose pronunciation is up for grabs, and assert that anyone's opinion as to pronunciation is as good as anyone else's as long as there are enough ignorant opinions to constitute a quorum.

ithaka · 20/09/2011 17:59

Oh no! The Scots language polis will be after me!

Species8472 · 20/09/2011 17:58

LillianGish we pronounce it the way that you don't like.

lettinggo · 20/09/2011 17:56

Don't you mean whiskey, ithaka?GrinGrinGrin

ithaka · 20/09/2011 17:50

Wow - some Irish people do like to get themelves into a right wee tizz.

I will repeat, in Scotland every Sorcha I have met is pronounced Sorsha and I didn't know there was any other way.

I am sure the Scots have been well oppressed by the English in the past (who hasn't!) but getting all aggressive over a pronounciation of a name makes you look silly and spoiling for a fight in an empty room. Have some whisky and chill!

LillianGish · 20/09/2011 17:47

How do you pronounce it out of interest?

Species8472 · 20/09/2011 17:45

Our DD Sorcha is 2 and no-one in the UK that we've introduced her to has ever heard of the name in the first place, so they don't care. My Irish in-laws, DH's extended family and friends (some of whom can speak Irish well) have never said one word either way on the pronounciation. Maybe it would be different if we lived in Ireland, but to suggest that someone with this name will be somehow scarred for life and hate her name is wildly over-the-top.

Original poster
pinkytheshrinky · 20/09/2011 17:33

I think it is much more likely that is I chose Sorcha with the Sorika or Surika or Sor-rah pronunciation for instance, I will find myself having to correct an awful lot more people than the one I have chosen.

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Original poster
pinkytheshrinky · 20/09/2011 17:31

I have to spell my other children's names all the time and they are 4 letters each (let alone the poor girls' surname too) - all my children have unusual names so that is par for the course. I am not sure I will be correcting pronunciation though to be honest. And even if I am I will take the risk. I did ask yes but there have been some nasty things said which add nothing either way

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LillianGish · 20/09/2011 17:27

I don't think it's a dreadful name - I just think it would be a PITA to have to keep spelling it and correcting the pronunciation. Call her what you like - but you did ask.

Original poster
pinkytheshrinky · 20/09/2011 17:23

Actually further up the thread someone said that the Sorcha she had met in her office that day only ever explains herself to the |Irish and not in the UK - and it seems the parents of the Sorchas who have posted here are not encountering any kind of animosity from the Irish or English it appears. It is not nice to say I would be saddling a child with a dreadful name - it is not a horrible name - very very very few people will have any idea of how it is said and even less will take offence.

I wanted to know about pronunciations - I was asking people what they thought not 'please name my baby' - I appreciate the thoughts and input but I want to use it anyway. Is that not allowed?

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Original poster
pinkytheshrinky · 20/09/2011 17:19

I don understand why there are so few names in their line but even now, even those who have been in the states since the 50's have no Irish named children or grand children. They all have classic Englishy Irish names as I have explained before - so to them they do have Irish names iykwim. My point is they haven't done it so it would be rich to criticise me - they wouldn't anyway, they are nice enough and I really don't think they care to be honest.

I haven't claimed to have any special knowledge about Irish history - I know roughly, I know the British have treated people bady but actually does everyone need to understand the language and history and culture of the country they pick a bloody name from? This does seem a tad over the top. My name is Greek, I am not sure my parents even knew that when they picked it - there are lots of variations in spelling and pronunciation too. It is not meant to cause offence but I will do as I want.

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LillianGish · 20/09/2011 17:16

Blimey - can't believe this thread has got so heated. Slightly mystified as to why you would seek opinions on here and then ignore them. I really don't know if I could saddle my daughter with a name (and pronunciation) which could cause such controversy - I'm just imagining the poor soul having to go through life having to constantly spell-out, then correct pronunciation and then argue the toss. Alright for you - you'll be off the hook once she's out of primary school and old enough to speak up for herself - she'll have to spend her whole life doing it if this thread is anything to go by.

Original poster
pinkytheshrinky · 20/09/2011 17:13

But it is prevalent in Scotland. Charles has been changed from the French pronunciation but the spelling has not changed... Sacha is another name which has been imported but the spelling has not changed. Charlotte has remained with the soft sha at the beginning - things are adapted to suit.

Why are so many people pronouncing it with the sha if it does not make sense.

I am not trying to 'give as good as I get' - it is just what I think and I really do think that slagging me off has been a bit over the top and absolutely unnecessary.

The pronunciation is widespread and there must be a reason. Maybe it is because it is close to Sacha that people assume the same pronunciation.

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