Sorcha... pronunciations?

sorry to dissapoint -you'll have to settle for irational irritation (not from me - I have no idea how to pronounce it!)!

It sounds like one of those names where a variant gaining acceptance with a more British phonetic pronounciation. A bit like Caitlin, which in the UK and USA is pronounced "Kate-lyn" and has become a name in it's own right. Names, like the rest of the language, change and are influenced by our increasing international connections. Obviously not everyone needs to like (or accept) it, but it's probably not going to bring about the downfall of civilisation as we know it.

My comment was flippant, as you were so adamant you were honouring your DD's Irish ancestry by choosing an Irish name and mispronouncing it. Since the name is allegedly Scottish now, you don't have that reason to insist on using it any more...

And 'Latin' ancestors?
Who are the Latins?

The way Irish has adopted names and evolved (since you mention evolution of language) is to change the spellings and the pronunciation so you have names like Séamus/James, Seán/John, Searlas/Charles (older version and used to refer to Kings named Charles), Margaret/Mairghread->Maighréad->Mairéad. You don't find names adopted whole and mispronounced to suit the fact that the Irish language lacks certain sounds. If you're going to change the pronunciation, then change the spelling.

Since you think it's Scottish, you presumably won't be using it as you have no Scottish heritage to honour?

Scots Gaelic handy guide to pronunciation here, and no sign of any 'CH' rendered 'SH' as it turns out.

The mispronunciation is widespread because of the attitude that it is fine to take an Irish name and mangle it, which has been done through the entire history of use of the English language in Ireland.

Ha! Eight pages on, and the Sorcha battle rages on.

I note there are at least three of us with (apparently ignorant) Irish DHs, who have DDs pronounced Sor-sha!

Yoko - I think you have the key when you mention the Scottish Gaelic - that explains why this pronunciation seems to be so widespread, and not confined to the "chavs" of this world.

As for Caitlin, every single Caitlin I have ever met in the UK is pronounced Kate-Lyn.

But why? Why would you do it, I don't get it? Every friend I have who has an Irish spelling of their name in England (I know a few) finds it immensely irritating. It doesn't irritate their parents when their name is mispronounced but it's a different story when its your own name.

I am shocked that so many Irish people would just randomly choose Irish names they can't pronounce, I would expect that the least you would do when you are saddling someone with a name for life is have the respect to ensure you can say it yourself. But each to their own.

We have a DD Sorcha (DH is Irish) and pronounce it Sor-sha. She has been called Sor-a-ka by the passport bloke at Dublin airport and that's fine too. Some of DH's relatives do think she's called Saoirse though...

I've never came across it before and I assumed Sor-sha. I'm Scottish though, not Irish. Personally I think it's just a name and you should spell/pronounce it however you like. Names need to evolve or else we'd all be called the same thing!

I actually think you are talking out your arse, pinky. People who have not come across it will look at it and not have a CLUE how to pronounce it not assume it is Sorsha because it doesn't phonetically decode in English as Sorcha. Many English people struggle with a relatively straightforward name like Caitriona (which is very close to anglicised versions).

You want to give your child a name that will be a total annoyance and nuisance to them because you "like" it (pronounced the way you pronounce it). I am pretty apolitical, I have very few nationalist tendencies, but it slightly grates to see your attitude here and how dismissive you are of people who find this sort of thing important. None of my father's family were "allowed" their Irish names (my uncle Oliamh had to be "Humphrey" on his birth cert) and your attitude to "hell, I can do what I like, it's only Irish" is a bit, well, rude.

Are you really saying your "irish dh" thinks it is Sorsha?

If you want it to be Scottish and the Scots version is Sorsha, fair enough BUT please, at least learn how to spell Gaelic so that your daughter can in her time and you don't make a total idiot out of her for your own amusement.

Flip it! Call her Victoria but spell it Bhuictoria. (no V in Irish!)

My DS1 has an old traditional name, which has a number of regional spellings. Even though we chose the correct one for our area, I'm always having to spell it. I joked when he was born that he would never be able to emigrate- far too many consonants!

I think you should do what you like! I love the name Sorcha, this discussion surely shows that names travel and pronunciations change, it's the way things are. Go for it!

I have a Sorcha pronounced sha. My Scottish Gaelic teacher friend confirms Yoko's definition. I got hammered on here before for saying the the second syllable was a soft consonant but the two forms of Gaelic are different languages. My friend's hackles are up if I pronounce her beloved subject Gaylic that is the Irish language and Galic is Scottish. It's a beautiful name and my DD has grown into it with dark red hair and Celtic colouring hope there won't be one in every class in a few years time.

The Kate-Lyn thing has hugely caught on with a certain type of person in Ireland too AND YOU ARE COMMITTING THE SAME CRIME,young lady!.

Maybe we should be setting up a special pedants' corner for this stuff? I'm glad to be in good company here

Caitlin SHOULD be either Caitlín - Kathleen (but with the th pronounced the way Irish people say th) OR Cáitlín -Caught-leen with a bit of a ch sound (the English ch sound)after the caught bit. I don't think the second one would be easily pronounced by anyone who doesn't speak Irish.

To me, this is in the same category as Coleen. Why o why would anyone do this? As Maryz said, if you like the sound of Kate-Lyn, fine, no worries, but please for the love of god just spell it that way.

Someone actually from Ireland might need to correct me but the actual pronunciation is like "Cotch-leen", the anglicised version is Kathleen.

In recent years Kate-lin has become popular in England/America.

Kind of like Genevieve being pronounced "Jean-vee-ev" in French but "Jenna-veev" in English.