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Baby names

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

Original poster

Fionnuala?

56 replies

parmo · 24/04/2012 21:40

We're expecting DC3 (already have 2 DSs) and as DH is Irish we were thinking of using an Irish name. Top of our list for a DD is Fionnuala but it's had mixed reviews from family and friends? What do you think and would it be spellable/prenouncable for a child growing up in England?

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BeingFluffy · 03/09/2012 18:14

I love it! I knew a Nuala from NI and she was lovely. My DH is Irish but we shied away from Irish names as we thought it would immediately identify them as Irish and DH suffered racism when he came here in the 1990s. I also love Orla/Orlagh and would have chosen Sorcha (English spelling!) but it is too similar to DD1's name and I wanted them to have different initials.

QOD · 03/09/2012 18:03

Ffs zombie thread AND I answered it before!

QOD · 03/09/2012 18:02

I know a Fionnuala, uses that for work and Nuala (noo-la) family and friends.
Nice name, she has a twin called Philomena (sp)

go for it!

0lympia · 03/09/2012 17:58

I quite like it. I am Irish but imo it's quite flouncy like Matilda and Emilia so the sound of it is very contemporary.

Some people are strange about Irish names! Ffion is awelsh name and the wife of that politician, his name escapes me now, she was called Ffion, and English people got to grips with that. Fionnuala is not any harder is it?

F1nola · 03/09/2012 14:35

I love it. Always receiving compliments the world over it means fair shouldered in Irish and refers to the story the Children of Lir

QOD · 04/05/2012 21:00

Lovely, I know a Fionuala, known as Nuala pronounced Nula.

aquashiv · 03/05/2012 21:39

Truely lovely name I say. Go with your gut.

IAmBooyhoo · 02/05/2012 21:21

my cousin is Sé (he is my uncle's sixth child so tehre is reason behind the spelling). i love that way of spelling it.

Original poster
parmo · 02/05/2012 20:28

IAmBoo, DS2 is Sé so we're used to mispronunciation/spelling but figured it was easier than Fionnuala as it is so short. I'm probably worrying over nothing as I do regret the spelling of DS's name.

OP posts:
IAmBooyhoo · 02/05/2012 20:01

how is it pretentious? Confused

it's not OP, it's lovely.

my ds has a very rare irish name and once told people know how to pronounce it and spell it. it's not an issue.

eggyblackett · 02/05/2012 19:56

I love it. Nuala is an excellent nickname too.

Original poster
parmo · 02/05/2012 19:52

So far DS2 normally gets asked how to say his name and then people are fine with it, but I think with having a shorter name it's easier for people to learn his than Fionnuala will be.

I'm really torn, on one hand I think people will get used to it but on the other I don't want her to be burdoned Confused

Boys names are so much simpler!

OP posts:
BorisJohnsonsHair · 02/05/2012 16:30

I think it will be a constant burden to her tbh, if she's living outside of Ireland. I have no idea how to pronounce Irish names in general so would probably think it was Fee-on-yew-ar-la, which sounds ridiculous. I'd steer clear and go for something more well known outside Ireland.

My friend had a daughter called Niamh about 15 years ago and mostly got called Ny-am. Now, although most people have heard of her name, many spell it Neve. So you can't win!

minesapintofwine · 02/05/2012 16:25

I love it its a lovely name and so what if other people dont like it/cant pronounce it you can always tell them! There are lots of irish names under that context I think like Saoirse and Niamh. I like them too! Oh to be Irish and have an interesting and pretty but also unpronouncable and difficult to spell name. Sigh. By the way Im Welsh but all the people I know with welsh names have them shortened anyway to something more pronouncable by the non-welsh speakers (the majority where I live inc me a bit Blush ) so maybe be prepared for that?

mangomadness · 02/05/2012 15:33

I know a Finola, said exactly the same way but spelt differently, beautiful name

LittleMissSnowShine · 30/04/2012 18:56

Its lovely (tho im irish with an Irish nane and my DS also has a v irish name so maybe im.a bit biased!)

I can tell u tho that as a woman with an irish name who has lived and travelled outside of ireland, yes people will sometimes pronounce or spell it wrong but theres far stranger names out there, it has a lovely meaning and Fin is a cute nickname her friends can call her

Original poster
parmo · 30/04/2012 17:55

It's not ignorant at all - I hadn't heard the name before I met DH!

OP posts:
EmmaCate · 30/04/2012 13:59

Honestly... when I saw the title of the post I thought it was a joke. But I'm ignorant and don't know any Fionnualas so don't listen to anything I say!!

Having read the pronunciation posts I like the sound of it.

shoobidoo · 30/04/2012 13:53

Love Fionnuala - classic, feminine and with lots of lovely nickname options. People learn very quickly how to pronounce a name. I too had no idea how to pronounce Niamh or Siobhan but once told, I will always remember. Lovely underused name imo.

theworldisoutthere · 30/04/2012 09:48

I know a 6-year-old Fionnuala and I love it :) (they're an Irish family too!). Gorgeous choice!

FrauGrau · 29/04/2012 21:21

People learn. Who knew how to pronounce Saoirse two years ago? I didn't know how to pronounce Grainne or Siobhan ten years ago. My aunt (50) is called Mhairi. when she was at school no-one knew how to say it. Now eveyone knows. well, in Scotland they do. Fionnuala is lovely.

Frikadellen · 29/04/2012 11:14

So the general consensus is that once told, people will soon get to grips with spelling/pronounciation?

yes.. (apart from if your my mum but she is a chapter of her own Grin)

go for it it is beautiful

Original poster
parmo · 28/04/2012 16:16

So the general consensus is that once told, people will soon get to grips with spelling/pronounciation?

OP posts:
RillaBlythe · 27/04/2012 06:18

people are so weird about Irish names on here.

It's lovely. I have to confess as someone with no links to Ireland/exposure to Irish names I wouldn't know how to pronounce it straight off, but now I know it's easy & I like it.

mathanxiety · 27/04/2012 04:42

Lovely -- classic Irish name that is as nice for a child as an older woman.

People will get used to the spelling.