Saoirse (pronounced seer-sha)

OK, so I just spelled Niamh wrong....so maybe not!

I live in England. Love the name. Know one. Can pronounce it but have really had to try hard with the spelling.

I knew an amazing Sorsha (spelled Sorsha) and really wanted to use the name for DD....DH and I don't really like Irish names because of the spelling (even DH has a traditional Irish name spelled the wrong English way)
I don't think it would be cruel. A bit confusing, maybe. Personally I would go for Sorsha or even Sasha. (I know, I know it't not the same!)

Sineads and Siobians and Neaves have managed, so I don't see why Saoirse wouldn't.

I really love it but DH said it was a bit too up the RA for him. We did go with another Gaelic name and we live in England. And feck me, DH and I also have Gaelic names.

100% agree with Midnight.
Even 'safe' names need spelling/pronunciation instruction, and then you've got the pain in the arse and the boring name!! (I feel your pain!)

I'm in America, and it would never be figured out over here, (which I know is no help to you) but I wanted to weigh in and say what a lovely name I think it is.

I'm Irish and live in London and have to explain my name (about the same difficulty as Saoirse) a minimum of three times a day. I hate that I have to do this, it's a PITA and I will never give my children names that are difficult for the country that we live in.
Please don't do it unless you're planning on moving to Ireland.
You don't have to give a bog-standard name but at least try to think about how difficult you are going to make their life. And you will

But we can't reasonably expect everyone living in the UK - or as some people would have it, England - to all give their DC bog-standard Anglo-Saxon names. That's not realistic.

I think it's a lovely name, and know how to pronounce it. She may get annoyed by having to spell it/correct people often, or, she may not.

I have a name which can be spelled a myriad of ways, so always have to spell it out (Isabelle/Isabel/Isobel/Isobelle/etc). Not a big deal. If you want a name no-one is going to have to question, then call the child Kate or Bob.

badtime, well i should have said england really, you are right in NI & scotland Gaelic names are much more common :)

I know one that pronounces it almost like cerise...

milktraylady:
I think it's crazy to give a child a Gaelic name when they live in the uk.

So no-one in Scotland or Northern Ireland should have a Gaelic name?

If no one gives their kids Gaelic names (or names from anything other than Hebrew and European traditions), we will have a million of the same name. My name is as common as they come and I still have to spell it for people. My other half's is less common (Gaelic), and after an initial explanation no one ever forgets it.

I see what people mean but saying 'no Gaelic names' is a bit harsh, Welsh Celtic names, Scottish Gaelic names, Irish names, Cornish names etc are all part of people's heritage and are (for the most part and for the moment) part of the UK. If people were from other parts of the world, they'd have no problem with names - it'd be part of their heritage and rightly so.

Go for it if you love it. I think it's great.

PS Floggingmolly, Aoife is beautiful even if a pain in the arse :)

I'm Aoife (living in the U.K), I've rarely met anyone new who could either pronounce or spell it, and yes, it is a pain in the arse.

We have on in our NCT group (in London). Her parents are Irish, obviously.

a good chunk of people won't know how to pronounce or spell it. Don't make life difficult for your kid.

I went to school with a Saoirse. Her name was pronounced Sir-sha. She's a lovely girl

I think it's lovely, and I'd know how to pronounce it.

I think it's lovely. I live in Scotland where gaelic names are pretty common place - we decided against one for the spelling issue (Ruaridh/Ruairi etc) but if you like it, go for it!

I wouldn't. It just isn't worth the hassle. But it's up to you.

I'd have no idea how to pronounce it if I read it.

If I had to spell it from memory I'd find it very tricky.

But, that's my problem. I used to vaguely know someone who pronounced their name 'Sor-sha'. No idea how it was spelt.

I like it because of the dance in lord of theddance

We considered Aoife as a girl's name and decided against for the same reason.
I think it's one thing to have a name you always have to spell and another that people wouldn't know how to pronounce having only seen it in print. Jmho though.

Must admit I thought it was pronounced Sorsha too. I don't think it's nearly as well known in England as Niamh, is it?

I loved this name both times I was pregnant, but discounted it because I just felt it would constantly be spelt and pronounced incorrectly. It is beautiful though.

Oh I know you can pronounce it Seersha and I suspect that might be the most common pronunciation. But I do know two who are Saresha and somebody has already mentioned knowing one who is a Sorsha (isn't that a different name?).

So people know it here I'm sure but you might have the odd slight quirk of pronunciation depending on what people are most familiar with. Like Esme, v common well know name but I know both Esmays and Esmees.