Is Aoibhe a step too far in the UK?

In answer to the question of what happens when the OPs DD goes to school - in the case of my DD1 (reception) and DD2 (pre-school, starting reception in September), both of whom have Irish names, when we met the teachers at the initial parent's evening, the teachers asked me and DH how to pronounce them and it has never been an issue (and I'm guessing they had to do this with a few other Asian/Eastern European children in the class).

Interestingly my DDs' peer groups don't have any issue with my DD's names as they're used to the diversity and don't seem to find it unusual to hear a new name (that includes new English names too - after all, there are a lot of English names that the average 4/5 year old won't have come across yet so they don't yet seem to have a concept of what constitutes an "unusual name").

Surely variety is a good thing?! The school register would be very boring if it was full of Emilys and Sophies.

The school my DC go to is very multicultural so it is not unusual for children to have to spell out their names to new teachers etc, and the kids are used to a wide variety of names, so noone bats an eyelid. And then it's not unusual anymore.

I also think Irish names are becoming more popular in England- I know a Niamh, Siobhan and Caoimhe from toddler groups etc, none of the parents are first generation Irish (I have no idea if there is Irish heritage somewhere). So people will be more used to the spelling.

I used to work with a girl with a very Welsh name- she always had to pronounce and spell it several times to clients, got letters addressed to Mr X all the time as people assumed it was a male name. But as she worked in sales she always said it was a conversation starter and made her memorable, so she quite liked it!

How about Mhairi (vari)? I love that.

Haha no mummyburrows not Irish but I've no idea how the hell it's said and it's popular (on here, at least...)

I'd put up with that irritation tbh (but as I say, I'm someone who has a very dull name who always has to spell it out - doesn't bother me but at least it could have been unusual to make it worthwhile!)

Fair enough MummyBurrows - but as forgetmenots said - once you had met the person and been told how to pronounce it, then surely you would remember (as actually meeting someone and hearing their name is quite different to reading a list of names that I can fully appreciate must read as gibberish to you). And then you would have learnt something new - which is surely a positive thing?

Blueshoes - I guess I'm biased as having lived with an unusual name I've never seen it as a liability but as an asset. I've never considered myself "saddled" with it.

Applauding damsonjam again and biting my tongue now

I too had a Hermione problem. Until very recently.

Oh yea,now I know how to say them its fine! I'm just saying when the OPs dd goes to school OP won't be there to tell teachers how to say the name,obviously dd will be but when a (clueless) teacher starts calling the register and gets to the name (which ever one it may be) they're going to be stumped and trying to say the name phonetically which will confuse all the kids too and perhaps cause dd some embarassment at realising its her name and having to correct the teacher...once corrected problem solved!...until the next one comes along and same problem all over again...

Fwiw I've got no idea how to pronounce Ptolemy either!! I thought it was an irish name because it confused me so much! I'd say Pah-toll-me?? God knows!! Lol!

Of the names you listed I think Clodagh is the one that people would get the hang of quickly as it doesn't have a scary looking combination of vowels/consonants (to an English eye). I met a Clodagh in London a while back and while I'd never heard the name before it was easy to remember how to say and write. Aoife and Caoimhe, not so much.

I'd never heard the name Hermione before I read Harry Potter. When I read the books I pronounced it to myself as Herm - ee - own (sad I know!). I don't think its a bad thing that I have been educated on a new name and how to pronounce it.

But then I think (cultural) diversity is something to be embraced and celebrated (and the fact that the UK does this so well is something I love about this country).

English is the working language. Why saddle your dd with a name that is a potential liability in the workplace?

"It is the fact that it is not spelt in a recognisably phonetical way that makes it a bigger issue than just a forrin name."

But mummyburrows, that's fine, they're phonetic in Irish and once you were told the name you would (surely) then know the pronunciation and that's that?! There's loads of names on here I don't have a clue how to pronounce, I'd just ask (Ptolemy, anyone?!)

Fwiw,I know they make sense in Irish and in Irish spelling rules/language but to me sitting here ignorant and oblivious to how the Irish spelling/language and subsequent pronounciations work in England its as good as gibberish when written down...sorry!

bangs head off wall

What damsonjam said, and sowornout I'm with you, life would be so boring if we were all the same (said as someone with a very boring name which has spelling issues nonetheless! :) )

I know an Aoife and Orna, sisters. Born in Jersey but being raised in Dubai. Lovely names and no reason why either shouldn't be OK in the UK

I agree with blueshoes last comment...think that's why I was so miffed when I read the list...my dd has quite a few kids in her room at nursery with obviously foreign names but they are easy enough to read/pronounce without being told because they are pretty phonetical,irish names are a whole different ball game...some aren't pronounced anything like they look. For instance I read Caoimhe as kay-oh-mee,like Naomi but with a Kay sound instead of N and Aoibhe as ay-oh-be...which doesn't even make sense or sound like any other name I've heard except perhaps Star Wars character Obi Wan Kanobi (not even sure that's spelt right lol!) I'd have never even guessed they were supposed to be said as quee-va and eva in a million years if op hadn't of put them in brackets

You mean in a way that is phonetic/ recognisable IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE? :-) The pronounciation makes perfect sense in Irish! (Meant in a friendly lighthearted way so please don't take offence.)

It is the fact that it is not spelt in a recognisably phonetical way that makes it a bigger issue than just a forrin name.

Theyoni, it is interesting about the pigeonholing. Yes, it would be the case where I work if along with spelling your name, it comes out that the origin is Irish. It is what sticks in people's head as a slightly quaint but, sorry, also provincial, name which is not always a good thing

I like Aoibhe, and also like Roisín, Ailbhe, Aoife, Eimear, Aoibheann, Orl(aith), Caoimhe, Aisling, Alannah, Saidhbh, Caitlin, Saoirse, Caoilfhinn (Keelan), Doireann - any of them any good?

FWIW - I have an unusual name and personally I haven't found it an issue (have never met someone with it and most people I meet have never heard of it) - I've always liked it as it made me feel quite special. I did wonder a bit about giving my children Irish names that are a little unusual in Britain but now that they've started school I realise that I shouldn't have worried - half the class has names from all around the world. If you're in an area that is even slightly multi-cultural it shouldn't be an issue.

Hmmm. I have a very very Irish name, my youngest sister also has a very Irish name (both mentioned here). We both live in England.

I like my name BUT I have to repeat myself every time I am introduced to somebody and spell it out slowly to bemused english people daily on the phone. It is constantly misspelled and mispronounced and there are people in my life I have corrected so many times its become embarrassing.

It immediately pigeon holes me as Irish, which in my former field was not a good thing as I needed to be perceived as neutral/versatile.

In short it's pretty but can be a pain in the ass. Think about what it'll be like to live with as well as if you like it.

soworn, it is tough too for your dcs if they had to spell their names and explain how to pronounce them each time. I hope they don't have to live outside Scotland.

Siún isn't a nickname for Siobhán, it's just another form of the name.

I would pronounce Siobhán as SHOO-awn in Irish.

Cara- it means friend in Irish
Realta- with a fada over the e - it means star , or Realtin- little star. Pronounced rayl tah or rayl teen.
Alana- darling
Darerca ( the c is like a k)

My SIL is Brona - I love that name.