Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

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

Unflip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

Opinions of Séamus?

106 replies

ChrisTheSheep · 28/10/2013 14:25

We've just found out that DC2 is, in fact, DS2, and I'm a bit thrown because I'm dreadful about picking out boys' names...

DH is Irish, I am English/Scottish (my Mum is from the Western Isles), and we had always said we'd give our children Irish or Gaelic names. The problem is, the only one we seem to be able to compromise on for a boy is Séamus, and I'm getting distinct "I don't like it" vibes from my mother.

I just wondered what other people think of the name?

We live in the UK, not Ireland, but we do have a very Irish surname. Other family connections are that there are lots of Jameses and Séamuses (sp?) on DH's side, and FIL was friends with Séamus Heaney, so I suppose it would be a nice tribute. DS1 is Eoin Pádraig, and DS2's middle name will be Peter after my dad. My mum says, "why don't you just use James instead?" but I think that's a bit odd considering DS1 has a very Irish name: we'd like the two to be similarly Celtic, if that makes sense.

Opinions, comments and virtual slaps all gladly received!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

NuggetofPurestGreen · 31/10/2013 22:29

I love the name Cillian but like Séamus too. And I know a young Séamus...well he's in his 30s but under 60

Also I'm Irish but sure on how to pronounce Eilidh . Is it Eye-lee? Or Ay-lee?

Original poster

ChrisTheSheep · 31/10/2013 22:19

Scout: we couldn't use Donal, as we know a Donal who has given the name associations, as it were. It's not that it's not a nice name, but it's like I could never call a girl Emma, as two different Emmas picked on me all throughout high school and pretty much ruined the name for me. It's sad when that happens.

AnyKormaFucker, glad to hear your Seamie is happy! I can't imagine DS1 being 10, let alone DS2 - it seems ages away.

Just for the record, other choices so far are Cillian, Oisín, Liam and Ruaridh. What do you think? My least favourite is probably Liam, as our surname begins with an L, and I'm not too fond of the first name-last name alliteration thing. I love Cillian and Ruaridh, but I think DH is most fond of Liam.

OP posts:

ScoutJemAndBoooooooooooo · 30/10/2013 07:12

Seamus is lovely. What about Donal?

AnyKormaFucker · 30/10/2013 00:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Florrieboo · 30/10/2013 00:20

I am Irish and I really dislike it. It's got a fuddy duddy Oirish feel to it for me.

However there are very few Irish names that I do actually like.

Original poster

ChrisTheSheep · 29/10/2013 18:32

Laurence O'Toole, even. While a saint's name is fine, a saint's name with added surname is a bit much!

OP posts:

Original poster

ChrisTheSheep · 29/10/2013 18:29

JoJo, Squoosh, our other choice at the moment is Oisín! . Séan is lovely too, but with an Eoin we can't really have a Séan. It would be like calling your sons Henry and Harry, or William and Billy, I guess.

The problem we have is that some other names DH has suggested (e.g. Tomás, Mícheál) sound a bit odd to my non-Irish ear, as they're so close to the English equivalents, but with a different vowel sound or stress pattern. I know that's my own oddness, but still...

Most of the names I've suggested are too "pagan" for DH who, though a very lapsed Catholic indeed, is prone to fits of religiousness when picking names, and would like a saint's name. Séamus obviously equates to James, and apparently there were a couple of Saint Oisíns hanging around in Louth at one point.

He did suggest calling the baby "Lawrence O'Toole [surname]", but I hope he was joking.

OP posts:

KateCroydon · 29/10/2013 17:11

ChristheSheep, quite.

squoosh · 29/10/2013 14:52

I know one tiny Séamus in Dublin and one Sé. I think it's having a revival. Personally Séamus seems much fresher to me than boring old Oisín.

JoJoManon · 29/10/2013 14:49

I am with FarelyKnuts on this. I am really not a fan personally.
As an Irish person (though living in UK), I concur that it is an old mans name in Ireland; never met anyone under 30 called Seamus. But if you like it, go for it, it's no ones business but yours.
That said, if you do want a current Irish name, that Irish people call their children, it's worth looking at the top 100 names in Ireland for the last few years. You don't get that many Irish names on it but Conor features regularly, as does Sean, Fionn (Finn), and Oisin.

www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/ibn/irishbabiesnames2012/#.Um_Kgfm-1cY

Original poster

ChrisTheSheep · 29/10/2013 14:37

Thanks, all! It's definitely on the list: now, we just need to try to compromise on one or two more options, in case the little chap doesn't "look like" one name or another, if you see what I mean!

OP posts:

TheFuckersonInquiry · 28/10/2013 19:50

Brill name

Original poster

ChrisTheSheep · 28/10/2013 19:42

A potential career choice for a grown-up DS2, Kate?

OP posts:

LadyRochford · 28/10/2013 19:24

Love it. Wish I could use it but I think you need an Irish connection. Love Angus and Alistair too but am not Scottish so same problem.

KateCroydon · 28/10/2013 19:18

Beautiful name. Plus it means private eye in Yiddish.

FarelyKnuts · 28/10/2013 18:12

Ha. Your phone having a fit was like being called in by your Ma when you were wee :o

Original poster

ChrisTheSheep · 28/10/2013 17:23

Gah! Sorry, FairlyKnuts, I think my phone went insane for a moment there! I was trying to say, no worries about the dissent: I'm trying to get a sense of both sides of the coin.

OP posts:

Original poster