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Baby names

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

Original poster

Would you name a boy this..?

59 replies

AuntieBrenda · 30/11/2013 20:31

Kelly.
As in Irish surname, as in Kelly Jones of Stereophonics.

Would you?

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Annakin31 · 04/12/2013 04:42

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grizzabellia · 01/12/2013 20:24

I wouldn't - know a guy called Tracy and it always seems v strange. He must spend his entire life with people being surprised he is not a woman. I think Kelly would have a similar issue. Also don't like the name much, very eighties and as someone said a bit 'common'.

mathanxiety · 01/12/2013 20:20

nee kh-YAHL-ih

The kh sound is like the ch sound of the Scottish 'loch'
The rest is kind of like 'yalley' but with a shorter final vowel sound than 'alley'

LittleBairn · 01/12/2013 15:00

I really dislike the name Kelly I've known a few female Kellys growing up in Glasgow its considered outdated now.

nickelbabe · 01/12/2013 14:49

celtic I know there's no k in welsh either, but the keri/kerrys I know are definitely from wales and definitely spelt with a k.
it's all that anglicization.
the only person i know who has a c spelling is a cian and is definitely irish.

sausageandorangepickle · 01/12/2013 09:55

Kelly for a boy would also make me think of Chicago Fire and the lovely Kelly Savaride, but that would be a fleeting connection - but a strong, heroic, fireman connection…..

baskingseals · 01/12/2013 09:18

Math, how would the feminine version be pronounced?

I worked with a lovely lovely guy called Kelly, and one of my closest girlfriends is a Kelly, so for me it is a universal name.

MistleToastyStoHoHoat · 01/12/2013 09:09

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SpecialAgentFreyPie · 01/12/2013 05:25

I like it a lot. :)

mathanxiety · 01/12/2013 05:21

Another thing accomplished by changing O Ceallaigh to Kelly or O'Kelly, etc., was that the feminine form of the name ni Cheallaigh was eliminated altogether.

perfectstorm · 01/12/2013 05:18

Trifle, please tell me you're making a joke which backfired - you don't seriously think God is an Englishman and all those silly foreigners talk weirdly because they're showoffs, do you? Confused

Trooperslane · 01/12/2013 04:56

Trifle - the Irish spell their names in IRISH, not a ridiculous way. Bloody cheek.

Sunnysummer · 01/12/2013 04:19

Only if DH and I were both very strong, very good fighters and/or very attractive, and very confident that our son would be the same. Otherwise, no.

squoosh · 01/12/2013 03:11

'Don't the Irish have a knack of taking simple names and spelling them in a ridiculous way. Surely Kelly would be spelt Kelighah or something equally unpronounceable. Aside from that, no.'

No, we don't take 'simple' names and spell them in a ridiculous way, we spell Irish names in an IRISH way. You know, because it's a different language? The world does not revolve around the English language you ignorant fool.

Tigerbomb · 01/12/2013 00:05

I thought it was a girls name. Didn't realise it could be a boys name too. It didn't sound too bad and then I remembered this

lottiegarbanzo · 30/11/2013 23:48

The first Kelly I knew was a female Labrador and it's the doggyness more than the sex that comes instantly to mind and would put me off!

thenicknameiwantedisgone · 30/11/2013 23:27

I wouldn't, no.

I know a Kelly jones and she is definitely female!

weirdthing · 30/11/2013 23:16

Kerry would be nice for a boy, I think.

JazzAnnNonMouse · 30/11/2013 23:14

I know a male Kelly, always assumed that he's a she when talking about him.
Even if someone says something to me about him I automatically think through the females first.

BlueChampagne · 30/11/2013 23:13

Carey?

Soldierskittle · 30/11/2013 23:11

Kelly slater. Yum

CelticPromise · 30/11/2013 23:08

There's no K in Welsh either. Nickel you must be thinking of Ceri. I know male and female Ceris.

CelticPromise · 30/11/2013 23:08

There's no K in Welsh either. Nickel you must be thinking of Ceri. I know male and female Ceris.

Original poster
AuntieBrenda · 30/11/2013 23:05

I know! I'm welsh and also get affronted by language mockery

OP posts:
Inkspellme · 30/11/2013 23:03

Thanks for the post explaining the basis of where Kelly came from in the Irish Language.

As regards the insulting comments about the Irish using ridiculus spellings - well, I'm just grateful I'm not that ignorant about my neighbouring countries language and traditions.

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