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Baby names

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Original poster

Nice Irish Names?

38 replies

HillyHolbrook · 19/07/2014 20:02

We have a very traditional Irish surname which is a 'Mc' name but it's more a Muc than a Mac IYSWIM.

We're having a little girl, and we really can't decide on a name. We have some picked out, but we really want to explore some really nice Irish names too, as DHs family history is very interesting, one of his relatives is in the history books, even, and it'd be a nice nod to his heritage and also mine on my mums side.

The names we have already are Ava, Claudia and Mia, just so you can see our tastes. Our boys name will be Ezra if we ever have a DS.

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mathanxiety · 21/07/2014 17:44

I think Claudia goes really well with the surname, and Claudie is a lovely nn.

mathanxiety · 21/07/2014 17:43

Briege is a phonetic spelling of the Irish name Brighid or Bríd (not an Irish surname).

Original poster
HillyHolbrook · 21/07/2014 10:57

DH is Talcum Smile He's the only Terence Mc in the history books so I'm sure it's the right oneWink

When I saw your comment on the 'I'm on' page Microchips I thought you'd said 'Beige' Grin Briege is lovely, actually! Very different. I googled it and it is Irish, it's a variant of an Irish surname.

She's definitely a Claudia though, and besides, Claudie Mac sounds really cuteGrin DH has started calling her that already! Can't wait to meet her now!

OP posts:
MicrochipsAndMemories · 21/07/2014 10:46

I know an Irish lady called Briege. Is that an Irish name? I think it's quite nice.

weatherall · 21/07/2014 10:17

Shannon is Irish but without the spelling problems most other Irish names have.

TalcumPowder · 21/07/2014 10:14

If you're a descendant of the Terence Mc I'm thinking of, he was an admirable man.

FlipFantasia · 20/07/2014 23:12

Claudia is gorgeous! And works beautifully with the surname Smile.

Original poster
HillyHolbrook · 20/07/2014 17:28

We're going for Claudia this time round! Not Irish, but we feel it's 'her' name now after talking about it.

I do love lots of these names though. I wouldn't have thought of many of then myself. I'll definitely keep some in mind for future DDsSmile

OP posts:
Maryz · 20/07/2014 14:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

florascotia · 20/07/2014 14:54

Fiona was invented by 19th cent writter Willliam Sharp who created it to use as his own pen-name. He wrote passionate/mystical Celtic Twilight novels as 'Fiona MacLeod' (who became a sort of alternative identity/personality for him). The secret was not revealed until after his death in 1905.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Sharp_%28writer%29

Sharp was probably inspired by the Celtic name Fionnuala (meaning: 'fair shoulders' ie 'beautiful'), anglicised in Ireland as Finola and in Scotland as Fenella.

The chap who 'invented' the Ossian poems was James MacPherson:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Macpherson
William Sharp edited some mock-Ossian material, as well.

Welsh Mumsnetters please correct me if I am wrong, but I think the Welsh equivalent of Fiona is Ffion.

chopinbabe · 20/07/2014 12:49

Mairead (can't put the accents on) is a beautiful name. I know a woman with this name. She has the most beautiful voice and pronounces it Ma......raid. She says the 'raid' bit in a quite languid way quite long but always sounds as if she is announcing something special (actually she does think she is something special but that's neither here nor there I suppose)

Very Irish. Easy to pronounce and pretty!

Ceadagam · 20/07/2014 12:20

Grainne is another lovely name.
If you're going to go for an Irish name, get the spelling right, Ava, would be spelt albha, as there's no V in the Irish alphabet. There's actually only 18 letters, so for instance irish names beginning with K rather than C aren't spelt correctly.

Was Roisin suggested?

Cuppatea14 · 20/07/2014 10:23

Sorry to be picky but Erin isn't really a name, it's an Anglicisation of Eireann, meaning Ireland. Again to my mind it might have republican connotations. I think Aoife or Eimear (you could spell it Emer to make her life easier!) would go beautifully. Niamh also a good option because folk know how to pronounce it these days, I'd avoid a name that requires constant spelling out assuming you love in the UK. Btw I always thought Fiona was Welsh?

Original poster
HillyHolbrook · 20/07/2014 10:19

I know we don't need an Irish first and last name but we just wanted to look at a few. You're all right, too, it's the name you're thinking of. I get why to avoid Saoirse, shame though, because I really love it- always have! I hadn't even twigged the een names as being rhymeyHmm Glad you pointed that outGrin

Of all of them, Claudia and Ava are still our favourites, anyway! I think she'll be a Claudia as DHs sister is called Evelynn/Eve and it's too similar, really. Sounds like an homage to herWink

She's due September Valsold Smile And she is our PFB math, the other names were just ideas we had in mind. Thanks, everyoneGrin

OP posts:
Trooperslane · 20/07/2014 07:29

Love most of the names and Saoirse but I'd also advise against it for the Republican links.

Mummycherry2 · 20/07/2014 07:08

Honora is gorgeous! I've met lots of lovely Niamh's too :)

mathanxiety · 20/07/2014 06:06

I read the mention of the other names as meaning they already have DDs with those names.

I always thought Fiona was coined by some Scottish poet who wrote a fake saga about 'Ossian'.

squoosh · 20/07/2014 04:53

Okay just figured it out, he was Terence MacS.

To be honest I think Claudia is nicer than any of the names listed. An Irish first name and Irish surname isn't necessary.

squoosh · 20/07/2014 04:48

Who is Terence Ceadagam?? Never heard of him.

JanineStHubbins · 20/07/2014 02:40

Fiona is an Irish name!

If the relative is the famous Terence, then how about Muriel? His wife's name, a beautiful and interesting woman (who was treated badly by his family - they essentially kidnapped her daughter).

mathanxiety · 20/07/2014 02:31

Fiona isn't exactly Irish but it might go well and it is Irishy..

mathanxiety · 20/07/2014 02:29

I know who the relative is too. I agree with the caution about using Saoirse. If the surname is the same as the relative (and assuming I am right in my guess about the relative) then I would steer clear of -een names as the end result might be a bit rhymey.

Beibhinn -- pr Bevin
Damhnait -- pr Dove-net
Ailbhe -- pr Alveh
Eithne -- pr Eth-neh or Enya
Fionnuala -- pr Finn-oola
or Finola -- an anglicisation
Neassa -- pr Nassa
or Nessa, and anglicisation
Nora, or Honora, an old fashioned name once quite popular in Ireland
Mairead
Orla

DiaDuit · 20/07/2014 02:06

I also knew a Sorcha but she pronounced it 'sorsha' although one teacher did insist on calling her surr-i-ka.

DiaDuit · 20/07/2014 02:03

I knew a Terena at school. I think it looks worse than it sounds. She was a nice girl so maybe that affects my opinion of the name.

FlipFantasia · 20/07/2014 01:41

Think I know who his relative is!

We have a Maeve. Also love Liadan. And Sadbh (sive). And Orla. And aoibhinn. And Emer. And Ailbhe. And Aine (most of the names we love we can't use as already have nieces called them!).

Saorise combined with the surname I suspect plus the connection to the history books I suspect would make me think you were mad 'RA heads/up the IRA types which would put me off a lot. Saorla (pronounced Searla) or Sadbh or Siofra or sorcha (surr-i-ka) would be similar sounding but without the republican connotations.

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