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Baby names

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Original poster

Irish granny chic names

80 replies

Fallingovercliffs · 19/12/2014 11:29

Just wondering if any Irish posters reckon we will follow English example and start to revive the names our granny's generation had?
I just cannot imagine playgrounds being filled with little Nualas, Kathleens, Doloreses and Eithnes. Shock

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Original poster
Fallingovercliffs · 22/12/2014 11:04

My mum's best friend growing up was called Clodagh. She would be in her 70s now. I have a cousin called Clodagh in her 40s. I also know of a couple of very young Clodaghs. It seems to be one of those names that's never particularly in or out of fashion.
In fact I bet there's a nightclub in that wicked Athlone called Clodagh's Cavern or somesuch.

OP posts:
chubbleigh · 22/12/2014 01:51

Moira? Dont know any young ones.

LuluJakey1 · 22/12/2014 01:32

Lots of Irish names in my family

Brian- pronounced Breean by his dad
Kathleen - pronounced Kat Leen by her dad.
Aine - we call her Ann
Deirdre - pronounced Dare-Dre (not Dree)
Dolores- always called Dor
Roisin- called Rosa
Aodhan- we call him Aiden
Darragh- pronounced Dara
Cathal- his dad says it Caw hl

I had an aunt called Anisabella - my grandad was from Cavan. She as known as Ansie. I think it is pretty.

HungerKunstler · 22/12/2014 01:03

Clodagh is more 70s / 80s vintage, so women in their 20s/30s, I would say, rather than a granny name!

DramaAlpaca · 22/12/2014 01:02

Clodagh's lovely. I know a couple of Clodaghs under the age of ten & definitely don't see it as a granny chic name.

anothernumberone · 22/12/2014 00:46

Every family would need at least 4 Marys of course.

treaclesoda · 22/12/2014 00:43

is Clodagh a granny chic name? I love it and I'm pretty sure I first fell in love with it when I saw it in a Maeve Binchy novel which, strangely, I was very into aged 15 Blush

kormachameleon · 22/12/2014 00:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

libertychick · 22/12/2014 00:33

I know two Irish women in their 60's called Mercedes - both shortened to Cedes. I mentioned it to DH when DD was due and he nearly had a heart attack Grin.

My name has been mentioned above and my DD's (she is 3) - we're big on Irish Granny chic obvs!

My DH is from NZ and the family names there for the over 60's are great - we have Hilda, Wilma and Glenda on our Christmas card list. I can't see them making a comeback anytime soon.

Beangarda · 22/12/2014 00:24

It explains it all right, Squoosh. They probably ran off to the notorious fleshpots of Athlone with fancy names like that.

steppeupunderthemisletoe · 22/12/2014 00:22

I know nothing about Irish names, and have never heard of Nuala til now, but I love it! It is really pretty.

squoosh · 22/12/2014 00:07

My Granny had sisters called Anastasia and Madeleine.

I think their mother must have been viewed as having ideas above her station. Can't imagine there were loads of little Anastasias running around South West Ireland at the time. Their mother was a Protestant though so maybe that explains her fancy ways.

FrancisdeSales · 21/12/2014 23:59

Irish boys I know under 12:
Ciaran
Dominic
Benedict
Francis

FrancisdeSales · 21/12/2014 23:53

I have a good friend called Carmel; actually Marie Carmel, all the girls in her family have Marie as their first name (all 5 of them) and are known by their second. She is in her early 50s so not a grandma yet.

Beangarda · 21/12/2014 23:52

I've met a scattering of young Corneliuses (known as Con) and a little Ignatius (Iggy). I think Irish grandad chic is a few years ahead of granny chic. But you'll know the tide has turned when little boys start getting Mary as a middle name again, as in Joseph Mary 'I See His Blood Upon the Rose' Plunkett. Or when Florence (pronounced Flurrence in my part of the world, and a grandad chic, rather than a granny chic name, usually shortened to Flor) becomes cool.

What about Reenee? Actually, I've no idea how people actually spell it, but I have two aunt Reenees, one who is actually Irene, the other Catriona. It definitely isn't French and Renee...

FrancisdeSales · 21/12/2014 23:51

I know a Bridget who must be about 9 or 10 now. Her brother is Jack, they are American. Their American cousins were Clive and Fiona who sound like Jerry and Margo's best friends from "The Good Life". All these kids are under 10.

DH's eldest aunt is 80 and called Dolores. I have always loved her name.

squoosh · 21/12/2014 22:56

Chic isn't really what I associate with Irish Grannies. Being chic is what all the bold straps and strumpets in well known fleshpots like Athlone get up to.

Original poster
Fallingovercliffs · 21/12/2014 22:42

I can't believe Carmel hasn't been mentioned yet.

Deirdre is pronounced Dear-dreh. It is spelt DeiRdre and not Deidre and bears no relation to that awful strangulated version of the name your woman on Coronation Street goes by.

OP posts:
1944girl · 21/12/2014 21:49

This reply has been deleted

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HungerKunstler · 21/12/2014 21:32

Some Irish grandad names are coming back - Senan, Cormac, Joseph / Joe.

Not so sure about Aloysius or Ulick though...Grin

Sudename · 21/12/2014 21:30

Perpetua
Pascal
Maura
Dymphna
Vera
Cora
Joan
Jean

HungerKunstler · 21/12/2014 21:30

Oh yes - Imelda! That's a classic.

Also Bernadette. And Loretta.

TooManyMochas · 21/12/2014 21:17

My mother had a school friend back in the 60s called Eucharia (after the Eucharist). Has anyone mentioned Imelda yet?

What about Irish granddad names? Ignatius?

duckwalk · 21/12/2014 06:39

Bridin? Pronounced Brij-een.

moxon · 21/12/2014 06:24

babyblab
Noodles is a super name for a teacher. :)