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Baby names

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

Original poster

Oonagh, Francesca or Nuala?

109 replies

Koalafications · 10/01/2015 21:59

DH and I are struggling to find girl names that we can both agree on.

What are your thoughts on these three?

I know that Oonagh and Nuala are going to have some challenges with spelling and pronunciation.

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JanineStHubbins · 12/01/2015 18:41

Only I love Orlágh, Niámh, Meave and Erín

Maybe check the spelling before filling in the birth cert...

LiquidCosh · 12/01/2015 18:37

Do you like Irish names particularly OP? Only I love Orlágh, Niámh, Meave and Erín

ocelot41 · 12/01/2015 18:28

I really like Clodagh too (just to really confuse things...)

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 12/01/2015 13:15

squoosh that's hysterical, takes me right back.

I like Oonagh but the silent GH will be too much in the UK. She will spend her life correcting people from calling her Oooon - agg.

I regularly get calls at work from English colleagues and from DH to ask how to pronounce a name before they call someone. I know an Aisling who wishes she changed her name to Ashling when she moved to the UK as she was regularly called Ashley at work. As for the poor chap on the service desk called Tadgh....... Tie -geh

Anyway, I digress. Of the three , I'd go with Francesca. Or compromise with Oona.

Nuala - no strong opinions there, bit old ladyish and there is a sports wear/yoga brand owned by Christy Turlington which is pronounced Noo-Aw-La which would put me right off as it's a terrible mis-pronounciation

Original poster
Koalafications · 12/01/2015 13:02

Haha, yes. We have agreed Francesca.

I won't even go into the boys names that we have agreed on...

OP posts:
squoosh · 12/01/2015 12:42

But you've decided on Francesca haven't you? Good!

Original poster
Koalafications · 12/01/2015 12:41

I love Colette! Great name.

I know an evil Bernadette so I wouldn't use that.

OP posts:
buzzy1 · 12/01/2015 12:40

What about Anya?

squoosh · 12/01/2015 12:38

Ha! I see it as my duty Bianca. I've also noticed Bernadette and Colette being suggested as chic names. It's more than a body can stand!

Original poster
Koalafications · 12/01/2015 12:37

squoosh Grin Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Koalafications · 12/01/2015 12:36

I am well aware that Nuala is an 'old fashioned' name. To be honest, that's part of the appeal to me!

I don't like Fionnuala

OP posts:
squoosh · 12/01/2015 12:35

This is Nuala as she cross examines you as to why you missed the last Legion of Mary meeting and is it true you were spotted by Majella O’Flaherty getting up to sinful hi jinx in the park with that useless Murphy boy.

Oonagh, Francesca or Nuala?
squoosh · 12/01/2015 12:34

'If you met my auntie Nuala, you'd be running for the hills with your baby naming book, flipping frantically through the index...'

That made me laugh, Nualas are a formidable lot indeed!

BiancaDelRio · 12/01/2015 12:28

Came for squoosh. Was not disappointed Grin .

OP - Francesca is a gorgeous name. Frankie is an even better nn.

Nuala and Oonagh are dumpy frumpy sensible shoe wearing names.

madeinkent · 12/01/2015 12:25

I have a Francesca, so clearly I am biased... Everyone always says 'Oh what a lovely name!' so, it was a good choice, I think.

HolyTerror · 12/01/2015 12:25

You can't call a baby Nuala. It's like calling her Great-Auntie Beryl-Doris McFustyCardigan. Fionnuala or Finola is a much better idea. Or Francesca. Or more or less anything.

If you met my auntie Nuala, you'd be running for the hills with your baby naming book, flipping frantically through the index...

sunnybobs · 12/01/2015 12:23

Nuala - love it and have taught a couple of gorgeous ones recently! different ages too so it seems spread across the years popularity wise too.

roastpots · 12/01/2015 12:14

I like the sound of Oonagh - but only like it written Una or Oona. I also like Nuala. Not keen on Francesca.

Eastpoint · 12/01/2015 06:54

My Dds have friends known as Chessie, Cesca, Frankie, Frannie, Franny, Francesca (2 teenage daughters). There are 3 in each of 2 school years of 110 so it is not desperate popular.

Orla? Hortense? Fiona?

mathanxiety · 12/01/2015 06:45

I don't really like Francesca but it's the best of your three names.

Nuala is short for Fionnuala, a much nicer name imo, and Finola is an anglicisation, and very nice too (imo).

Oonagh is too clunky looking for me. I prefer the Oona spelling if you really don't want to use Una, even though it may be Finnish -- it's equally as unIrish as Oonagh.

PuppyMonkey · 11/01/2015 20:36

Oh yeah, the extra u that's another one. Grin

Naomip88 · 11/01/2015 20:33

my mums called nuala and she is an utter delight :-) not sure about oonaugh and Francesca is pretty but a bit flouncy and you would probably end up being abbreviated (fran , franny and frankie which i love!). Have you thought about nola?

DramaAlpaca · 11/01/2015 20:18

JoyceDivision, sorry if I upset you upthread saying Oonagh was 'truly awful' Blush. It's just my opinion & I didn't mean to offend. FWIW, it's much nicer spelled Oona. I haven't seen it spelled that way before Flowers

Original poster
Koalafications · 11/01/2015 17:24

Grin Grin Francesca is my favourite, anyway.

OP posts:
squoosh · 11/01/2015 17:20

Please for the love of God and all that is holy choose Francesca,