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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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Original poster
Koalafications · 11/01/2015 12:23

I don't like 'Una' as it looks more Spanish than Irish.

But I can see that Oonagh isn't the prettiest spelling.

OP posts:
BMO · 11/01/2015 11:59

I like Nuala and Francesca. Like Oonagh but not that spelling - Oona or Una is nicer.

Allalonenow · 11/01/2015 11:55

Francesca is my favourite by a long way, not keen on the others, they sound a little bit dated to me.

ocelot41 · 11/01/2015 11:50

Love both Oonagh and Nuala - prefer latter. Franscesca sounds a bit snobbish

Pandora37 · 11/01/2015 11:44

I quite like Oonagh but your description of it made me laugh Clash. I prefer it spelt Una.

Not sure about Nuala - it's pretty but could be a headache with pronunciation.

I love Francesca, it's one of my favourites so I would definitely go for that. FWIW, I think they're all good names though.

Original poster
Koalafications · 11/01/2015 10:18

Thanks again for your thoughts.

It seems to be quite split!

OP posts:
Wantsunshine · 10/01/2015 23:43

Francesca can be shortened to Frankie, Fran, Chesca all of which are nice as in school kids never seem to use full names!
Don't like the other two at all. They will be mispronounced all the time.

ClashCityRocker · 10/01/2015 23:41

And I quite like Nuala too.

ClashCityRocker · 10/01/2015 23:39

Oonagh is the sound a bloke makes when they're kicked in the balls.

Francesca is nice, though.

Original poster
Koalafications · 10/01/2015 23:21

Thanks for that list rockinrobin we have previously discussed and vetoed every name, though.

OP posts:
rockinrobintweet · 10/01/2015 23:17

these are the names i came across recently when with my DDs (who are called Scarlett and Roselyn FWIW)

Darcey
Martha
Alba
Eliza
Imogen
Robyn
Mya
Grace
Silver
Florence
Isla
Paige
Harper

and others i like personally that are sometimes 'forgotten':
Ophelia
Delilah
Primrose
Penelope
Violet

AlfAlf · 10/01/2015 23:09

Oonagh gets my vote. I know an Una and an Oonagh, and they are both lovely, so good associations.

Francesca is a bit loud/dramatic-sounding, but can be shortened to Fran or Franny which I like.

Original poster
Koalafications · 10/01/2015 23:06

Thanks all!

Just asked DH about about Fionnuala and he just grunted and said "not sure".

Hmm
OP posts:
Leeds2 · 10/01/2015 23:05

Francesca.

Spinaroo · 10/01/2015 23:05

I like them- but not the spelling of Oonagh so much- and Francesca is my least favourite. Of you are going for an Irush name, I love Mairead.

Or what about Honor?

TheRealMaryMillington · 10/01/2015 23:02

Oh I love Nuala, I think it's really pretty. But then I quite like Doris

Francesca is a bit flashy and a bit mumsy at the same time somehow.

DramaAlpaca · 10/01/2015 22:59

Francesca is the best of the bunch, but it's not really to my taste.

Oonagh & Nuala are truly awful, sorry. Nuala in particular is the Irish equivalent of Doris or Mavis, and Oonagh is very dated. The spelling Úna is marginally better.

Fionnuala or Finola are much nicer, IMO.

Hassled · 10/01/2015 22:54

I saw the thread title and thought Fionnuala :o. I LOVE that name.

GiniCooper · 10/01/2015 22:53

Sorry, was just sounding go that out for myself there!

GiniCooper · 10/01/2015 22:52

Oh yes Fionnuala is a lovely name.

Or maybe Finola.

Finola.

Original poster
Koalafications · 10/01/2015 22:49

rockin we don't really have a criteria. We just have very different tastes...

OP posts:
wigglesrock · 10/01/2015 22:49

Again, I prefer the spelling Una, really like Francesca and dislike Nuala - it's a bit blah, and I think it's because it was a very old fashioned name when I was growing up, I can't shake that association. I don't mind Fionnuala as much.

jedishelly1 · 10/01/2015 22:45

I like Francesca, hate Nuala! Oonagh is nice, but would spell it Una (with a fada accent on the 'u').

BlueChampagne · 10/01/2015 22:43

Francesca, Nuala, Oonagh

rockinrobintweet · 10/01/2015 22:42

i like all 3. not convinced i love how Oonagh looks when written.

what's your criteria? could we help you think of some different names?