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Baby names

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

Original poster

Oran

40 replies

TakingTheStairs · 15/03/2015 10:35

I am Irish, DH is English but we both agree that we would like an Irish name for DS2.
But... It's needs to be an Irish name that isn't going to give DS2 too much hassle on a daily basis (we live in the UK). My name sounds nothing like the way it is spelt and since I moved here 10ish years ago, I have to explain it any where from 2 to 10 times a day.

Conor is an obvious choice but is very popular.
Cillian is another choice but a lot of people think it is a soft 'C' rather than hard 'C'. It's not like Cilla Black

I really like Oran. It's pronouced like it's spelt. Or-an. And it means fair or pale skinned which with DH's and my colouring he will be! It's also the name of an ancient Irish warrior.
It is the anglised spelling. The Irish spelling is Ódhran.

Thoughts?

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Trundlebundle · 15/03/2015 11:30

It's not pronounced like the beginning of Orange or orangutan. It's more like 'Oar'in. Child are creative on how they twist names to bully so I wouldn't pay a bit of notice to suggestions not to use in case of red hair.

Trooperslane · 15/03/2015 11:20

I love it but I'd spell it the right way.

CuntCourtIsInSession · 15/03/2015 11:19

Oran is an excellent name, go for it.

And all this "don't use it if he'll be 'ginger'" is awful - by pandering to bullies you're creating the climate in which they get exactly what they want, by marginalising people who don't look 'exactly like you'.

And 'ginger' indeed - the correct term is "red-haired"

Penguinotterfoxbadger · 15/03/2015 11:16

My first thought is orangutan.

For me, that would rule it out if he was ginger. It's not just school, if there was a ginger guy in my office named Oran I'm sure he would get the piss ripped out of him mercilessly (yes, my office is a very childish place..)

If he won't be ginger then it's fine though

munchkinmaster · 15/03/2015 11:14

What does it mean? Oran mor is a kind of great creation song in Scots Gaelic.

I like cillian, I'm not Irish or I'd have had that

Original poster
TakingTheStairs · 15/03/2015 11:14

Grin thanks.

OP posts:
SanityClause · 15/03/2015 11:10

Sorry, Taking, I forgot to answer the OP.

I like your choice.

SanityClause · 15/03/2015 11:07

tiny, if the children at school choose to mock a classmate's name, they will find a way of doing it, whether it is a very ordinary name, or one that is a bit more unusual.

I have an ordinary name. I remember it being rhymed with something unpleasant, when I was about 7. (Certainly more unpleasant than orangutans, which are great!)

In my case, this was not sustained bullying (that happened later, in senior school; nothing to do with my name) and I coped.

Original poster
TakingTheStairs · 15/03/2015 11:06

Oh. Is it because it's spelt Oran? like
the start of orangutang?

OP posts:
Original poster
TakingTheStairs · 15/03/2015 11:00

Thanks for your opinions. Good to know it seems to be liked.

tinymeteor why do you say that? Is it the name of an orangutan character or something? I don't get it?

OP posts:
slanleat · 15/03/2015 10:52

I think for your situation it seems a good choice. Its not a complicated pronunciation as many Irish names can be.

I have to say I do personally like it too!

tinymeteor · 15/03/2015 10:45

Lovely lovely name, but...

Are you and DH redheads? Might the baby be ginger? If so they are in for an awful lot of orangutan jokes, and telling his classmates it means pale and interesting probably won't help Grin

fallenstar27 · 15/03/2015 10:43

Sounds lovely :)

I would be guilty of saying Cillian like Cilla. Learn something new every day.

StormBraver · 15/03/2015 10:41

I love it too! Smile

Janinec123 · 15/03/2015 10:37

Love this name. It was on our list also!!!