Is it unfair to call my baby Saoirse?

Myname15 · 2015-07-13T17:30:37+00:00

Hi everyone I'm 21 weeks pregnant with my first child. Recently found out that we're having a girl. My favourite girls name is Saoirse (pronounced sir-sha). I love the meaning (liberty) and have loved the name since i was a kid. The name's Gaelic, dp is Irish as is half my family, but I am really struggling with whether or not it's unfair to land my daughter to be with that spelling :s. What does everyone think?

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LizzieAnt · 15/12/2023 13:44

Also, as you can probably hear from the link, the second syllable doesn't have a strong ah sound at the end. It's not like the sound in Diana. It's more Seer-sheh.
I wrote Seer-sha in my previous comment because I was afraid if I wrote Seer-she people might think of the sound in she/he. But I should have said Seer-sheh really!

LizzieAnt · 15/12/2023 13:15

@wherethewildthingsgo
This is a zombie thread, but for the record the pronunciation of Saoirse is more like seer-sha as pp have said (where seer is said like sear, not as see-er, one who foresees the future 😅 )
Anyway, there's a link to the pronunciation below.
https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/saoirse

Some Irish people do say the first syllable more like Sair, or like a cross between Seer and Sair if that makes any sense, but it's not Sor or Sir anyway.

Irish Pronunciation Database: saoirse

How to pronounce 'saoirse' in Irish

https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/saoirse

wherethewildthingsgo · 15/12/2023 12:10

It's lovely and it's absolutely fine to call a baby it but I thought the pronounciation was "sor-sha" not "sir-sha"?

DacwMamYnDwad · 14/12/2023 19:01

@ArsenicInTheAppleTart , Many uk accents say seer as see-uh.
I'd say Saoirse as SeeRsha, but I think many would say See-uh-sha or Sirsha

ArsenicInTheAppleTart · 14/12/2023 18:38

aoife= ee-fa
saoirse = seer-sha

(by and large and allowing for regional accent differences etc.)

But yes, thread is from 2015 and Saoirse is probably busy right now listening to Taylor Swift and telling her little brother to stop annoying her.

DacwMamYnDwad · 14/12/2023 16:41

How is it pronounced then @Goonerz ? Thread is from 2015

Mittens1717 · 14/12/2023 16:23

@Goonerz aoi is definitely the ee sound

Goonerz · 14/12/2023 14:53

no

SeerNotSir · 14/12/2023 08:57

@Goonerz aoi most certainly is the "ee" sound.

Goonerz · 14/12/2023 08:46

SeerNotSir · 14/12/2023 08:36

Saoirse is NOT pronounced "sir"sha. This is an egregious mispronunciation of a beloved and historically significant name. I don't care how your American actress thinks it's pronounced. She is incorrect and has admitted it more than once.

In Irish Gaelic, "aoi" is pronounced with a long "ee" sound. The name is SEER-sha. There is no alternative pronunciation outside of local accents that make it sound slightly different. Someone from New York may apply an accent to certain words but that does not mean the pronunciation of said words have changed.

Just as the English name "Rose" only has one pronunciation, so does Saoirse. Stop perpetuating the misinformation.

That's the only cruel thing about it. If you're going to use it, say it right. Seer-sha. Seer rhymes with deer, not sir. Seer-sha.

Edited

Saoir is not pronounced Seer.

SeerNotSir · 14/12/2023 08:36

Saoirse is NOT pronounced "sir"sha. This is an egregious mispronunciation of a beloved and historically significant name. I don't care how your American actress thinks it's pronounced. She is incorrect and has admitted it more than once.

In Irish Gaelic, "aoi" is pronounced with a long "ee" sound. The name is SEER-sha. There is no alternative pronunciation outside of local accents that make it sound slightly different. Someone from New York may apply an accent to certain words but that does not mean the pronunciation of said words have changed.

Just as the English name "Rose" only has one pronunciation, so does Saoirse. Stop perpetuating the misinformation.

That's the only cruel thing about it. If you're going to use it, say it right. Seer-sha. Seer rhymes with deer, not sir. Seer-sha.

Luredbyapomegranate · 20/01/2023 21:37

Haha ZOMBIE

Luredbyapomegranate · 20/01/2023 21:37

I think it’s much better known in the UK than it used to be.

It WILL be a spelling PITA and sometimes people will say it wrong, so if you really don’t want that then find something else.

JoyPeaceHealth · 20/01/2023 20:24

Don't like it.

Prefer Síofra or Shona

Keiraoharaa · 20/01/2023 20:21

Nothing wrong with ask strong IRISH name. I hope you named your baby saoirse. Nothing wrong with an IRISH name.

KirstenBlest · 04/06/2022 13:47

@LightningStar , howdoes your neighbour say it?

LightningStar · 03/06/2022 19:59

My neighbour has called her daughter this but doesn't pronounce it Sir- sha

Mosmuma · 03/06/2022 19:57

PaddingtonBearStareAgain · 03/06/2022 19:47

I'm sure they have made the decision 7 years ago....

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I only noticed after posting 😜

PaddingtonBearStareAgain · 03/06/2022 19:47

Mosmuma · 03/06/2022 19:46

I would do with Sasha although completely different name. I first thought it has to be Gaelic - but just reading it, looks like Sea-horse - I would be worried about the child being teased. Most people really wouldn't have a clue.

If you love it and aren't sure, how about keeping it as a middle name?

I'm sure they have made the decision 7 years ago....

Mosmuma · 03/06/2022 19:46

I would do with Sasha although completely different name. I first thought it has to be Gaelic - but just reading it, looks like Sea-horse - I would be worried about the child being teased. Most people really wouldn't have a clue.

If you love it and aren't sure, how about keeping it as a middle name?

RuthW · 03/06/2022 15:37

I always say sore arse in my head when I see it written down.

PaddingtonBearStareAgain · 03/06/2022 15:07

ZOMBIE THREAD.

Pretty sure the nearly 7 year old child will have long had their name.

Goonerz · 03/06/2022 14:45

villainousbroodmare · 13/07/2015 19:10

It's definitely SEER-sha. "aoi" is an ee sound.
(Seoirse is SHORE-sha which is George. Sorcha is Surr-kha which is Sarah).

aoi is most definitely not an ee sound.
The ee sound might be the closest many people can get but it's not the same.

toastedcat · 03/06/2022 14:38

It's a lovely name. Who gives a fuck if others can't spell it? Honestly.

oakleaffy · 03/06/2022 14:30

SoupDragon · 13/07/2015 18:44

Also, English people won't have a clue how to spell or pronounce it.

Really? All English people? How about the Welsh?

Welsh people aren’t English!