Is it unfair to call my baby Saoirse?

Rionach?
Siobh?
Siabh?

God bless any poor soul called Gobnait. Worst Name EVER!

Caoilfhionn?

We were going to have Saoirse as a middle name for dc2 but he turned out to be the wrong gender! We have no Irish connections just loved the name, but decided it was a bit too difficult to go for as a first especially as we can't claim any Irish heritage. I think it's lovely, go for it

Gormfhlaith. Gobnait. Sadb with the dots for h's.

Blimey GrayJane, that sounds tough!

gray Is it really unusual?

More unusual than Sadhbh, Caoimhe, etc?

I'm struggling to think of a name that people from the North wouldn't know. They do pronounce Roisin as Rosh-in though.

GrayJane, please tell us your name!

tread well yes I thought so, but I was referring to soupdragon's post on page one which no one questioned.

Don't do it! I have an Irish name and I work in a multi national company in Europe. I spend my whole day correcting people. And no, they often don't remember after being told the first time. It's not easy to spell or pronounce. My name sounds nothing like the way it is spelled and only a few of the Irish colleagues I have occasionally worked got my name first time. Even those from Northern Ireland can't say it. It's a nightmare for me to be honest. I don't understand what my well-travelled parents were thinking when they lumbered me with this name. I have now added a guide to pronunciation in my email signature. I actually think it scares people off from approaching me as people are embarrassed to say it incorrectly.

Are Welsh people English? ????????????

Er no - they are Welsh, from Wales. They are considered to be British citizens but along with with the English and the Scottish, tend to identify their national identity separately.

I wouldn't know how to pronounce it.

She will spend her life correcting people.

Can't you just call her Liberty?

(if you're Irish and live in Ireland, then go for it though of course!)

My husband is also Irish and we are due our second child in 2 weeks...
We both always loved Saoirse and our daughter Freya keeps saying I like Saoirse.... ????
I like you worry about people being able to pronounce it as much as spell it.
It's such a pretty name though and I will always love it!!

We both really like Aoife and if we have a girl think we will go with that as also like it with Freya.
Xxxx

Sur sha or seer sha I've heard for pronunciation. It's a good name, not unheard of, and one I'd use. And you have the family connection too, not essential of course, but...

I meant Saoirse, obvs!

DD has a friend called Saorise. I think it's a beautiful name.

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

Really? All English people? How about the Welsh?

Are Welsh people English? Genuine question. I'm Irish myself.

OP personally I'm in the camp of giving a child a name that's reasonably recognisable in your own country / area, so Saoirse would be fine here in Ireland but if I was in the UK I'd probably give it a miss.

However, I think my views are getting a bit old fashioned now so on balance I think if you absolutely love it, go for it.

I grew up in England with a very Welsh name. I have had a lifetime of explaining the pronunciation and how to spell it.

It bothered me a lot when I was a kid but less so now.

If it's a name you like then use it!
I would've mispronounced it if I was just reading it but once corrected itd be fine. It would take me a while to be able to spell it though

Hate this name. I'm Irish. It's just not one I like. Until fairly recently I would have made assumptions about the 'leanings' of people who chose the name. Not any more, as I think people choose it now without knowing that. But I still don't like it.

what about síofra

It's a beautiful name! When I was at school in the 80s there were quite a few Siobhans around. I only had to be told once that it's pronounced 'che-vaughn' and I was fine.

She may find it a bit of a pain having to spell it out over the phone, etc, but it's not like that would be a daily occurrence.

I know two- my cousin and a school friend. Both nice girls so I like it!

My friend has daughters Caoimhe and Saoirse saulgood just a coincidence

I've seen this name plenty of times but I've always been to scared to ask how its pronounced I always thought it was swA-Reece would never have thought sir-sha... I like it but be prepared for problems x

I might wonder if a NI Saoirse's parents were of a Republican frame of mind but I wouldn't wonder the same about a Dublin Saoirse. It's a very mainstream and middle class name in Ireland these days.

Saoirse's brother would be called Fiachra and they'd live in Ranelagh and go to the local Educate Together school and have a holiday home in Connemara.

With regards to using the name in England, to be honest I probably wouldn't as I'm mildly irritated on a daily basis by being asked about the spelling and pronunciation of my name. But that's just me, I can be quite grumpy!

The name is definitely pretty mainstream now, and has been for years. It's been in the top 25 girls names in Ireland for several years and fairly certain most of the parents are not republican activists!