Is it unfair to call my baby Saoirse?

Name changed just to say- do it! I am biased as I have a Saoirse myself and I ummed and ahed about it before hand also. I'm English with Irish family, DH pure English-live in England.

Yes, there are republican connotations, but what can you do, it's a name in its own right, with a beautiful meaning- so I don't dwell on those.

We pronounce it Seer-Sha and when you're introducing her to new people they will always ask you to repeat it but it's not a big deal at all for us and i'm so glad we did it.

Good luck whatever you decide!

Nope, not Irish. Why?

Totally agree, treaclesoda. Such a pretty name but the SF connection is the first thing I think of every time I hear it.

I think it's a lovely name, very pretty.

But I'm really surprised to hear others say that it's not associated with Irish Republicanism when it's the name of the newspaper of Republican Sinn Fein who would, it's fair to say, be at the quite extreme end of the spectrum.

I love Irish names but, whilst I do think it's a pretty name, it is the one and only Irish name that I would associate specifically with 'making a statement'.

Are you Irish Saulgood ?

"the practicalities of having a name that most people she meets can't pronounce or spell, and having to have the same conversation about it fifty million times, was really just a nuisance."
I've mentioned this on previous threads but, my daughter's name is Megan and she is constantly running into people who hear it and then spell it wrong or (more puzzling to me) see it written and then pronounce it wrong.
If a relatively incredibly easy name like Megan has that issue, then I suspect you really can't avoid it and so might as well pick the name you like regardless.

I think most English people are familiar with it and if not, well then that's not Saoirse's problem. You just have to learn.

I know sisters Saoirse and Caoimhe. Caoimhe has far more problems with people not knowing how to pronounce her name.

Love the name Saoirse. it's very pretty.

I love it, was on my list for DC2 until DH vetoed it because we're not Irish! And he can't spell it - it's beautiful use it.
And I live overseas, I know two saoirses here, after the first time nobody had trouble with it. Far easier than trying to pronounce Grainne!

I am in Scotland. I know a little girl called that and think it is lovely. No one struggles to pronounce it although I think if you saw it eritten you would need to be told how to say it. Only trouble is spelling it, but my name is unusual and I have to spell it to people and it doesn't bother me. I say go for it.

I know a girl with that name and she finds it a bit of pain. She appreciates the fact that it's unusual and that her parents wanted to give her a name that reflected her heritage, but the practicalities of having a name that most people she meets can't pronounce or spell, and having to have the same conversation about it fifty million times, was really just a nuisance. Just from a practical point of view.

I dont normally think difficult to pronounce celtic names are a hood idea outside of the celtic countries. But we have a friend with that name and she doesnt seem to have many probs.

I think it's fine for you to use it. Irish names (and it's Irish as opposed to "Gaelic") are becoming more popular in England in any case. Yes some people won't know how to pronounce it at first but that's true of many names, particularly in a multiculturl society. I don't honestly think most people would think you were a raving nationalist because of the meaning. Highly unlikely that someone will meet her and jump to the conclusion that you or she has strong republican tendencies because of her name.

Go for it- pretty name, looks and sounds beautiful. Most Irish people don't see it as a sectarian name these days. I have an Irish name, living in London, and I don't really mind telling people how to pronounce it or if its misspelt.

*meabh even, damnit

I think it's a gorgeous name. Totally use it. People learn unfamiliar spellings and pronunciations with even the most common names. I'm always for the original spelling (except in a couple of totally inexplicable random cases; I just prefer Maeve to Maebh, and Orla to orfhlaith, the latter at least isn't a full anglicisation). I certainly would not let other people's ability to spell/pronounce it be a factor, as BitOfFun points out rightly - only Celtic names are treated this way, and it's not necessary.

Gorgeous name. As long as her loved ones know how to spell / pronounce it, that's what's important.

Congratulations btw!

those are beautiful names

Ohhh this was my second choice name. Its beautiful. My dd would have been Saiorse Rose Myren (my french last name)

www.saoirseronan.info/saoirse-pronunciation/

kind of more like this

its probably our local accent mangling it, altho it is how the parents pronounce it.

I would really struggle to say it or spell it, I've scrolled back up three times to re read it. But I struggle with all the Irish names listed. I can't see past the spelling to the pronunciation. I never have been able to. No idea why, I am dyslexic though so that might have something to do with it.
My name is an uncommon spelling of a commonish name. If I'm being honest I hate it and wish my parents had just used the more common spelling.