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Baby names

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

Original poster

Irish names

55 replies

Grizzer · 22/12/2015 18:43

Dh is Irish & wants our baby to have an Irish name. Trouble is we live in London so the poor child will always have to spell it or help people pronounce it. DD is Ciara (Keira) which is fairly simple but she still has to spell it for people & gets called Ci ar a (as in tiara) all the time.
We don't know if we're having a boy or a girl but dh likes Aiofe!! (eefa). I like the name but no one will ever be able to spell it or pronounce it.
Do you think it's too Irish for a child living in England?

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LikeADivil · 01/01/2016 23:01

Just reading back up - my bestest friend in the whole wide world is called Maeve. :)

LikeADivil · 01/01/2016 23:00

I'm Irish with a French name (which us Irish ignore and just pronounce our own way).
London, being so multi-cultural, requires EVERY name to be spelled. So many languages.

Aoife is a lovely name btw. Roisín or Eileen are also lovely Irish names. (which I may have considered for dd ;) )

Sgoinneal · 01/01/2016 22:55

This reply has been deleted

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3luckystars · 01/01/2016 21:54

I meant to say there are 800 people working there so there's about 300 Michaels etc. So it's still fairly unusual but totally great!

3luckystars · 01/01/2016 21:53

I love declan! Would you believe I work with 5 of them and they are all great men. Perfect choice, I would pick it myself only for all the gossip it would cause heehee.
Lovely, well done. All we need now is a photo ! Ah go on go on.....

mathanxiety · 01/01/2016 20:57

Medb (Old Irish) or Maedhbh (slightly less Old) and Maebh (Modern Irish) can all be used.

edengarden123 · 31/12/2015 00:37

Yes it is unusual- cionaodh is the irish for the surname Kenny and they pn it "kyun-a" - yes the hard c.

Declan is a good name congrats

ICanSeeForMiles · 30/12/2015 22:18

Aww lovely, congratulations Flowers

I was just about to write that I know a little Maeve but she's got a traditional irish spelling of medeabh (sp?) Grin now that's one that will be getting spelt out for ever more.

mathanxiety · 30/12/2015 22:16
mathanxiety · 30/12/2015 22:14

Declan is lovely Flowers -- congratulations.

LonestarStateOfMind · 30/12/2015 14:52

Aw congratulations, Declan is lovely Flowers

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 30/12/2015 13:54

Congratulations! Lovely that wee Declan couldn't wait any longer to meet you.

Original poster
Grizzer · 30/12/2015 13:40

Hi all, a quick update. I had a boy this morning - 2 weeks early. We have called him Declan so total turnaround! No spelling issues & fits well in Ireland & England. The Irish side will definitely not shorten it and I hope the English side won't either. I hope you all approve! He is gorgeous. Thank you again for all your advice Grin

OP posts:
CastaDiva · 26/12/2015 00:56

Is that an actual name, Eden? It may just be that I've not come across it, but it sounds slightly make-uppy and a convoluted a way of essentially calling your child a version of that old chestnut Sinead? Grin

I'm not a native speaker, but spent twelve years living in a Gaeltacht, and I think a lot of people would be baffled by Cionaodh... Wouldn't 'cion' usually be pronounced with a hard 'c' and to rhyme with Fionn?

edengarden123 · 24/12/2015 22:50

Totally agree people will learn. Im in ireland and often have had trouble pn obscure irish names esp as between regions the pn differs slightly... my cousin called her new arrival cionaodh... we were all baffled as to how to pronounce it and had she had to text the phonetic version but 'sin é'

villainousbroodmare · 24/12/2015 20:39

Aoife is lovely. I know a magnificent Feargal too; Fergal is the anglicised version.

harrietm87 · 24/12/2015 17:33

I'm irish and definitely going to give my children Irish names - I don't think there's any point worrying about spellings etc as people will learn. My parents gave me and my siblings names that are supposedly easy to spell, but it hasn't worked out at all - eg my brother John gets Jon all the time so always has to spell it. So I think name your baby whatever you like!

Also Aoife is a lovely name.

Mince314withIcecream · 24/12/2015 09:24

I've a colleague called Fergal. He's no looker God love him but he's so hilarious.

diddl · 24/12/2015 08:57

Aoife is lovely.

Fergal-absolutely fantastic!

Raines100 · 24/12/2015 08:00

I'm English and familiar with Aoife. I wouldn't worry. I think most people will be able to handle it. Lovely choice.

Sophronia · 23/12/2015 23:27

Aodhán is the original Irish spelling but the most common anglicisation is Aidan (ranks #51 in Ireland, while Aiden doesn't make the top 100)

CastaDiva · 23/12/2015 23:17

Simone. Duh.

CastaDiva · 23/12/2015 23:16

I know English-based friends with an Aifric, Iarlaith (which was something we considered for DS), Tiarneach, Muireann and Liadan. Not all the same family. Aifric has a sister called Nancy. Muireann has a brother called Simone's.

Maryz · 23/12/2015 22:49

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TheMightyMing · 23/12/2015 22:48

I remembered it ! Blaithin ( you say it Blawheen). I like it.