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Baby names

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

Original poster

Irish girls names - really stumped!

117 replies

Annarose2014 · 09/04/2016 10:42

DS has an Irish name so this next bean that's coming along probably should vaguely match.

Boys names are fine -Irish boys names are cool!

Irish girls names on the other hand are proving impossible!

They are either names I went to school with & so have all 1980s schoolfriend associations (Emer, Ciara, Neasa, Orla etc)

Or are names that are chock full of dh, bh, mh etc. Not for me, tbh.

Are there any that are cool and modern and sleek sounding?

At the moment the only one I'm really liking is Cara, but I'm not madly in love with it or anything and I'd like more options!

(By the way at this stage am also thinking "vaguely celtic-y" will do too, as I'm really stumped)

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Sgoinneal · 10/04/2016 19:57

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NuggetofPurestGreen · 10/04/2016 19:36

That's interesting math I've never met a female Enda. I do know both male and female Daras though.

mathanxiety · 10/04/2016 19:34

As a child I knew two Endas who were girls. It was a surprise to me when I learned that it was used for boys. Still can't get used to Enda Kenny for more than just that reason however

I also knew a Dara who was a girl, long before I met any Daraghs.

SoThatHappened · 10/04/2016 18:55

Sadhbh

Runs away!

Au79 · 10/04/2016 14:08

Shannon?

OneMagnumisneverenough · 10/04/2016 14:05

Ailish
Lorna
Rhona
Dayna
Tierney
Fallon
Greer
Morven
Mairi
Maraid
Kirsty/Kirsten

Probably more Scottish than Irish but generally celtic.

Parney · 10/04/2016 11:53

Erin
Shona
Enya
Cáit
Lara

Original poster
Annarose2014 · 10/04/2016 09:06

The "insult" thing has occurred to me Btw! But still my frontrunner.

According to my Collins baby name book Iseult was an Irish princess who was destined to marry Mark of Cornwall. But when Tristan went over to Ireland to collect her, they both drank the love potion Iseult's mammy had helpfully provided for the wedding night - doh! And they were condemned to be dirty filthy sinners forever! Grin

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Original poster
Annarose2014 · 10/04/2016 09:01

No me neither though it technically could I suppose. I cant see anyobe actually calling a girl Enda!

I know girls called Dara and Naoise and tbh they get really sick of the "I thought that was a boys name?" stuff! I think it's a bit unfair to saddle them with 99% boys names.

That Ryan Reynolds called his girl James - I thought it was terrible.

OP posts:
NuggetofPurestGreen · 10/04/2016 08:51

Is Enda unisex? I've never heard of a woman called Enda.

mathanxiety · 10/04/2016 03:57

Quinn is 'O Cuinn' in Irish (fada on the O). Or ni Chuinn if female (fada on the i in ni).

Cuinn is pronounced the same as Quinn. However it sounds really weird to my ear to use it as a first name. Same goes for all other Irish surnames, even Ryan.

I knew an Yseult, pronounced the same as Iseult. I prefer it as it doesn't make me think 'insult'.

Iona is lovely. I love Mella too (I know a few and have great associations). It's quite unusual but easy to pronounce.

How about Caitriona?

Other suggestions, both Irish and vaguely 'Celtic fringe' including Welsh, Scottish, and Breton, with no seimhiu :
Ailsa
Isla
Darina
Ita
Dymphna
Rhona or Rona
Brona(ch) or Brona(gh)
Lorna
Elowen
Gwen
Guinevere
Morwenna
Eithne (can be pronounced Enya)
Carys
Eily
Elspeth
Ishbel (Anglicised version of Iseabail)
Marsaili
Honora
Nora
Nola
Orna
Dara and Enda are unisex, easy to pronounce.

squoosh · 09/04/2016 22:07

Yes. That's fair enough.

Although OP's front runner seems to be Iseult (lovely name btw!) which obv has Irish links but I'm never sure where it actually originated from.

IoraRua · 09/04/2016 22:00

Pointing out for those who don't speak teh language. There is a huge difference between the Irish and English names.

Quinn doesn't pass as an Irish baby name in my book (if we're looking for Irish language based names which is what I assumed from op), it's an Irish based English version. I feel the same about Walsh etc - they are Irish surnames, but that's not their Irish version in terms of the language.

squoosh · 09/04/2016 21:47

Er, I know they're anglicised. That's why I said 'if Anglicised a bit'.

But Kelly and Walsh Irish surnames nonetheless.

IoraRua · 09/04/2016 21:44

Those are Anglicised. Walsh is Breathnach in Irish. There's no similarity to the English name.

Quinn isn't Irish in the Irish language sense. It's an Anglicised name probably based off an Irish surname, but it's not along the lines of Sorcha, Aoife etc.

hollyisalovelyname · 09/04/2016 21:36

Best of luck AnnaRose- what a lovely name.
Hope your soon to be dd Iseult will have a happy, healthy life.

squoosh · 09/04/2016 21:28

Neither are K or W but Kelly and Walsh are still Irish surnames (if Anglicised a bit).

IoraRua · 09/04/2016 21:25

Q is not in the Irish alphabet, so Quinn can't be Irish. Maybe it's Irish (or surname) based.

NewYearSameMe · 09/04/2016 21:11

You could use Quinn (although I think it would work better for a boy). Ryan Tubridy is named after the surname of one of his uncles, and I think Ryan is the most common surname in Ireland (although I could be wrong about that).

FlyChickie · 09/04/2016 21:08

Dara

Original poster
Annarose2014 · 09/04/2016 21:03

You cant really use Quinn as a baby name here, as its such a common surname. Its like calling a kid "Jones" or something.

DH likes Iseult too, yay! Though he slightly prefers Isolde but that sounds German to me so I'm vetoing that one. Whereas you do occasionally come across an Iseult here. Also you can have Izzie as a nickname! Its definately my front runner tonight.

Thanks all!

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