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Baby names

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Original poster

Irish DD names, not irish

39 replies

WyldeGharlique · 28/05/2016 17:32

my dad is Irish, but DH and I are English

We have a DD already who is a Roisin (after a much-loved relative on my dad's side) and are now expecting another girl.

We were going to go with a more traditional name this time eg. Eva, Eliza) but now the name Orla is growing on me.

Roisin and Orla?

Is it a bit too much Irish, given we aren't Irish? It feels a tiny bit silly maybe- like I'm trying to make 'a thing' of my Irishness. But I'm not, I just love the names. And I think I'm a teeny bit in LOVE with Orla

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JazzAnnNonMouse · 10/06/2016 10:32

Lovely names and orla isn't obviously Irish to me

LadyAntonella · 30/05/2016 07:32

I knew an Eoin and Orla sibling set in NI. No random fada additions, see? We're not all ignorant oop North (of Ireland) Wink.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 30/05/2016 07:01

My DD is Orla , DH is Irish. I'd never heard the name until I first visited there and met one of his friends (then many many more Orlas , never an Orlaith though!)

WildIrishRose1 · 30/05/2016 06:54

*has

WildIrishRose1 · 30/05/2016 06:53

Irish names are having a "moment" and there are lots of lovely ones - Aoife, Maebh, Gráinne, Sorcha, Úna, to name a few. FWIW I'm Irish with a non-Irish name. Actually, only one of my siblings gas an Irish name! It's entirely your choice what to call your DD

mathanxiety · 30/05/2016 06:13

Orlaígh should be pronounced Orly.

CremeEggThief · 29/05/2016 21:42

I agree with Mitzy. I would consider Oona(gh) as an anglicised version of Una (my granny's name).

MitzyLeFrouf · 29/05/2016 21:37

There's a NI guy on Twitter called Eoin something or other and he spells his name Éoin. Drives me mad.

The fada isn't decorative!

MitzyLeFrouf · 29/05/2016 21:36

I must admit hen I saw the Orlaígh spelling I did wonder if the parents were from NI. Very few people in NI learn Irish in school so although some people are wildly enthusiastic about giving their kids Irish names they're sometimes a bit more free and easy with the spelling rules. And they often assume the more unusual the spelling the more authentic it is. Úna is the standard spelling in Ireland but some people think Oonagh must be more authentic because it's more unusual. And Aoife does not require a fada over the i.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 29/05/2016 21:21

I presume they must have done - I admit I don't know that much about Irish spelling (although I do like a lot of the names, especially with the 'proper' accent). She's in her thirties, from Bangor (NI, not Wales!) so a bit old for yoonique names I'd have thought!

Her sisters are Aoífe and Oonagh, are those spelt normally? Perhaps her parents are just inventive spellers...

MNetter15 · 29/05/2016 17:38

Ha, I'm in ROI and I know 2 sets of sisters called Orla & Roisin!

A bit like Sarah and Amy in the UK I guess!

They're beautiful names IMO.

TheCladdagh · 29/05/2016 17:34

I really dislike Irish names, as a rule.

Thanks for that contribution. We were all really holding our breaths to know whether you did. Hmm

My problem with Orla used in England (or indeed anywhere with a non-rhotic accent) is that the 'r' isn't pronounced, making it 'Ola', which I don't think is nice at all. It sounds a bit margarine-y or oil of Olay-ish.

We're Irish living in England and I know consciously never considered various names that would be wrecked by non-rhotic rs.

The one I know is an Orlaígh - what, they just stuck in a random fada?

MitzyLeFrouf · 29/05/2016 16:27

The one I know is an Orlaígh.

That's many shades of wrong. People randomly shoehorning fadas into Irish names make my eyes roll out of their sockets.

MitzyLeFrouf · 29/05/2016 16:25

There seems to be a perception that Orlaith is a more 'authentic' spelling than Orla.

It isn't.

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 29/05/2016 13:38

I didn't know that Tyrion. Perhaps I've just been saying her name wrong for years!

TyrionLannistersShadow · 29/05/2016 12:01

Polkadots the fada over the i in Orlaígh would make it Orly not Orla , in Irish.

Mottled · 29/05/2016 11:58

Fine. Lots of 'English' children about with names from numerous backgrounds. Lovely names btw.

IoraRua · 29/05/2016 11:43

God yes, watch the pronunciation.
It is nice though. Aoife?

Iguessyourestuckwithme · 29/05/2016 11:03

Cara or Niamh

CremeEggThief · 29/05/2016 11:02

Oh yes, please make sure the r is pronounced. "Ola" is awful! It's OARRLA!

Sgoinneal · 29/05/2016 09:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cosmicglittergirl · 29/05/2016 08:22

I didn't realise Orla was Irish, so not everyone will think that.

mathanxiety · 29/05/2016 07:58

Another here who is puzzled by the Orlaith spelling. It would be most unusual in Ireland and I think it just adds a layer of complication in the UK to a name that has a perfectly fine spelling in Iris (Orla).

I don't think it's laying on the Irishness to have a Roisin and an Orla. Orla is becoming popular even among people with no Irish heritage.

Or is gold; Orfhlaith (pr. Orla) is gold prince, but the name was always used for women.

mrsschu · 28/05/2016 23:42

It does sound a bit like you're trying to make something of your Irish connections but so what, I suppose. Not a fan of Orla, I went to school with dozens of them so when I hear "Orla" I think I'm about to doze off with boredom. It's one of these Irish names that I'm sure no one in Ireland would use any more but has gotten a bit trendy in the UK, maybe because it sounds a bit "different". I'm not keen on it. I also dislike the English pronounciation of it which is like "Aww..la" rather than "Oar-la" which is how an Irish person would say it.

BennyTheBall · 28/05/2016 20:04

I really dislike Irish names, as a rule.

But I don't mind Orla. And that spelling is much nicer than the uglier (imo) versions.