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Baby names

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

Original poster

Irish Boys names

58 replies

Cloeycat · 05/09/2016 09:55

I'm Irish and DP and his family are very English. We've agreed on a nice Irish girls name however I am struggling with a boys name that won't be butchered by the English side of the family.

My favorites at the moment are the following, but any suggestions would be welcome- especially ones that are not considered 'difficult' to people from the UK (obviously I don't find any of them difficult as I grew up with them so struggling with this!)

Fionn
Conor
Liam
Oisin
Sean
Donal

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Hi there - this thread is a little old. [[https://www.mumsnet.com/baby-names/most-popular-irish-baby-names
If you’re looking for an Irish baby name, find inspiration here]]. MNHQ

OP posts:
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MrsGsnow18 · 08/09/2016 20:00

I love Cormac and Garrett!!

user1467393664 · 08/09/2016 19:51

I've seen some Irish names getting butchered in work from UK and US colleagues - butchered Confused poor Donnchadh, Tadgh, Sinead, blathnaid, Maedhbh and Roisin.
But agree that once you're told how to pronounce it you should know in the future?!

I think Rory, Conor, Dylan, Patrick, Senan, Dara, Colm, Barry, Conan are pretty portable names and pronounced correctly most places.

SteviebunsBottrittrundle · 08/09/2016 08:07

Oisin (can't do fada on my phone but I like it with a fada over the second I), is one of my absolute favourite boy names and I luffs it so! Please use it for me OP! And it is not "too hard for English people". Don't be mean to the English! Wink

I have lived in England for most of my adult life and worked with people from all over the place in English offices and all my English colleagues got the hang of all the names eventually.

I also really like Ronan and Ruairi but obviously this is irrelevant as you will be using Oisin! Grin

lastqueenofscotland · 08/09/2016 07:31

Cain and Declan are easy
I love Aidan but it can get a panning on here.

Chelsea26 · 08/09/2016 06:56

Garrett and Finton are two of my cousins that haven't been mentioned! The others have!

Lolloveswoody · 08/09/2016 06:39

I love Conor, it's my favourite boys name ever.

HettyB · 08/09/2016 06:31

I know a baby Darragh and everyone manages to get that right.

Anything fairly mainstream will be fine - Conor, Sean, Seamus, Declan, Patrick, Cian, Cormac, Fergus, etc.

I'd struggle with a name like Diarmuid the first time, but after you'd told me how to pronounce it once, it'd be fine.

Sgoinneal · 05/09/2016 20:27

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Sgoinneal · 05/09/2016 20:25

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babyblabber · 05/09/2016 20:15

Please use Senan, so gorgeous!

MrsRyanGosling15 · 05/09/2016 18:29

One of my all time favourite irish names is Éanán pronounced like n-nan. I know a girl married to someone called this. You can find a slight variation of it in some name books but over the course of 3 children I have never found it. It's an old name and even here Ireland he says he has never in his life met another one or even met anyone who knew the name. If would of loved to use the name but couldn't. Also love Cuan.

user1471134011 · 05/09/2016 18:26

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heateallthebuns · 05/09/2016 18:25

Well then how ds will get on in school would be a consideration.

Original poster
Cloeycat · 05/09/2016 18:22

Currently live in UK but will probably end up back in Ireland at some point in the next 10 years.

OP posts:
TheWeeBabySeamus1 · 05/09/2016 18:03

I love Liam (have one myself) and Patrick, I just think they're nice, classic names. Seamus is a good one, of course Wink and I love Oisin. Really beautiful and I've only ever heard of one, so he won't be one of 10 in class at school - I seriously considered it during pregnancy but DSs dad has a difficult surname so I wanted to keep his first name simple.

heateallthebuns · 05/09/2016 17:57

Where do you live op? If you live in Ireland I wouldn't think it matters for a name that might be a bit hard for some English people. Only if it's a really hard name like Domhnaill or something.

heateallthebuns · 05/09/2016 17:50

It's like it's going against the wiring in their brain or something!!!!

heateallthebuns · 05/09/2016 17:49

Yes they have and they try, but it's just so different from the way they would 'naturally' say things they can't get it right.

Some names they can get right that are surprising though, like Siobhan! Maybe coz they didn't see it written down first?

Sgoinneal · 05/09/2016 17:42

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heateallthebuns · 05/09/2016 17:35

You could have shay so English people can say se.

heateallthebuns · 05/09/2016 17:34

Very few English person are going to get se, seimi, diarmuid, Ruairi or even seamus right. (Sorry no fadas). They're all lovely but they just won't get it right.

My fil is seamus and my rellies can't get it, they can't even get Carmel!!!! You can see a little thoughtful look pass over their face whenever they need to say the names and they have to think how!!!!

I have a friend Aoife who's name English people always get wrong and one called grainne (grainne gets called grainy!!! And Aoife even gets called 'squiggly name'!)

TyrionLannistersShadow · 05/09/2016 17:16

Cian
Oran ( I prefer the proper spelling of Odhrán but Oran would be easier )
Fionn
Ruairi
Sé
Darragh, although you could spell it Dara I guess.
Séimí

sleepachu · 05/09/2016 17:14

Oisin is gorgeous, pick that!

Sgoinneal · 05/09/2016 17:12

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heateallthebuns · 05/09/2016 17:08

If you don't want English people to butcher it it'll have to be pronounced phonetically like it is spelled.

Out of your list I'd say only Oisin is too hard for English people.

I'm English living in Ireland so I've a good idea how these names are supposed to be pronounced and how I would say them if I didn't know any better.

Maybe Sean is too hard sometimes as well.

Cian is v popular for boys in Dublin at the mo. Also Finn. Rory (ruari too hard).

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