Irish names for English babies

There are some Irish names that are really difficult to get to grips with. I'm ok with the popular names like Niamh but some of the longer ones are very hard to decipher even when someone has told you how to say them.

At least Irish names aren't as tricky as Zulu names which often appear to be a random assortment of jumbled letters which have no resemblance to how they are pronounced. The fact they may also contain different types of 'clicks' sounds makes it even worse.

Honestly, what an ignorant response. Neither Irish nor Zulu names are 'random assortments of jumbled letters which have no resemblance to how they are pronounced' - they obey the rules of orthography in their own languages. It's unfortunate you find them 'tricky', but people are not obliged to consult English speakers' convenience, before naming their children.

Sian (^ on the a, pronounced with Shan with a long flat a) is Welsh for Jane, and is not trendy amongst Welsh under 45s. Siwan (pron. Shewan) is welsh for Joan. Dylan (pron. Dullan) was hugely popular in the 60s in Wales.

If you are Irish then an Irish name is fine but as someone with a first name that is unpronounceable in any other language other than my own, I suggest that the unusual name be a middle name.

Yeah, sorry, if I do end up using Irish names, I won't be using fada's in them. I understand that they have a purpose but I struggled with them in school, I struggle with them for relative's names (most of whom don't seem to use them either after a while) and I'm not even sure how to get them on a keyboard.
I know that's not spelling the name right, but the kids are probably not going to learn more than a couple words of Irish anyway so I don't see that it's doing much harm.

I love a lot of Irish names but we chose not to use one as our surname is Irish although we are not and we thought the kids might find it irritating to keep explaining that they weren't Irish even though they had completely Irish names.

There are some Irish names that are really difficult to get to grips with. I'm ok with the popular names like Niamh but some of the longer ones are very hard to decipher even when someone has told you how to say them.

At least Irish names aren't as tricky as Zulu names which often appear to be a random assortment of jumbled letters which have no resemblance to how they are pronounced. The fact they may also contain different types of 'clicks' sounds makes it even worse. For example ntombiyesizwe or Nkosiphendule. 🙈 Taking a class register used to take a long time. 😂

Ciara
Orlaith

Following on from last night's rant - please please please, if you use an Irish name for your child, put the fadas in the right place. They're not optional, or something you can just plonk in anywhere. They have a purpose, other than making vowels look fancy.

Oh Moofin, you just reminded me how much I love the name Cillian. Nearly every one I've known were good looking too!

adds to mental shortlist

Síofra - Shee frah

shee-uh-frah

How is Siofra pronounced? It looks gorgeous!

Kieron is an Irish name, Ciaran

No, Ciaran is an Irish name, Kieron is not at all. There is no K in the Irish language for a start, thats a big giveaway.

You mentioned Feidhlimidh. Well, I first came across it at university, but it caused no problems after the " how many silent ds are there?".

Many kids in my school have unusual names with unusual orthography for England. We just get on with it. A multicultural society.

I'd say go for what you like. Even with easy peasy names like Orlanda people get the spelling wrong half the time.

Kieron is an Irish name, Ciaran

This reminds me of an Indian friend who called her son Kiran.
Which means something nice in her 1st language.
It does not sound like the English Kieron.
Except it does sound exactly like Kieran... I can't tell the difference. She says there is one.
(shrug)

I think you first have to decide if you want an Irish name or an Irish-sounding name....

Maeve, Oonagh, and Orla aren't 'Irish' names. They are versions of the Irish names Meadhbh, Úna and Órfhlaith.

There's the influence of regional pronunciation to consider. As already seen on this thread, Caoimhe is pronounced 'Keeva' in some areas and 'Qweeva' in others (though I agree with another poster that this is a close approximation, the Qwee portion of the name is softer than the English pronunciation would suggest).

Another example is the name 'Aobhinn'. Where I'm from, that's pronounced 'Eve-ing'. In other areas it's pronounced Ave-een. But I would spell that pronunciation as Éibhín.

I think the big things to remember are that there are only 18 basic letters in Irish, and 5 of those can have accents applied. It really grates when people say their child has an Irish name, but then it has a non-Irish letter or accent in it. The following are not in the Irish language:
j, k, q, v, w, x, y, z. The only accented letters are these: á, é, í, ó, ú. There are no accents going in any other direction in Irish. There are also rules in Irish spelling - please remember 'caol le chaol agus leathan le leathan'. Vowels either side of a consonant are generally both narrow vowels, or both broad vowels. You don't get to pick and choose - this is the structure of the language.

I think Irish names travel fine. There are no more issues with Irish names than with ones from any other nationality. It's a name, and people learn them very quickly.

Boy's names I love are:
Cian (like Kian, but not quite, softer sounds in it)
Iarlaith
Daire
Ódhrán
Ruadhán

Girls names:
Ailbhe (not a fan of Alva though)
Éabha
Sadhbh
Aisling
Doireann

And just because I saw it mentioned earlier, 'Gráinne' always makes me think of the poor child in school who's names was often mispronounced as 'gránna' - the Irish for ugly. Poor child.

My friend Eoghan frequently gets called Yoggun.

Actually I think it's usually

-confused pause

'Yoggun?'.

Clagg has such a pretty ring to it!

This actually reminds me- I was once heard Clodagh pronounced Clagg... When I asked queried the pronountiation I was confidently told 'yes in Irish names the d is always silent'. At least she tried I guess

It might be worth having a look at names that are common in Scotland and Wales too. You might find one that is in common use with Ireland but recognised easily in England.

Caoimhe should definitely be pronounced qwee-va, unless you're from the North in which case Kee-va is more usual.

I would definitely agree with this.

Let's just say I'm very familiar with the name Emer and the difference in pronunciation between England and Ireland. If the 'ee-ma' pronunciation will irritate, you really need to pick another name.

But an Irish accent in an English will often sound different

That should say 'an Irish name in an English accent'.

Signed,

person with Irish first name and Irish surname who lives in the UK.

You're confusing accents with pronounciations. Neither is it comparable to spanish, which makes different sounds altogether.
If someone tells you once how to say Niamh, you just say it back. You don't have to put on a fake Irish accent!

Sorcha!

Nothing is confusing. But an Irish accent in an English will often sound different to the way an Irish person will say it. Just as I can't pronounce my Spanish friend's name exactly as he does. Because I don't have a Spanish accent.

Confused?