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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Irish girls names

185 replies

JedBartlet · 10/04/2017 15:39

Orla
Tara
Clodagh
Alannah
Cara
Una

I want a nod to Irish heritage without having something difficult to spell or pronounce for people in the UK - voice of experience!

Thoughts on the above, or any other suggestions that fit the bill?

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BrowsOnFleek · 13/04/2017 11:58

OP I feel your pain, I have a very Irish name (never met anyone with the same name) and I always have to spell it out for people. As a kid I hated it, as it was often mispronounced which the whole class found hilarious 🤔

I'd love to give my future kids an Irish name but 1. Wouldn't want them to go through the same and 2. I don't want it to seem too similar to my own.

I love

caoimhe, but maybe spelt Keevagh
caragh
Erin
Shannon
saoirse maybe sorcha
brogan
caitriona
ide but spelt Ida
Nora

FunkinEll · 13/04/2017 10:58

It's definitely an Irish girls name as well as a boys name. I've met two in the past 8 months. One in her 30s and one who's 11. Both Irish (although the child lives in England).

I went on holiday to Ireland last year expecting the person managing the holiday let to be a man because they were called Dara. Dara was a woman .

My boys play rugby with a girl called Dara too.

harrietm87 · 13/04/2017 10:53

Naoise is another lovely boys name often used for girls too?

Original poster

JedBartlet · 13/04/2017 10:45

Funkin it's a boys name though isn't it?

Iseult is one I hadn't considered...I don't know how I feel about it!

OP posts:

hollyisalovelyname · 13/04/2017 10:01

Iseult is such a lovely name.
As is Isolde but that's not Irish 😥

FunkinEll · 12/04/2017 21:42

I love Dara for a girl.

Beebeeeight · 11/04/2017 21:21

Call her Ireland!

Original poster

JedBartlet · 11/04/2017 21:08

Yes platinum I don't know any baby Taras either...I don't know if I can imagine one! Cara seems softer but I do like Tara

OP posts:

sycamore54321 · 11/04/2017 19:49

Another suggestion if you don't mind anglicised spellings- Derval or Dervla. Original spellings Dearbhaile usually.

Platimum · 11/04/2017 18:28

Tara is unusual now for babies. I know a few Taras my age but it's been neglected for babies lately. I think it should come back!

Platimum · 11/04/2017 18:27

Itll always be juno and the paycock to me.

Lots of people would think american indie comedy though

I love Clodagh. My dd would have been Clodagh Maeve but her English father was having none of it.

whosafraidofabigduckfart · 11/04/2017 18:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sycamore54321 · 11/04/2017 14:18

Finola is an accepted variant of Fionnuala - pronounced exactly as written.

Original poster

JedBartlet · 11/04/2017 14:09

holly

OP posts:

abiirthdaycake · 11/04/2017 14:09

harderandharder2breathe Sorcha is my own name, that's indeed approximately how it's pronounced - it makes perfect sense in Irish though. Dorcha is pronounced duh-ra-kha for example, just the same but with a D instead.

I have to explain the pronunciation to people fairly often even in Ireland but I still really like the name (though a lot of people seem to think it's a "dog name", suppose it depends on the area)

hollyisalovelyname · 11/04/2017 14:08

Jed is it Seán ?

DrinkMilkAndKickAss · 11/04/2017 13:04

DH's Irish grandmother was Rosaleen which I've always thought was very pretty.

Original poster

JedBartlet · 11/04/2017 12:14

I do like Mary, but I'm not sure about it combined with my son's name (not Joseph or anything obvious!) it just sounds a bit like an old Irish couple sitting in a cottage mending fishing nets

OP posts:

Mrsknackered · 11/04/2017 12:11

MessyBun it can also be Kweeva.

MessyBun247 · 11/04/2017 12:06

Caoimhe is pronounced Keeva

Tobolsk · 11/04/2017 12:00

Haven't read the whole thread but haven't seen Mary suggested.

My Gran was Irish and had 7 sisters all called Mary. (Went by second names)

FreeNiki · 11/04/2017 11:51

Sadhbh has a beautiful meaning and is a pretty name but I guess it gives the child a lifetime of people having no idea how to say her name when they see it.

Original poster

JedBartlet · 11/04/2017 09:25

Some great names here!

My name has been mentioned on this thread, and while I love it, I have spent a lot of time explaining/spelling/pronouncing it and I think I would rather an easier journey for my (English accented) children! I'm also conscious of my VERY English DPILs, who are absolutely lovely but I know would struggle a bit with spelling or saying some of these (Muireann for example, if anyone watches Catastrophe!!)

GoldStars3 thanks, you explained that exactly right! I do also love the meaning of Alannah.

LoveanIrishNams I love that story too, and would be tempted by Oisin if I was having a boy, although it absolutely doesn't fit my 'rules' I love Niamh, and I think it's pretty recognisable here now, but unfortunately it doesn't work for family reasons.

FreeNiki I LOVE Sadhbh, but can only imagine my PILs faces!! I also love Tadhg for a boy but would have the same issue.

Glad to see Clodagh is getting some love, maybe I can persuade DH! I like Clo for a nn.

OP posts:

lizzieoak · 11/04/2017 03:37

Love Clodagh and Niamh. Also Nuala.

FastWindow · 11/04/2017 03:02

Orla is lovely but as you say op getting frequent. You could go Orlagh but that doesn't fit your easy read bill (I know where you're coming from, but from a different country perspective)

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