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Baby names

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

Original poster

Dearbhla?

140 replies

27Harper · 08/07/2017 16:51

Still shifting through baby names if it's a girl! My DH is Irish and he wants an Irish name if it's a girl, and I think Irish names are lovely anyways so that not a problem for me. How do you feel about this name? We are thinking Aisling and I live that name but just wanting to keep out options open. In case you're not certain in the pronunciation Its Dervla. Thank you! xx

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squoosh · 08/07/2017 21:43

Dearbhla is a bit of an old hick name to me.

Not a fan.

daisypond · 08/07/2017 21:31

I can't say I know how to pronounce all Irish names if I see them written down, but I'd say Dearbhla is one of the more recognisable ones. As soon as I saw it in the OP's post, I knew it was "Dervla" and I don't think I've ever seen the Irish spelling before. I think it's nice.

GingerAndTheBiscuits · 08/07/2017 21:20

There's some really rude responses to this thread, considering it is not beyond the realms of possibility that a person with some of the names listed could be reading. I'm not one of them, but I do have an unspellable (and apparently unpronounceable in some quarters) name from another Celtic country and I'd rather have any of the Irish names listed here than my own Grin

As it is I live in the UK and by some quirk of fate on our road there are 7 children with Irish names including one or two of the ones that get sniffed at on here sometimes and they all seem to manage!

villainousbroodmare · 08/07/2017 21:14

It's an absolutely beautiful name. I infinitely prefer the softness of Dearbhla over the anglicised version. There is a subtle difference in the pronunciation of the first syllable also, a slight lengthening that sounds like "dare" as opposed to the flatness of "der".

Original poster
27Harper · 08/07/2017 21:14

Cian is pretty simple I wouldn't have thout they would have struggle with it either. Maybe Kian would have been a tad easier but not by much! xx

OP posts:
WillRikersExtraNipple · 08/07/2017 21:06

How do people struggle with Cian? It couldn't be easier!

Ineverpromisedyouarosegarden · 08/07/2017 21:04

I really love Roise (pronounced Rocha) has a fada somewhere but again she will forever have to spell it.

Also like Oonagh (Una) and Aine but do love Dearbhla too.

AuditAngel · 08/07/2017 20:46

I did guess at the correct pronunciation for Dearbhla, I know a Niamh and a Roisin. If people want to get the name right, if they care, they will. I say this as an English person with the less common English pronunciation of an uncommon name and a Spanish surname (I even have to say the letters to myself as I write it if I get them in the wrong order!). I like unusual names, variety makes life interesting.

SingaSong12 · 08/07/2017 20:42

I'm English and I'd struggle with pronunciation at first, probably need to recheck the spelling a few times.
Shouldn't necessarily put you off, it depends how you balance unusual/interesting name that can make you memorable among people with more common names versus constantly having to spell and pronounce your name.

HumpHumpWhale · 08/07/2017 20:36

I don't love Dearbhla. It makes me think of a 50 something grumpy rural librarian type. The kind who doesn't like people to actually read the books. I grant you most people in the uk are unlikely to have similar associations, though.
I like Doireann, Muireann, Ciara, Aoife, Niamh, Áine, Caoimhe and Bláthín. But I called my daughter Anna. Because we live in London and I called my son Cian which I so thought was easy to pronounce. But turns out not to be. Combined with our v unusual Punjabi surname, he's in for a lifetime of spelling and explaining his name.

Laladog · 08/07/2017 20:25

There bloody will be in her own culture

What the hell does that even mean?

WillRikersExtraNipple · 08/07/2017 20:15

There bloody will be in her own culture

Her "culture" doesn't change how spelling works. Hmm There are no silent consonents in Dearbhla.

Original poster
27Harper · 08/07/2017 19:45

I was considering Niamh is DS had been a girl. I prefer this spelling over Neve because I hate it when people pronounce it 'Nev', unless that was their intention xx

OP posts:
IHaveBrilloHair · 08/07/2017 19:28

I'm not keen on the name, not a problem with spelling, I have a Niamh who loves her name.
We live in Scotland too btw and people get it, not always at first, but she's happy to tell them, she's 15 now.

Laladog · 08/07/2017 19:23

Maude - Exactly.

MaudGonneMad · 08/07/2017 19:20

As some others have said, I would have no idea where to start with Dearbhla, to my (apparently racist) English eyes, it looks like someone has run fingers across a keyboard.

It looks like the start of a letter to someone. Before the cat sat on the keyboard.

This sort of thing is just fucking rude and ignorant.

Laladog · 08/07/2017 19:16

Don't listen to people commenting on the spelling OP, of which there is nothing wrong with btw.

buttercup54321 · 08/07/2017 19:15

It looks like the start of a letter to someone. Before the cat sat on the keyboard.

friedegs · 08/07/2017 19:13

I think it has an ugly sound sorry.

Laladog · 08/07/2017 18:56

It's a beautiful name. I personally would have no problems with pronunciation since my best friend is high school was a Dearbhla. No one had problems saying it, just sometimes spelling it.

seething1234 · 08/07/2017 18:51

@27Harper ha not bad... where I am we pronounce it with a soft "qu" so "qu-eeva" . I'

ElspethFlashman · 08/07/2017 18:46

Sorry, I just realised that. If you think Scotland will get it, crack on. Personally I wouldn't.

ElspethFlashman · 08/07/2017 18:45

There bloody will be in her own culture

Original poster
27Harper · 08/07/2017 18:44

@ElspethFlashman I'm scottish and we live in Scotland x

OP posts:
WillRikersExtraNipple · 08/07/2017 18:44

If you want your English child to resent you forever, put some silent consonents in her name

There aren't any silent consonants in Dearbhla. (proving my point)

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