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Baby names

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

Original poster

Irish names (boy/girl/anything)

86 replies

manchesteruntied · 19/10/2017 06:42

Inspiration pls :)

And at the risk of attracting negative comments, thoughts on Kathleen (shortened to Katie?) ..after my auntie so if you don't like, pls just be kind tankyouplease xxx

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mathanxiety · 26/10/2017 21:35

I know a RL Gobnait. I am not sure if her name was a factor in her decision to leave Ireland Wink.

CiderwithBuda · 26/10/2017 02:33

Ah good old Gobnait. Only ever heard it in Frank Kelly's 12 Days of Christmas.

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 26/10/2017 00:07

People stop throwing consonants up in the air and pretending you pronounce them ‘v’ Grin. Seriously though, avoid Gobnait, and you’re fine.

FreeFrie · 25/10/2017 23:54

I love the name Naoise (NEE-sha) it's unisex!

WindOuttaMySails · 25/10/2017 18:09

Bronagh too like Bronach! And it means the same I think.

I dislike that one.

EastDulwichWife · 25/10/2017 17:24

Kathleen is a lovely name.

MessyBun247 · 25/10/2017 14:17

Bronagh

Dixiestampsagain · 25/10/2017 14:13

Wow- having looked into that it appears that the area I’m from in Wales derived from the same word; it was Isca in Roman times and the river Uisc, now known as the Usk! Every day’s a school day!!

mathanxiety · 25/10/2017 03:47

(Whiskey = uisce bheatha = the water of life)

mathanxiety · 25/10/2017 03:44

'Ish-keh'.

The word whiskey is derived from it.

Dixiestampsagain · 25/10/2017 00:33

How do you say Uisce?

Wolfiefan · 24/10/2017 18:21

Too many lovely names. Hoping they've given you a taste of home OP!

Wh1stles · 24/10/2017 18:19

Uisce works better outside ireland!

lorelairoryemily · 24/10/2017 15:33

Mayfayner, I'm Irish too and I was thinking the very same!! Some odd ones. I personally love Caoimhe

harrietm87 · 24/10/2017 15:15

Kathleen is lovely. She could be Kate or Kitty or Katie for nn. Beautiful classic name.

CiderwithBuda · 24/10/2017 09:13

If I had had a girl she would have been Laura Kathleen. But I had a boy.

Anyway - I like Kathleen - was my lovely nana - but don't like the Dublin pronunciation where the 'th' is not soft. It's more Katleen. I like KatHLeen.

I think Katie could work as short for Kathleen - or Kathy?

And having said that the Dublin pronunciation drops the H - we called DS Matthew. Who became Machew. Took a lot of correcting certain family members! English DH was bemused.

WhosTakingDeHorseToFrance · 23/10/2017 23:46

The Kathleen I knew was a gem of a lady and I love the name because of that, think kitty is really cute. Girls name that I’ve always loved is Nollaig, it’s the Irish word for Christmas. Also Donnacha or Iosa for a boy (apologies for spelling and lack of fadas was always a bit shaky at the auld Gaelige)

dailydance · 23/10/2017 23:30

I knew a girl called Uisce. It’s not a name (means water), but I always thought it was lovely

MeMeMeMe123 · 23/10/2017 22:57

Canice ....for a boy. Just gorgeous!
Damhan (pronounced Davin, I think)

Roise (pronounced Rosh-a in my experience)
Aoibheann ( pronounced Aiveen)

I'm pretty fluent in Irish but don't always convey correct pronunciation. Feel free to correct 😊

Gooseysgirl · 23/10/2017 22:47

One name I don’t particularly like... Naomhán (nay-vawn) meaning ‘little saint’.... the one I taught was not Grin

Gooseysgirl · 23/10/2017 22:44

Here are my favourites...

Éilís
Éibhlín/Eileen
Sinéad
Aoibhínn
Maeve
Máire
Dervla/Dearbhail
Áine
Róisín

Cormac
Colm/Colum/Colman/Colmán
Dónal
Lorcan
Tadhg
Ciarán
Eoin
Aidan
Fionn
Tomás

AvocadoLovingMamaOfOne · 23/10/2017 22:36

Another fan of Saoirse here!
Also a fan of Aoibhe, Aisling, Cliodhna, Meadhbh and Mairead

For boys I like Padraig, Conlin and Ruairi

pallisers · 23/10/2017 22:25

Cornelius is a great name. Grew up with loads of them - mostly Con.

mathanxiety · 23/10/2017 21:51

Yes indeed.

There are lots of Latin names that are quintessentially Irish too - Aloysius, Pius, Cornelius, and names like Majella or Cabrini or Goretti for girls that are surnames or nicknames of saints. Also names like Attracta, Concepta, Fidelma, Philomena, Imelda and Darina that you really don't find much outside of Ireland or certain RC cultures elsewhere.

3luckystars · 23/10/2017 21:49

Loads of great names on this thread!
I met a woman and her son was called MacDara (pronounced ‘mock darra’) I thought it was very unusual and it grew on me.

Very best wishes picking a name for your baby x