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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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BriechonCheese · 23/10/2017 00:06

I like Kathleen too.

Other names I like, including my own

Eithne
Mhairi
Aoibhin
Meabh
Nuala
Caoimhe

Daithí
Fiachra

Haudyerwheesht · 23/10/2017 00:05

I don't like Kathleen tbh because here it's more of an old lady name like Janet or Marion, it's not a sort of one I'd like for a wee girl nowadays.

Names I like :

Girls
Ailish / Ailis / Eilis
Mairead (my absolute fave)
Saoirse
Niamh (vvvv popular here)

Boys
Darragh
Ciaran
Fergus
Fintan

mathanxiety · 22/10/2017 23:57

Honor was really popular, as was Honora, often shortened to Nora.

katseyes7 · 22/10/2017 22:09

l'm a Kathleen and l've always hated it. Shortened it to Kath when l was 18.
My youngest stepson is Ciaran, which l love, and if we'd had a boy we were going to call him Danaan. (OH's parents are lrish).

ShangriLaLaLa · 22/10/2017 22:02

Kathleen’s aplenty on both sides of my family. Lovely.

It was right up there on our list, along with Caoimhe.

MollyCule · 22/10/2017 22:02

I like Kathleen, personally would go with Kitty as nickmame but also really like Katie. Bridget is kind of in the same vein isn't it, nn Bridie. I also like Honor which I guess isn't really Irish but was popular in previous generations.

SallyGardens · 22/10/2017 21:56

"Cáitlín" (with the fadas) is the Irish spelling and pronounced "Cawtch-leen".

CiderwithBuda · 22/10/2017 21:54

Kathleen must be due a revival. My gorgeous nana was Kathleen. Or Aunt Ka.

Unfortunately I don't think it will revive just yet.

senzaparole03 · 22/10/2017 21:48

I have 13 nieces and nephews, many of whom have proper Irish names (as opposed to Anglicised variants) and many of my cousins' chidren have too.

So it's a narrow selection from which i can choose!

I've relinquished Saidbh, unfortunately. My DP is a Londoner, so it needs to be something he can easily spell and pronounce.

Current front runner for a girl's name is Ciara. I also really like Niamh.

No male lead, but we both kind of like Ronan and Liam.

Original poster
manchesteruntied · 20/10/2017 10:40

thank you for all the lovely inspiration! And thank you for being supportive about using family names :) ...I'm a long way from home (although not as far away from home as my DH) and the thought of having a link to my fam just helps ease the homesickness (...shame same cannot be said for esing the -morning- all day/all night sickness lol)

OP posts:
Orangebird69 · 19/10/2017 20:51

Finola 💓💓💓💓

Or Ailbe for a boy.

FacelikeaBagofHammers · 19/10/2017 20:51

Sadhbh (Sive)
Siobhan
Siun
Ronan
Doireann
Cian
Caoimh
Caoimhe

sneakysailor · 19/10/2017 20:47

Yes to the old-fashioned-in-Ireland comment. Here, it's the equivalent of being called Hilda, Nellie or Doreen- but it's not quite old enough to be cool now. Katie is nice though.

annandale · 19/10/2017 20:39

Loinnir

Blueberrysandgrapes76 · 19/10/2017 20:36

Kathleen is nice (go with kitty or Kate as a nn)

Catriona is nice
Saoirse is nice but if you aren’t in Ireland would be difficult to pronounce
Niamh lovely and classic

Boys names -
Fergus?
Oisin?

n0ne · 19/10/2017 13:41

I have an auntie Kathleen. She hates it (has always gone by Kate) but I love it Wink

MacaroonMama · 19/10/2017 13:19

I like Cuisle (pronounced Cushla) but I am biased Wink

I also like Aisling, Roisin and Mairead for girls.

For boys, I do love Patrick. Also Oisin, Linus and Cornelius

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 19/10/2017 12:48

Finola is a lovely name.

Liadain · 19/10/2017 12:02

Seconding Saoirse and Roise. Also Liadain ( Grin ), Eilis, Ailbhe, Cliodhna, Roisin, Fiadh, Caoimhe, Sorcha, Riona.

Boys - Fiachra, Niall, Ciar, Cian, Ciaran.

londonfeather · 19/10/2017 10:37

Saoirse is lovely for a girl

Dixiestampsagain · 19/10/2017 10:24

If know of a Caitlin pronounced as Kate-leen; I have no idea if that's a common thing anywhere in the world but I'd never heard of it before.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 19/10/2017 10:24

Love Kathleen (Katie).
Roisin

Smoliver · 19/10/2017 10:03

I really like the name Kathleen. It's pretty and timeless.

Other names I like:

Maeve
Emer
Fia
Brigid/Bridget
Siobhan
Kiera
Nora
Tara

Liam
Ciaran
Finian
Finnegan
Flynn
Garrett
Patrick

BernardBlacksHangover · 19/10/2017 09:47

For a girl I absolutely love:

Ailis
Saoirse
Roise

I quite like Sorcha too.

For a boy, I like:

Patrick
Ronan
Rory
Tadgh

17caterpillars1mouse · 19/10/2017 08:57

I like Kathleen as long as it's not shortened to Kath

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