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Baby names

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

Original poster

Lovely, Gorgeous, Irish Girls Names Please!

178 replies

HolyShmoly · 31/01/2018 21:17

DH and I are really struggling with names. We are Irish, living in England with a very English surname (think Smith.) Baby will be born and raised in England and I'd like to give her an Irish name as a link to our home and also so she doesn't have the dullest name ever (I have a really plain name which I disliked and then ended up having a very dull surname to go with it so it's a pain I feel.)

I'd like to avoid names with fadas or that are too difficult for a non-gaeilgeoir to get a handle on, I think two syllables would be preferable. Scan says baby is a girl. Lots of family so Maeve, Niamh, Roisin are out and DH doesn't like Aoibheann or Mairead.

So far we love Aoife. That's it. Just one name shortlisted. Ideally I'd like to have at least two names to choose from, or else we might end up with a not-at-all-Irish Eleanor.

Thanks in advance!

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AlwaysLookOnBrightsideOfLife · 24/02/2018 13:57

@harrietm my autocorrect changed Eithne on me & I didn't pick up on it.
Seems you're more about the common Irish variants, so by that arguement the not so commonly used Irish names wouldn't be valid Irish names iyo?

I've Irish friends called Brianna (can also be spelled Briana and comes as the female version of the Irish, Brian), Catriona (although Caitríona would be the more "traditional" spelling but there are variants), as well as Caitlin (pronounced Cawtch-leen as opposed to the anglicised Kate-lyn) amongst many other names listed by other posters already.

Neala, of Irish origin - feminine version of Neal, means champion.
Kyna is Gaelic & means wise.
Branna female variant of Bran, meaning raven.
Aurnia, not a common Irish name, no. It is, however, Irish and means golden lady.

elderlee · 12/02/2018 13:59

Aoibheann
Kyra
Alannah
Cliona
Aibhlinn

LastGirlOnTheLeft · 12/02/2018 11:03

Blaithnaid, Cadhla, Aisling, Aoife and Saoirse are all my faves. I like Sorcha too.

ludog · 12/02/2018 10:59

Cara
Breffni
Aine
Moya
Sinead

lecossaise · 12/02/2018 09:44

My own name is an anglicised spelling of a (Scottish) Gaelic name and I would say go all out with the traditional spellings, because no one south of the border can spell or pronounce mine anyway, despite it being only two syllables and written phonetically. I might be more patient if it had a silent gh or an unexpected vowel combo...

FragrantFloozy · 12/02/2018 09:24

Orla/Orlaith always fell in to the sane category as Nuala for me growing up, but it’s become quite popular so maybe you’d be trend setting with a little Nuala? (Or Fionnuala?) Grin. See also Mairead (which I love!).

Liadan is my absolute favourite, old Gaelic girls name.

harrietm87 · 12/02/2018 09:14

@HolyShmoly Siofra is a lot easier than Sadhbh though! At least See-o-fra bears some resemblance to the actual name, whereas don't know how Sadhbh would be mangled.

I wouldn't use Sive either as you'd be just as likely to get "siv", "seeve", "see-ve" as the correct pronunciation anyway.

Snowysky20009 · 11/02/2018 23:30

Saoirse
Finola (don't know if that's the right spelling?)

Mildred007 · 11/02/2018 23:29

Oh and love the name Caoimhe too

Mildred007 · 11/02/2018 23:23

I love the name Aoife!
We have a Niamh and a Bridie in our family but I know you said not Niamh. Go with your original name, it's lovely.

ilovepixie · 11/02/2018 23:14

Erin, Sinead, Siobhan

Original poster
HolyShmoly · 11/02/2018 22:32

Caoilfhionn, Caoimhe, Fiadh, Reiltín, Bláthnaid, Blaithin, Dearbhla, Eabhaoin, Doireann, Ríonagh, Riadh, Ornaith, Liadan, Máire, Luisne, Reidin, Liadh, Cliodhna, Sinéad, Siofra, Eimear

Although a lot of those are lovely I live in England and the baby is going to be born and raised here so I want to avoid letter pairings that are more difficult for non-irish people. And fadas, I have a difficult enough time with them myself.

I like Siofra but not enough to take a risky spelling/pronunciation on it. I can see a lot of "see-oh-fra" in the future.

OP posts:
harrietm87 · 11/02/2018 22:17

@tigercub50 bronwyn is welsh

FloppyBoobs · 11/02/2018 21:43

Siofra

abilockhart · 11/02/2018 21:42

Caoilfhionn, Caoimhe, Fiadh, Reiltín, Bláthnaid, Blaithin, Dearbhla, Eabhaoin, Doireann, Ríonagh, Riadh, Ornaith, Liadan, Máire, Luisne, Reidin, Liadh, Cliodhna, Sinéad, Siofra, Eimear

tigercub50 · 11/02/2018 21:41

Rosaleen & Alannah are both lovely. Is Bronwyn Irish? Or maybe it’s Welsh?

InvisibleToEveryone · 11/02/2018 21:25

Siofra
Or
Sinead

BarrysnotLyons · 11/02/2018 21:12

Definitely don't spell it Sive. Lovely name and people will get used to the spelling.

Original poster
HolyShmoly · 11/02/2018 20:33

Columba would have a lot of geographical significance but it also reminds me of (male) maths teachers, so that's a no.

What are people's feeling on spelling Sadhbh as Sive? I keep coming back to Sadhbh but I do worry that it'll be an issue for her.

OP posts:
Pompom42 · 10/02/2018 20:51

How about Brona?
Orlaith?
Seanna?

harrietm87 · 10/02/2018 20:49

Well it's a Gaelic name but predominately used in and associated with Scotland. Caitlin is the more common Irish variant of Catherine.

GingerAndTheBiscuits · 10/02/2018 19:49

Catriona certainly is Irish - it’s an acceptable spelling in both Irish and Scots Gaelic

Charismam · 10/02/2018 14:54

I'm referring to the trend in America where people from all diversities who haven't been to Poland/Ireland/Italy/Germany/Sweden self-identify as being those nationalities but aren't basing their ideas on anything up to date or factual. ie, using ''Finlee cos we're irish'' (and for a girl) or using Kennedy (or any other sur name) for a girl ''because they identify as irish''. It is no criticism of Americans, generations pass, times change, family folklore is more and more outdated. You get the picture I'm sure.

harrietm87 · 10/02/2018 11:59

Not sure what charismam was referring to but some of yours aren't even Irish @AlwaysLookOnBrightsideOfLife (Iona, Catriona, Neala), never heard of Kyna and suspect that is Scottish, and Brianna/Branagh, Aurnia and Bethna arent really used in Ireland either.

Also Eithne is the correct spelling.

So yeah, I'd take issue with most of your list.

AlwaysLookOnBrightsideOfLife · 10/02/2018 11:05

Some of those have an American-perception-of-Irish vibe. To be avoided.

Was that at my list @Charismam ?