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Irish nouns as names - like Rua?

34 replies

pandarific · 24/10/2018 01:58

Bear with me on this one... I know of a little Rua (roo-a) - it means 'red' in Irish and I think it's a lovely boy's name but it doesn't feel like 'the one' for us.

Now I know it's a bit hippy to use a noun as a name, but I do kind of love the idea as long as it's a good word and not, for example, 'spoon' or something. Grin Also something which dyslexic DH can spell, and that won't get us too many any Hmm looks when/if we move back to Ireland.

Frontrunner names which sound good with our consonant-y two syllable surname are:
Jonah
Noah
Cuan

...any thoughts from any fluent Irish speakers?

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IrishMamaMia · 24/10/2018 20:09

Sorry, these aren't hugely nouny but are my fave Irish names.. Lorcan - little fierce one.. Or Tiernan- Lord,Conall-wolf and Ferdia, man if God. Just realised that they are all two syllable.
Dara could also work. I think it means oak. I really like that name as it's easy to spell and it's quite international.
Worked with an Irish Ruadhan once with amazing red hair he went by Rua :)

AtticaRose · 24/10/2018 20:00

Flann (red)
Lonán (little blackbird)
Mainchín (little monk)
Oisín (little deer)

Ok I'll stop

Anotherdayanotherdollar · 24/10/2018 19:59

Cuan is lovely

RedFin · 24/10/2018 19:58

Éanna

AtticaRose · 24/10/2018 19:57

Bradan (salmon - - but apparently a real name!)
Bran (raven)
Cairbre (charioteer)
Conan (little wolf/hound)
Faolán (little wolf)

BoomTish · 24/10/2018 19:56

are you definitely having a boy? I think Liath would be lovely for a girl. It means “grey” and is pronounced the same as Leah.

Rónán means little seal.

AtticaRose · 24/10/2018 19:50

Not an Irish speaker, but afaik there are quite a few Irish names that are recognisable words (especially if we're allowing adjectives, e.g. colours). Hope it's ok if I throw a few in - I'm sure someone more knowledgeable can correct me.

Ciar (black)
Ciarán (little black one)
Cian (ancient)
Abbán (little abbot)
Ailill (elf)

Wildcard: Dónal (ruler of the world). I'm trying to bring it back grin

bridgetreilly · 24/10/2018 17:49

Well, Jonah and Noah are both definitely names, not just nouns. Pick one of those.

florafawna · 24/10/2018 09:54

You'll Rua the day Grin

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