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Baby names

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

Original poster

Irish names for a girl

218 replies

HarrietM87 · 03/09/2019 13:58

I’m Irish, DH is English, baby will have DH’s English surname and live in London. Our DS has a standard (though uncommon) Irish boy’s name (similar to Sean - ie Irish spelling but generally recognised in England so not many issues with pronunciation or spelling so far).

I’m pregnant and if it’s a boy we’ll probably go for Patrick (just saw another thread on this - love the name!).

If it’s a girl we’d like to give her an Irish name but ideally nothing that will cause her too many problems, and also don’t want to use an anglicised spelling. Can’t use Aoife, Niamh, Meabh, Eimear, Orla or Derbhla due to close friends/family.

Any suggestions of names that fit these criteria (ie recognisably Irish but straightforward-ish spellings)? My absolute favourite is Ailbhe but I think that might be difficult for English speakers and if it’s spelled Alva it loses the Irish connection completely. Also love Nora but DH hates because of “bloody Nora”. Also considering names which aren’t Irish as such but commonly used in Ireland like Mary and Anne. All suggestions welcome!

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HatingTheBigShow · 08/09/2019 21:38

I have an Orlaith and if bump is a girl, I want to call her Agnes. I love Clodagh but the dog also has a name ending in -a so things are already confusing enough in our house.

Whoseagooddoggiethen · 08/09/2019 19:26

Lovely welsh name!

beanaseireann · 08/09/2019 18:57

Iseult

BlueberryPoppy123 · 08/09/2019 18:56

My Irish friend has a Orlaith Clodagh and Nola which are all cute

Heh1991 · 05/09/2019 10:03

I love Nora personally :) I also really like Ciara!

mathanxiety · 05/09/2019 06:55

Sadie isn't an Irish name per se but I know three whose BC name is Sarah. They are all from NI, various ages.

Noeleen is a female variant of Noel.

I know a Nola who is named after New Orleans LA.
Also one who is short for Finola.

banivani · 05/09/2019 05:52

Mary it is so.

Mumatoo · 04/09/2019 23:06

Moya (Donegal version of Máire)
Laoise
Clodagh
Noinín (Daisy)
Lainí
Aifric
Hannora

I’m in London with with children with some of the more unusual Irish names. People get used to them.

Original poster
HarrietM87 · 04/09/2019 22:54

Thank you! Don’t worry, I have no intention of calling her Philomena. It’s a nun name! Other ones I’d put in that category are Attracta, Concepta, Assumpta, Fidelma, Carmel, Dolores, Nuala. Brid is probably in there but is Bridget?! I can’t decide.

Ita/Ide cute too but doesn’t work with surname which has a double t.

OP posts:
evilharpy · 04/09/2019 21:37

My old Irish teacher was Tríona. Which I guess must have been short for Catríona. I like both of those actually.

Am overinvested in this thread now. My daughter doesn't have an Irish name because we live in England and I didn't want her to have a lifetime of spelling it. But there are so many I like. For boys too. Irish names are lovely.

BrittleJoys · 04/09/2019 21:32

Rionach is pronounced REE-un-ach.

BrittleJoys · 04/09/2019 21:31

Yes, @Propertyofhood, they need a soft ‘d’ at the end, more like the first sound in ‘thou’. Neither work so well with crisp cut-glass ‘d’s.

And Yy, @evil, lets call for a revival of Attracta, Assumpta and Concepta. I have a very good friend in her 40s who is a Concepta because she was born in Culchie Christmas Shopping Day, but she hides behind Connie and lets people assume she’s a Constance.

MadeForThis · 04/09/2019 21:29

Rionach is beautiful pronounced Ray na

Propertyofhood · 04/09/2019 21:25

Yes, Gobnait WTF? And it's not even like it has a totally different pronunciation that is prettier.

My friend has an Auntie Concepta.

Assumpta just makes me think of Ballykissangel!

evilharpy · 04/09/2019 21:21

Yep Bláithín is Blaw-heen. Not pretty.

Baby Philomena! No.

Even worse would be Gobnait. (Pronounced Gubnit)

There are some non-Gaeilge names I've only ever heard in Ireland. Some are very Father Ted. Attracta, Assumpta, Concepta. The latter two have religious connotations and I know several people who were born on a particular feast day and given a corresponding middle name (like 8 December = Fest of the Immaculate Conception = Concepta) but Attracta is just a terrible name. Fidelma is another one I've never heard outside of Ireland.

Propertyofhood · 04/09/2019 21:11

Yes, Blaithin (it's pronounced Blaw-heen isn't it?) isn't a very nice sound is it?

Actually I quite like Blaithnaid which I think can also be spelt Blanaid, although I think it's one of those names that sounds better with an Irish accent IYSWIM.

Please don't call your little girl Philomena!

ThatCurlyGirl · 04/09/2019 21:06

Aisling Smile

evilharpy · 04/09/2019 20:50

BrittleJoys That made me laugh!

I've never heard of Rhóinn. There can't be many Irish names I've never heard of. Apparently Google has never heard of it either.

BrittleJoys · 04/09/2019 20:47

I’m with you, @evilharpy. The Bláithín I know is a whinyarse, and nicknamed Blotsy, which kills it for me.

JuneSpoon · 04/09/2019 20:31

What about Rhóinn?

evilharpy · 04/09/2019 20:26

HoneyBee1973 Blaithin and Bebhinn are two names I really can't stand Grin Especially Blaithin, I always thought the sound of it was like someone throwing up.

Also thought of one of my cousin's girls - Fionnuala. She's about 21 and very tall, dark and pretty, her name suits her.

My friend's mum is an Eithne (p. Ethna). It's a bit old lady though.

No votes for Deirdre? I went to school with a few but have never met a baby Deirdre - I guess it went out of fashion around the time Mrs Barlow appeared in Corrie.

beatriceprior · 04/09/2019 20:11

I love aoife

HoneyBee1973 · 04/09/2019 19:53

Blaithin
Bebhinn

Some really lovely names on this thread! Congrats op!

TheJoxter · 04/09/2019 19:39

Saoirse and Oona are my favourites

beanaseireann · 04/09/2019 19:32

Oops Darerca

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