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Original poster

Eliza or Saoirse?

53 replies

IceColdCocaCola · 28/12/2019 22:49

Due baby number 2 in April, don't know gender. If DS was a girl then I would have definitely used Eliza, but I've noticed it creeping up in popularity which is beginning so put me off. But I have loved the name forever.
So wondering what other people opinions are..
Eliza or Saoirse?

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Piplette · 29/12/2019 22:37

Love the name Saoirse!! Spelling/pronunciation will always be a thing though - my daughter is Eilidh and I'm always having to spell it out correct people even thought it's a Scottish name and we live in Scotland!

duggeehug85 · 29/12/2019 22:31

@eggandonion - Grin

eggandonion · 29/12/2019 21:11

Irish people are clearly highly intelligent, and can pronounce both Eliza and Saoirse.

Anoisagusaris · 29/12/2019 20:55

I love the name Eliza. Not popular in Ireland, is it very common in the UK?

isadoradancing123 · 29/12/2019 20:00

How can you expect anyone to be able to pronounce saoirse unless they are irish

FluffyEggsontoast · 29/12/2019 19:58

Eliza

user1493494961 · 29/12/2019 19:57

Eliza.

CruCru · 29/12/2019 19:33

I like Saoirse but how much will it irritate you if people don't pronounce it the way you want? I would pronounce it Ser-sha but it doesn't look as though everyone here would.

I remember someone telling me that she was thinking of calling her new baby Genevieve. How lovely! Genevieve! I said. No, Genevieve she said. We repeated this a few times and it got a bit uncomfortable - I really wasn't trying to be an arse, I just couldn't hear the difference between the way she said it and the way I said it.

reginafelangee · 29/12/2019 16:12

Eliza

It's a nicer name
She won't spend her whole life spelling her name out, explaining how to pronounce it
She will have a chance at being able to get pencil cases etc with her name on

Blackberrybunnet · 29/12/2019 16:10

I love Saoirse but has become VERY popular of late (Saoirse Ronan perhaps???). Also, there are quite a variety of pronunciations, depending on where you live. In Scotland it tends to be SAIRSHA, whereas S.Ronan seems to pronounce her name SERSHA. In England this comes out as SEU-SHA ("eu" as in French "bleu"). I would find it very annoying to be constantly having to correct people. Ditto with the spelling. My friend Mhairi hated her name all her life for these very reasons. I reckon Saoirse is this year's Niamh!

MikeUniformMike · 29/12/2019 15:22

Familiar with the name because of the actress, but am confused as to the pronunciation.
I thought it was Sair-sha.
I would avoid as I have no Irish connection, it's a celebrity-inspired name, and I am not sure how to say it.
Eliza is less complicated.

Anoisagusaris · 29/12/2019 14:31

Are British people not familiar with the name Saoirse now from the actress Saoirse Ronan?

Spied · 29/12/2019 14:28

Eliza is much better imo.

FluffyEggsontoast · 29/12/2019 14:25

Eliza

Primrosepenny · 29/12/2019 12:40

I like both of them but I think in the UK, Eliza would be better. Also not a huge amount of people will get the pronunciation right

eggandonion · 29/12/2019 12:37

I work and live in a part of Ireland where both Irish and English names are widely used,as are Polish, Estonian, Russian, Portuguese, and a variety of other names. If I'm not sure of pronunciation or spelling I ask. Is it Smyth or Smith, is it Alistair or Alisdair....

helpneedshoes · 29/12/2019 12:14

Long term it will be a problem every time she goes somewhere new or meets new people

Will it though? I have an Irish name, most people just ask first re the pronunciation. That's it, & I often do the same as London is pretty diverse. Plus more people recognise it now since traditional Irish names are more common. Plus I think the actress Saoirse is fairly well known.

Ohyesiam · 29/12/2019 10:53

But it doesn’t even spell out sore arse if you use phonetic English?

What are people on about?

CatteStreet · 29/12/2019 09:38

Eliza is terribly popular atm - a bit like Evelyn was over the last couple of years - and, IMO, isn't particularly nice. Saoirse is lovely (and the people who instantly make 'sore arse' out of it are being a bit silly tbh) but I'd listen to TerribleCustomerCervix there. IIWY I'd go back to the drawing board, actually.

nagynolonger · 29/12/2019 09:31

Eliza if you are in England. It will be fine while she is little you will be able to correct other parents/ school on the correct pronunciation and spelling.

Long term it will be a problem every time she goes somewhere new or meets new people. Some people will be ignorant and make a point of commenting frequently about her name. In English it does break down to sore arse sadly.

AfterSchoolWorry · 29/12/2019 09:23

Eliza. I don't either of the 'S' sounds in Saoirse.Too.much of a mouthful. ( Irish btw )

Omashu · 29/12/2019 09:19

Saoirse

helpneedshoes · 29/12/2019 09:10

No a fair few Saoirse in London, It's a lovely name.

whiteroseredrose · 29/12/2019 09:08

Eliza - spare her years of being asked how to say it / spell it.

This. We really butcher Irish names here. It looks like Eliza or Saucy to me.

Whatsyourflava · 29/12/2019 08:44

Eliza definitely

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