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Baby names

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

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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LoveSaoirse · 29/12/2019 08:36

I have a Saoirse. We're in London, my family are Irish (I'm born here and dh is as English as they come).

Aside from the first time anyone sees the name, us or her needing to say "it's seer-shuh", and obviously that no one will know where to start when asked to spell it, it's great. It hasn't been a bother at all. She loves that her name means freedom and actually being in London means most people have no idea of the potential political connotations back in Ireland.

The only problem i have is that there is another saoirse in our area, never met the family but we seem to have lots of mum friends acquaintances in common, and the other saoirse is pronounced "sur-sha". On occasion I've had to correct people and say no this is "seer-shuh". But probably only twice that i can remember.

I'm biased but I'd go for Saoirse Smile

PlantPotting · 29/12/2019 08:06

Love Eliza - one of my favourite names! I’d definitely pick that

I also just think “sore arse” for the other name

3littlerabbits · 29/12/2019 06:53

Saoirse is so beautiful. Eliza makes me think of lizards

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 29/12/2019 06:51

Eliza. Saoirse is horrid.

CakeRattleandRoll · 29/12/2019 06:36

Love Saoirse. Wanted it for DD, but we don't have strong enough Irish connection.

hagsrus0 · 29/12/2019 01:02

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

Perhaps Saoirse as a middle name in case she decides to use that?

Ohyesiam · 29/12/2019 00:56

Saoirse is lovely. The one I know has anglicised the spelling .

Charm23 · 29/12/2019 00:56

I like both names but personally would only use Saoirse if I had family ties to Ireland.

Thenamedame · 29/12/2019 00:49

I personally would choose Saoirse. I know of one in real life and she's the sweetest girl I think if Ive ever met! It's pretty, magical, unusual yet traditional. I love it!
Eliza is also pretty but just not quite as special to my mind

Petrichor11 · 29/12/2019 00:06

I love Saoirse

AntiHop · 28/12/2019 23:52

I'd call her Elizabeth and then Eliza for short, then she's got lots of options.

TerribleCustomerCervix · 28/12/2019 23:50

Even living in Scotland I’d steer away from Saoirse- it has some real connotations which might lead some people to make some big assumptions about her background in the future.

There’s a republican paramilitary called Saoradh as well, which is the same kind of idea.

I’m in NI and have given my DC very very Irish names and I still wouldn’t use it.

duggeehug85 · 28/12/2019 23:43

I know a wee Saoirse in Glasgow. I think it's fine in Scotland and will probably be the next Niamh or Siobhan. Lovely name.

eryn6556 · 28/12/2019 23:41

Definitely Eliza

anon2000000000 · 28/12/2019 23:21

My dd was going to be Saoirse but no one knew how to pronounce it or spell it.

I'm British but my parents/grandparents on both sides are Irish and we all live in central Scotland.

jimeneycricket · 28/12/2019 23:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DramaAlpaca · 28/12/2019 23:17

Because Saoirse means 'freedom' it can be, as a pp says, a bit of a political statement in Ireland and I'd avoid it for that reason. You'd also have constant pronunciation issues.

Eliza is nice.

chipsandgin · 28/12/2019 23:17

I wouldn’t know how to pronounce Saoirse (although I remember reading a book with a character with that name, pronounced it ‘say-orse’ throughout & then later being told the real pronunciation- still cant remember it though..). Eliza is a lovely & probably less challenging for her name if people are as ignorant as me!

Pangur2 · 28/12/2019 23:16

Saoirse! Lovely name.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 28/12/2019 23:15

I always say sore arse in my head at the other

Yep - me too I’m afraid.

BlueSkyAtChristmas · 28/12/2019 23:13

Eliza

eggandonion · 28/12/2019 23:12

I know a Sorsha, in Ireland, if you want the sound but not the spelling. You would be ok with it in parts of Scotland, it's a bit of a political statement in parts of Ireland!

Clevs · 28/12/2019 23:10

I just think of 'sore arse' when I see that written down 😕

RuthW · 28/12/2019 23:08

Eliza definitely

I always say sore arse in my head at the orher.

bettybattenburg · 28/12/2019 23:05

How do you pronounce it?