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Baby names

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Traditional Irish Names - what do you think?

116 replies

El2020 · 04/02/2020 03:08

Hi all,

I’m TTC my second child and I’m looking to cull my shortlist for Irish kids name which would match my other DC.

A little bit of a background Smile

So I’m Irish Australian and my background is from the Gaeltacht in Ireland (as is my spouse’s). I spend half of my between the two countries.

For those who don’t know the Gaeltacht is where the Irish language (Gaeilge) is predominately spoken in Ireland. I’m not particularly bothered by traditional Irish spelling or too “out there names” (by English speaking standards) as I think it’s important to keep our culture alive. I also feel like when you have a famous Irish person, people are more inclined to remember an exotic name! So that’s always a bonus!

My only “thing/rule” is we both want a traditional name...so Irish names which were created more recently like Saoirse, Aisling and Enin aren’t really liked by my spouse.

I don’t personally like “en” sort of names like Aiden, Hayden, Cayden, Zadyen, Jadyen as these are a bit bogan (chav/redneck) in Australia.

Last time around we stuck with tradition and named DC after one of his immediate family members. The name is a classic male Irish name and I get a lot of compliments on it. No problems with pronunciation when people hear it once or twice.

In terms of middle names, I get to pick those and I’ve selected traditional evergreen names. On the off chance my child or future child hate their name, I have an English name they can use professionally or personally.

Here’s some names that are on our shortlist:

Girls

No order...

Sadhbh - “Sive” means goodness
Méabh - “Mave” means intoxicating
Áine - “Onya” means radiant and after the fairy queen
Órla - “Or-la” means golden princess
Bláthnaid - “Blaw-heen” means flower but I’m worried this sounds to close (for Australians at least) to a particular sexual favour.
Caoimhe - “Keeva” means beautiful
Róisín - “Ro-sheen” means little Rose
Múiread - “Mu-reed” Irish version of Margaret

The girl’s two middle names would be on the lines of Margaret, Catherine/Katherine, Eleanor, Mary, Jane, Victoria, Pearl, Violet, Iris, Rose, and Elizabeth to honour other family members and incorporate MY name this time round. I mean what works for men should also work for women in passing down the names.

Boys

Aodh - “ay” means fire
Éamonn - ay-mon” Irish version of Edmund and I like the 1916 reference to Valera
Cillian - “kill-I-an” like Cillian Murphy yummyyyy
Ruairí - “Rory” means fire king
Pádraig - “pod-rig” is Irish version of Patrick but I feel like this could be too stereotypical of Irish people
Séamus “shay-mus” is the Irish version of James

This time round we don’t have to follow tradition and I think we are both open to anything reasonable and Irish. DC has an evergreen middle name which I’d be do the same thing for another boy.

Let’s see what you guys think 🤔 TIA!!!!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
copperoliver · 04/02/2020 23:10

Aoife padraig . Cormac. Rafferty. Ciara.

Niamh. Neeve. Colleen. Coleen. Roisin. X

TheVanguardSix · 04/02/2020 23:08

Naoise for a boy.

TerribleCustomerCervix · 04/02/2020 23:07

Some people on this thread could do with a bit of a reminder that Irish names come from an entirely different language and a bit of cultural sensitivity wouldn’t be out of place Hmm

DramaAlpaca · 04/02/2020 23:05

Exactly, Naomh.

pallisers I'm with you on the pronunciation of Niamh, though I know some areas say 'neev'.

More examples of incorrect spellings and pronunciation on the thread - Siobhán is not pronounced 'shavonne', and it's Dearbhla that is pronounced 'dervla'. 'Derbla' isn't a name, and if it was it wouldn't be pronounced 'dervla'.

ny20005 · 04/02/2020 23:02

Aine - Aussies will joke forever by saying good on ya

My friend was only there a year & had this all the time

BobbyBlueCat · 04/02/2020 23:01

Sadhbh - “Sive" . I still don't understand how to say it. To rhyme with Hive? Or Sieve? For that reason, not keen.

Méabh - “Mave". Very pretty.

Áine - “Onya”. Very pretty.

Órla - “Or-la". Very pretty.

Bláthnaid - “Blaw-heen”. Soooo ugly.

Caoimhe - “Keeva”. Nice.

Róisín - “Ro-sheen”. Nice.

Múiread - “Mu-reed”. Ugly sounding.

Middle names all very nice. Go with most things and stand the test of time.

Boys

Aodh - “ay". Bit of a 'nothing' name. Just sounds like a noise. Nickname at best.

Éamonn - ay-mon”. Okay.

Cillian - “kill-I-an". Harsh and pointy sounding.

Ruairí - “Rory”. Nice.

Pádraig - “pod-rig” sounds like the name of an elf or a dwarf from a fantasy film. Quite ugly.

Séamus “shay-mus”. I picture a middle aged fisherman!

TerribleCustomerCervix · 04/02/2020 23:00

I have a Sadhbh so I’m very biased anyway.

I still love it- it’s hard finding an Irish girl’s name as they’re either beautiful and therefore very very popular (Orla, Aoife) or dreadful (Nollaig, I’m sorry).

I like Conn for a boy- it’s already been used in my family but it’s very versatile and easy to spell!

Sassy31 · 04/02/2020 22:56

I agree kapstenKrusty - the whole point of having a Irish name is to use the correct spelling , not made up ones, which I’ve see often in London. Alway makes me chuckle , when I explain their not spelling the name correctly and what it actually means.

CheshireMax · 04/02/2020 22:56

@Mummyshark2018 agreed. People pick it up quickly and its a great conversation starter.

KaptenKrusty · 04/02/2020 22:55

Sorry op for having a bit of a moan there 😂

I love the names Muireann & Eithne & Dearbla
&
Cian & Connall for boys

CheshireMax · 04/02/2020 22:54

My DS is Oisín and we're in England. I accept the fact the people will ask about spelling /pronouncination.... Big deal. I knew that when i chose it. Its a beautiful name and so unique over here.

Strong Irish connection to Ring.

pallisers · 04/02/2020 22:54

Yes - I agree with that Naomh. Blaithnaid and Blaithin are two entirely different names.

Mummyshark2018 · 04/02/2020 22:53

@Annasgirl I disagree
I have a traditional Irish name with a very tricky spelling, living in England, never had a problem. People learn (very quickly) how to say it and spell it. It's a great talking point also and as I meet lots of new people every week it helps break the ice!

Sassy31 · 04/02/2020 22:53

Aoibhinn - is lovely..
Saoirse which means freedom and isn’t really a new name I know of lots of 40 + from the Northern Ireland with this name . So it’s been about a good while. 😊

KaptenKrusty · 04/02/2020 22:53

@Annasgirl I hate this argument it always comes up on these threads - to some Irish people (me included) I think it’s important to use the Irish names and keep them alive - we got the language taken away and have made a huge effort to ensure it wasn't lost forever!

I have an Irish name that’s difficult to spell for others and personally I like that it’s a bit different - I’d hate to have the same name as loads of other people (am living in London)

I think it’s a big insulting irish people saying we should only choose names that you can understand and spell because it’s easier...Hmm

turnedabout · 04/02/2020 22:47

Girls

Siobhan pronounced shavonne

Derbla pronounced Dervla

Boys

Connor or Connell

Dominic

Annasgirl · 04/02/2020 22:43

It's a total pain for your child for the rest of their lives to have to explain and spell their name to everyone for ever.

I really cannot understand why people give their children Irish names with traditional Irish spelling unless they live in the Gaeltacht and plan to continue to live there, with their children, forever. And as for getting the spelling or pronunciation wrong - why would you bother?

Naomh · 04/02/2020 22:42

Yes, @pallisers, but the OP is pronouncing Bláthnaid as Bláthín, and has the final syllable of Muiréad as ‘eed’, so I think it’s more than Neev/Nee-uv or Keeva/ Queeva..?

TheTittefers · 04/02/2020 22:36

I like Dara for a second child (céad, dara, triúr ..) and it’s easy to pronounce, and it’s suitable for a boy or girl.

pallisers · 04/02/2020 22:31

It's never a good idea to choose an Irish name unless you can spell and pronounce them properly.

True but pronounciation of names does vary from county to county so there isn't always one right way to pronounce a name.

My dd was in school with a Niamh here in the US. I said something closer to Nee-ev but her mother (from county Meath I think) said Neev.

Naomh · 04/02/2020 22:28

I liked Lir before it became a chocolate brand. I know a cool female Lir.

DS was almost Iarla or Naoise.

DramaAlpaca · 04/02/2020 22:13

It's never a good idea to choose an Irish name unless you can spell and pronounce them properly.

Istillgetjealous · 04/02/2020 22:11

I love Róisín Mary
Beautiful! I also love the meaning of Róisín

pallisers · 04/02/2020 21:54

I like Maeve from your list

I love Ademar - I think it is a boys name but the only one I know is female.

I would have loved to call a boy Nessan (pupil of St Finbarr) but thought it was too close to Nissan.

My favourite Irish name for a girl is Sorcha.

Naomh · 04/02/2020 21:46

Yes, Fiadh, while it’s a nice name in itself, is sort of cliché Irish hipster name.