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Baby names

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

Original poster

Irish girls' names

55 replies

Keyperfect · 07/04/2020 14:16

We have narrowed our girl's name choice down to two - Saoirse ( pronounced Seer-sha) or Saorla (pronounced Sair-la).

Which one is better, do you think? Please don't tell me neither!! For info, we are Irish living in UK. Our other DCs have Irish names, and we haven't experienced any issues with pronunciation - generally just explain once.

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abiirthdaycake · 08/04/2020 18:07

@saoirse7 the "connotations" are almost definitely IRA kind of connotations - just the word "saor" in the North is contentious

Saoirse7 · 08/04/2020 11:50

I like both (biased perhaps 😅) Saorla is still much less common even in NI, however that spelling would probably be easier than the Saorlaith one (think Orla-Orlaith).

With regards pronunciation, it largely depends on accent/area esp in Ireland eg Usually Sore-sha in the North, Seer-sha in the South. Other names have North/South variations eg Neev- Ni-av, Keeva- Kw-eeva, Rosh-een, Ro-sheen.

Not sure what PP means when they refer to the connotations of the names. Those names bear no more 'connotations' than any other Irish name would.

YouKnowWhoo · 08/04/2020 11:39

Saorla is lovely. It’s rolls off the tongue. It’s a lovely full sound.

Mind you how would people get it wrong - Say-OR-la would be it at the worst, which isn’t that bad!

Like others have said, you tell people in two seconds how to say it and it’s done!

LizzieAnt · 08/04/2020 11:34

Saorla (older spelling Saorlaith or Saorfhlaith, also Saerlaith) is a very old name that's only become popular again quite recently. I know a 6 year old Saorla, but like you, wasn't familiar with the name before that. I'm in Ireland too.

Original poster
Keyperfect · 08/04/2020 11:33

Thanks very much for the feedback. It's very helpful to get external opinions! Still flip-flopping here Grin

OP posts:
evilharpy · 08/04/2020 08:38

Born and raised in Ireland and have never heard of Saorla.

Midnightdream · 08/04/2020 08:32

Saoirse 100% I'm biased as I love the name alreadyGrin

I had Róisín as a firm favourite for years but my DP HATES it Sad

Aerielview · 07/04/2020 22:59

Both beautiful names op, but Saorla is more unusual. For that reason, it would be my preference

IVflytrap · 07/04/2020 22:55

I realise I probably should have said "Saorla in Britain" rather than "in the UK" as I imagine more N. Irish would know the pronunciations that English, Welsh and (probably) Scottish would.

IVflytrap · 07/04/2020 22:53

I like Saorla best, so if you're in Ireland, that's the one I'd go for.

If you're in the UK, I think I'd be more inclined to go for Saoirse as slightly more people will recognise it and know roughly how to pronounce it. Saorla in the UK might get "Say-orla" or "Sorla", if that sort of mispronunciation bothers you.

Whereland · 07/04/2020 21:30

It would annoy me that many people would pronounce Saoirse as "ser-sha" so for that reason I'd go for Saorla! Although be prepared for all manner of pronunciations of that outside of Ireland!!

Corcra · 07/04/2020 21:29

I’ve always loved the name Saorla. It’s beautiful 😍

LizzieAnt · 07/04/2020 21:24

Sorry, just checked that interview again. She actually said that some in the UK and USA (not just the USA as I said above) say Sur-cha, but she pronounces it differently herselfBlush. It is confusing though.

LizzieAnt · 07/04/2020 21:15

Saoirse Ronan seems to change the pronunciation of her name depending on where she is though (confusingly). Her name is pronounced 'Sur-cha' in the USA. She pronouces it differently in the UK and Ireland (more like the usual pronunciation). There's an interview on This Morning where she mentions this. Sorry don't have the link at the moment.

ParkheadParadise · 07/04/2020 21:00

I love Saoirse.

Etcni · 07/04/2020 20:58

I think Saoirse is at risk of becoming the new Niamh or Maeve for Irish parents living in the UK, and for now more people being aware of it from Saoirse Ronan won't help as she doesn't pronounce it as seer-sha. So aside from Saorla being a nice name in itself, I'd go for it over Saoirse anyway Smile

Tinkhasflown · 07/04/2020 20:50

I much prefer Saorla and would be inclined to select it as it would be the less well known name in the UK!

I wouldn't pick a name based on if people will know it straight off just tell them how it is pronounced. My daughter is Sadhbh, there are people in Ireland I have to pronounce that for never mind in the UK.... it takes me 2 seconds to tell them the pronunciation.

LizzieAnt · 07/04/2020 20:40

Saor (free) in Irish can be pronounced as Sair or Seer depending on dialect. An Irish 'ao' in Munster is pronounced something like ay in English. In Connaught/Ulster it's pronounced ee, as far as I know. Thus Saorla can be pronounced as the OP said (Sairla, first syllable similar to Sarah) or as Seerla. The aoi letter combination in Saoirse is pronounced ee in all dialects. Hence Seersha. I love Saorla, but I think Saoirse may be better known in the UK because of Saoirse Ronan. (It's not Sur-cha like inertia though Smile)

Anoisagusaris · 07/04/2020 20:02

I know 2 Sairlas (in Ireland), pronounced more like ‘seer’ than the Irish ‘saor’ which sounds like the ‘sar’ in Sarah.

I’m not sure if the parents chose that spelling to avoid the ‘saor’ meaning/connotation.

HarrietM87 · 07/04/2020 19:56

I’d go Saoirse - I think people in the UK will be more familiar with it. I also think Saorla will be constantly misheard as Sarah.

Alwaysundecided · 07/04/2020 15:57

Saoirse is lovely. I've never heard of the other one and I'm pretty well up with Irish names. It sounds like Sarah and that could be confusing.

Bluewater1 · 07/04/2020 14:30

Saoirse is a lovely name i think

Original poster
Keyperfect · 07/04/2020 14:27

@TerribleCustomerCervix I don't think the names have quite the same connotations outside of NI, at least not that I'm aware of... From lockdown right now, the idea of freedom is very appealing!

OP posts:
CaroleFuckinBaskin · 07/04/2020 14:24

Saoirse is lovely and has probably become popular enough in England now that pronunciation won't be as much of a problem (a bit like Niamh).

Anotherdayanotherdollar · 07/04/2020 14:24

Saorla.

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