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Baby names

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Original poster

Irish boys names

53 replies

Helen8888 · 26/06/2020 07:10

Hi,
We’re a mixed Irish/English couple living in England. Would like to use an Irish name, any suggestions? Surname is one syllable beginning with ‘K’. Thanks!

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Limpid · 29/06/2020 21:20

@ritalia, that’s one of those ridiculous US sites, though, which invents name derivations and includes random non-Irish names. That one includes Duane, Glen, Nigel, Torin, Corey, and Elvis as ‘Gaelic’ names!

romdowa · 29/06/2020 18:55

Irish /english couple here too and top of our boys list is pheilim (fay-lum) weve been finding it very difficult to find irish boys names that we love too

ritalia · 29/06/2020 18:50
Blush @Limpid Did not notice the boy name at title. haha Try this one: www.babynamechoice.com/search?&g=m&k=irish&offset=0&sortby=pop1&order=desc
Limpid · 29/06/2020 17:52

@ritalia, by no stretch of the imagination is Chloe an Irish boy’s name. Grin

billysboy · 29/06/2020 17:35

my lads called Duggan

ritalia · 29/06/2020 17:30

www.babynamechoice.com/index#search
www.babynamechoice.com/search?&k=irish&offset=0&sortby=pop1&order=desc
Liam
Chloe
Connor
Declan
Bennett
Gael
Brian
Aidan

Heh1991 · 29/06/2020 12:55

Rafferty

ExtremelyBoldSquirrels · 28/06/2020 12:15

I’m never sure why people are surprised that there might be several different pronunciations of names within Ireland. The country isn’t a single homogenous mass where everyone speaks identically. Of course there will be multiple (equally correct) pronunciations.

And there will be mispronunciations that have caught on and become dominant even within Ireland. These things happen.

abiirthdaycake · 27/06/2020 17:18

I'd say ay-awn/ay-gawn(ish) unless told otherwise but where I live even fadas are decorative half the time so guessing at the "proper" Gaeilge pronunciation isn't always reliable. Niall should certainly be like Neil (think of how Niamh and Niadh are said) but the anglicised pronunciation has more than caught on now

I absolutely love Tadhg OP but I know what you mean about have the g sound right before a K sound - Cillian Cole or something similar sounds like a superhero in a good way

LizzieAnt · 27/06/2020 15:17

It can also be said as Ay(uh)gawn.

MadeForThis · 27/06/2020 12:36

Aodhan pronounced Ay-dawn in Northern Ireland too.

cailingaelach · 27/06/2020 11:41

@Boscoismyspiritanimal I'm in Connacht, it must vary around the country! Loads of Aodhán's around here and all pronounce it Aodán. Think I prefer it too.

thegreylady · 27/06/2020 00:04

One of the nicest little boys I know is called Darragh

LizzieAnt · 26/06/2020 21:31

@worriedmama1980
Niall is actually pronounced 'Neil' in the Irish language afaik. The late actor and comedian Niall Tóibín, who grew up in an Irish speaking family, pronounced it as such. The more usual 'Nye-al' is a (long established) anglicized pronunciation, but it seems to be the most commonly used version now.

LizzieAnt · 26/06/2020 21:21

Another vote for the Aay-awn pronunciation of Aodhán (also in Munster). I considered the name for DS but was put off by the varying pronunciations tbh. Also love Aodh but it does sound like an initial (Ay). Big fan of Cormac also.

Viragoesque · 26/06/2020 20:31

Yy, @SionnachRua, Irish people do mispronounce Irish names. There’s that weird mispronunciation of Aoibheann as ‘Ayveen’ that has come up on here from time to time, not to mention Sorcha pronounced as ‘Sore-sha’.

AngelaScandal · 26/06/2020 19:24

I live in a Gaeltacht area and Aodhan is definitely not pronounced Aay-awn, I've never heard it pronounced that way, always Aay-dawn

Oh that’s interesting, there are a few near me (Munster) and all Aay-awn (like the politician). I prefer Aay-dawn tbh.

SionnachRua · 26/06/2020 19:24

Sure Saoirse Ronan has her whole "Saoirse rhymes with inertia" thing going on. She's still wrong to a massive chunk of the country.

OP I think Tadgh K would sound alright. Tadgh Kenneally, Tadgh Kennedy...they don't sound too bad. Not sure I like Tadgh King (sounds like typing) so perhaps it works better with a longer surname. While I love Cillian, I don't like the alliteration.

Original poster
Helen8888 · 26/06/2020 19:17

Thanks for all your suggestions. Like Niall but definitely can’t use it (close family members name).

OP posts:
Educationwhateducation · 26/06/2020 18:56

Cillian, Niall or Aidan for me but Cillian is my favourite

autumnkate · 26/06/2020 18:54

Niall works fine in England in my experience

worriedmama1980 · 26/06/2020 17:48

@cailingaelach did you miss aodhan o'riordan's election campaign? He had crayons printed up with the slogan 'it's aodhan like crayon' and did a whole video about people being unable to pronounce his name.

OP, some of these names people would struggle to pronounce in Ireland. Having lived in both countries, I would definitely steer away from Diarmuid, Oisin and Fionn - Fionn will be pronounced as Finn, Diarmuid as Dermot. And actually Niall will get Neill.

Sean, Seamus, Rory, Ferdia, Aidan are boys names that I think travel well.

Viragoesque · 26/06/2020 16:35

Tiarnan, Fergus, Ferdia, Iarla. DS was nearly Naoise, which I adore.

shenanigans5 · 26/06/2020 14:31

My Irish friend living in England has two boys- Caelan and Oran. I love both names.

Sunnydayshereatlast · 26/06/2020 14:30

I have a Fynn and a Shay!
Also Roan and Gabriel..

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