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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is 'Tiernan' acceptable?!

32 replies

Marrilou · 21/11/2020 10:52

Hi could do with some advice. I live in London, my husband's family are Irish and I have an 8 month baby called Tadhg (Irish, pronounced Tyg). I am expecting again and was thinking if it's another boy would like another Irish name beginning with 'T'. I've come across 'Tiernan' online and like the sound of it but can't find much info about whether it's actually an acceptable first name in Ireland; some comments suggest it's frowned upon as a first name in the Irish community as it's anglicized surname. Does anyone have any knowledge of this?! Don't really want to run it past my husband's family as wouldn't want to announce it 'til the birth and my husband isn't sure (he was born here). Many thanks!

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Mumof3almost4 · 01/12/2020 10:46

I love it and I absolutely love the name Tadhg. That's what I want to use for my baby but OH doesn't like it. People learn pronunciations really quickly, it's not a problem x

JessesGirl · 28/11/2020 19:17

I have a Tiernan Grin it’s an awesome name! We’ve come across the occasional person who struggles with pronunciation but it’s no more an issue than any other name outside of the top 50!

babbaloushka · 28/11/2020 19:05

whats the non anglicised version of the surname tiernan

Sausagedog1 · 25/11/2020 19:05

Also love Tadhg!

Sausagedog1 · 25/11/2020 19:04

I worked with a Tiernan on London. Always thought it was a great name.

MissingCoffeeandWine · 25/11/2020 15:32

Hi OP,

I’m Irish - my brother is Tiernan. He has traveled a lot and yes, he may have had to explain how to pronounce it a few times, but once explained it’s an easy one to understand. It’s popular and well liked at home.

Love the idea of linking to heritage and keeping a theme with your boys. Congrats. Hope all goes well x

Also - please ignore the commments re Irish names being impossible to pronounce. Sadly it’s a reoccurring theme on mumsnet, that English is the only accessible language and everything else is “difficult”. I’m part of a large Irish in the UK community and many of us survive perfectly well in work and social environments with “complicated irish” names. Contrary to some beliefs: I’ve found mine very helpful in multinational companies!

mathanxiety · 24/11/2020 04:55

Lovely name. I would go for it.

Ignore the suggestion of Leo, Emily, Harry, etc.

There is nothing complicated about Tiernan. Never pander to people who are so stupid that they can't wrap their minds around anything the least bit unfamiliar or different. It only encourages them.

I know two Tierneys here in the US, both girls. There's an Old Hollywood ring to that.

Cactus that must be a regional thing. It is Tier Nan here. I would have said Chiernan was coming from “A Thiernan” it sounds to my ear like it should have a séimhiú

No, 'CH' is the slender T pronunciation. (As in the word 'teach' = house).
A séimhiú ('Th') would give a H sound - 'a Heernawn'.

EasttoWest · 23/11/2020 18:47

Made me think of the UK covid tiers! Sorry

OwlOne · 22/11/2020 18:19

Ps, I'm in Ireland, but I used to live in the UK. The name Tiernan is obviously not going to challenge an English speaker. It's nice that it ties in with a similar meaning in Welsh!

OwlOne · 22/11/2020 18:15

My friend's son is called Tiernan, so I don't think it's too unusual.

Don't love it. Don't hate it.

speakout · 22/11/2020 18:13

I like the names, but giving a child a name which is difficut to spell and pronounce and a nuicance.
It sticks for life.
So every time you make a phone call, party invitations, it is tiresome to have to spell your name every time. I have a name that needs spelled out every time and it pisses me off.
I have deliberately given my children names that are easy to spell and pronounce, to save them the bother.
So Leo, Emily, Harry etc. all easy in my book.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 22/11/2020 18:11

I hadn't realised it either. Lovely choice. I hope you go with Tiarnan/Tiernan. Best of luck with everything.

Original poster
Marrilou · 22/11/2020 18:05

Thanks for all the helpful feedback! Didn't even know about the version with an 'a' rather than an 'e' so some food for thought there :-)

OP posts:
20shadesofgreen · 22/11/2020 10:12

Cactus that must be a regional thing. It is Tier Nan here. I would have said Chiernan was coming from “A Thiernan” it sounds to my ear like it should have a séimhiú.

lydia7986 · 22/11/2020 01:52

I used to know a little girl called Tiernan. I think it was her mother’s maiden name (they were American - and using surnames as first names isn’t uncommon there).

She got nicknamed “T-Rex” which I always thought was adorable.

DramaAlpaca · 22/11/2020 00:37

Tiernan is very much a surname, but Tiarnan as a first name is great.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 22/11/2020 00:02

Yes, I prefer 'Tiarnan' too. It relates to the Irish word for 'lord', 'a thiarna...'.

Firebird83 · 21/11/2020 23:03

I really like it. Prefer the Tiarnan spelling though.

Kenana · 21/11/2020 19:36

Teirnon Twrvliant was the Lord of Gwent Ys Coed and the best man in the world.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 21/11/2020 18:28

Hi Marrilou, I think it is a lovely name and goes well with Tadhg. It should be more straightforward than Tadhg from a pronunciation point of view too

BeTheHokeyMan · 21/11/2020 18:28

Very popular in Ireland it's a lovely name

Theimpossiblegirl · 21/11/2020 18:27

I went to school with a Tiernan. Nicest boy ever. It's a lovely name.

cactusisblooming · 21/11/2020 18:21

Meant to say the Tiernans I know are pronounced Chiernan.

cactusisblooming · 21/11/2020 18:20

The Tiernans (and two Tierna's) are pronounced Chiernan. I would have thought Tiernan was a much easier option that Tadhg!

Original poster
Marrilou · 21/11/2020 18:15

Oh great thank you, nice to have positive responses! :-)

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