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Baby names

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

Original poster

Oona

58 replies

17caterpillars1mouse · 20/06/2021 10:55

What do you think of the name Oona? I imagine a lot of people will prefer the spelling Una, which is actually a family name for me (though she pronounced it you-na) but I just love the spelling Oona

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SeanChailleach · 20/06/2021 20:42

It's lovely name. The oo is fun.

LizzieAnt · 20/06/2021 20:42

@RickiTarr
I'd have thought Oona/Oonagh was the anglicised form of Úna though? (I'm open to correction here, don't know anything about the Scandinavian influences etc. that pp have mentioned.)
I'd pronounce Oona and Úna the same way (as Oo-nah).

RickiTarr · 20/06/2021 20:41

@SuperSleepyBaby

Old fashioned - i am in Ireland and would associate it with someone in their 60’s or 70’s.
So it is Irish as well as Scandinavian and I’m not going bonkers? Thank goodness for that. Grin
SuperSleepyBaby · 20/06/2021 20:14

Old fashioned - i am in Ireland and would associate it with someone in their 60’s or 70’s.

PrivateParty · 20/06/2021 20:08

Well the OP was asking opinions on it and mentioned the spelling.
Just giving an opinion that I dont particularly like the oo spelling.

Gettingbiggerandbigger · 20/06/2021 19:44

If I was going to have another girl I would call her Oona, absolutely love the name.

Havanalily1806 · 20/06/2021 19:40

I prefer the spelling Una, Oona just reminds me of my ooni pizza oven

ILoveStickers · 20/06/2021 19:39

I prefer Úna, pronounced oo-na, but the Anglicised Oona is also kind of cool. It's used in Finland too, I think, so has a kind of Scandi thing too.

I personally don't like Oonagh as much - the Anglicised vowel spelling plus the -gh as a sort of Irish flourish is a bit weird to me. The -gh isn't in the Irish spelling of the name, so I see no reason to use it.

RickiTarr · 20/06/2021 19:35

@LizzieAnt

"I think the double o looks weird too.."

I know, those Irish eh? 🙄 Spelling crazies! You should stay away from Wales too, they do crazy things with ‘C’s ‘L’s and ‘W’s that would make your toes curl.

Oona or Oonagh aren't Irish language spellings though. Úna is the Irish version (and my favourite).

Yeah you’re right. I got the wrong country, (somehow muddled it in my mind with Orla which makes no sense) but the point is the same for any foreign name.

It’s like people banging on about “Oh I don’t like spices and garlic. I’m really not sure about foreign food...” Fine, but that’s the spelling and OP likes it, so what’s the issue? We don’t have to anglicise everything.

Oona and Una are not pronounced the same anyway, so no point turning your nose up at a foreign spelling and suggesting a different “spelling” that’s actually a different name. I’m bamboozled reading all this. Grin

LizzieAnt · 20/06/2021 18:59

"I think the double o looks weird too.."

I know, those Irish eh? 🙄 Spelling crazies! You should stay away from Wales too, they do crazy things with ‘C’s ‘L’s and ‘W’s that would make your toes curl.

Oona or Oonagh aren't Irish language spellings though. Úna is the Irish version (and my favourite).

Ikeameatballs · 20/06/2021 17:54

I don’t like the double O spelling. Much prefer Una.

Ahnowcomon · 20/06/2021 17:53

Yes , it certainly makes a change from Freya which is now everywhere!

Ahnowcomon · 20/06/2021 17:51

The name isn't only celtic, its also a Scandinavian name and is used in Finland and has roots in Old norse. Having a name beginning in 'U' is actually pretty Scandi Grin

RickiTarr · 20/06/2021 17:50

@PrivateParty

I think the double o looks weird too..
I know, those Irish eh? 🙄 Spelling crazies! You should stay away from Wales too, they do crazy things with ‘C’s ‘L’s and ‘W’s that would make your toes curl. 😉
Undersnatch · 20/06/2021 17:48

Love the name but for me the only spellings would be Oonagh or Una.

Maireas · 20/06/2021 17:45

Love it. As pp said, it's Irish in origin.
Makes a change from Eva/Ava/Isobel/Freya/Alice etc

PrivateParty · 20/06/2021 17:35

I think the double o looks weird too..

sykadelic · 20/06/2021 17:07

Makes me think of the kids show Bubble Guppies

Kanaloa · 20/06/2021 17:05

I just don’t like the sound. I also don’t like Luna so it’s something in the actual noise rather than associations with it or anything. Objectively it’s a fine name but just not my taste.

NotTheCatsWhiskers · 20/06/2021 17:00

Not a fan, sound dated but not in a good way.

MadeOfStarStuff · 20/06/2021 16:48

I really don’t like it sorry, I don’t think it’s a very nice sound

RickiTarr · 20/06/2021 14:01

Makes me think of O’Neill/Chaplin.

user1493494961 · 20/06/2021 13:56

Very dull and drab.

TheSandgroper · 20/06/2021 13:20

Oona/gh would be great. A fantastic name for a grownup. And always the only one in the school which has it’s benefits.

DramaAlpaca · 20/06/2021 13:18

No, not keen. The Irish name Úna is pronounced the same way and I prefer that. Both are very old fashioned in Ireland.

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