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Baby names

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

Original poster

Aodhla or Éala

37 replies

namingnumbertwo · 04/09/2021 07:40

Hello, we’re trying to decide on a name for baby number two, who is a girl (but not born yet). I increasingly like the sound of Aodhla or Éala (pronounced Ay-la). I know it’s becoming more popular in Ireland, but I can’t find much details about it besides being used more frequently in the last few years. I also wondered if either option is a more accurate spelling?

Other options include Niamh, which feels much like a name people will be familiar with. I really like Niamh but not sure it goes as well with the surname.

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anewchapterishere · 04/09/2021 09:25

@Wapawapa

Éila? I'm in Ireland and this is the name we'll be using if this baby is a girl ( I'm currently pregnant). We'll be spelling it Aela. I'm a teacher and have heard it twice. Once in a school. Then a teacher from the same school used it for her DD. I read it in the INTO magazine this month. Spelled Éilla I think. I hope it's not the next Fiadh! Which is so beautiful everyone uses it now!
If you really want to use the name "Ayla" but spell it in an Irish or non-phonetic way then I suggest you use one of the suggestions in this post because they're much easier to guess the pronunciation of than your original two options
PearlyRising · 04/09/2021 09:24

The first one.

I'm Irish, and it's rare enough but I'd still have guessed pronunciation ''ayla''

The second one just seems too insubstantial iykwim.

MaudebeGonne · 04/09/2021 09:22

I live in Ireland a d have never heard of it - and I'm a midwife with school aged children, so can assure you it isn't overused in this part of the country.

I lived in England with an old fashioned Irish name for many years, and there is no point in using a name with a fada in England Only a small minority of people will ever use it or make any attempt to understand it.

ElspethFlashman · 04/09/2021 09:13

Im living in Ireland and have never heard of it!

You're going pretty obscure tbh, which is fine, but it may be a total burden for an English child. Constantly having to explain and spell your name is not fun.

I'm not sure why you can't use something similar but easier, like Orla.

Wapawapa · 04/09/2021 09:12

The website cso.ie has a name checker where you can put in a name and it will tell you how many babies were called that name in a particular year. You have to individually check for spelling variations though

Wapawapa · 04/09/2021 09:10

I should explain - the INTO magazine is the Irish Teachers' Union magazine so there are photos of children winning prizes etc and that's where I saw the name

Wapawapa · 04/09/2021 08:56

Éila?
I'm in Ireland and this is the name we'll be using if this baby is a girl ( I'm currently pregnant).
We'll be spelling it Aela.
I'm a teacher and have heard it twice.
Once in a school. Then a teacher from the same school used it for her DD.
I read it in the INTO magazine this month. Spelled Éilla I think.
I hope it's not the next Fiadh! Which is so beautiful everyone uses it now!

Original poster
namingnumbertwo · 04/09/2021 08:51

@Duetorain

Will you you be living in places where Irish names are known?if not your DD will spend a lot of time explaining how to pronounce or spell the name Aodhla. I’d get used to it though.
Do you think Éala would be easier? I’m Irish, husband is English. Live in a pretty multi-cultural part of the UK currently but we’ve both worked abroad in the past and could very easily do again or potentially move to Ireland, so not set on living in one place.

My oldest child has an Irish name that people who don’t speak English as their first language make a much better attempt at pronouncing than most English speakers (English speakers don’t seem to read the letters).

I’ve also got an Irish name that is very old and uncommon but easy enough to pronounce based on spelling - having a different name has been an advantage to me living out of Ireland as it’s so associated with me. But appreciate some might find endless questions about their name annoying.

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Original poster
namingnumbertwo · 04/09/2021 08:41

@Squicknick

I've never heard either but I live in UK (I'm Irish). What do they mean? I think "eala" pronounced "al-la" is swan, but no fada on the e.
I’m Irish in the UK too! The name was suggested to me by a friend in Ireland, who is a primary school teacher. I wonder if it’s a bit like Fiadh. Wasn’t really a very known Irish name 20 years ago but is now hugely popular.
OP posts:
Duetorain · 04/09/2021 07:52

Will you you be living in places where Irish names are known?if not your DD will spend a lot of time explaining how to pronounce or spell the name Aodhla. I’d get used to it though.

Squicknick · 04/09/2021 07:44

I like the look and sound of both, btw

Squicknick · 04/09/2021 07:43

I've never heard either but I live in UK (I'm Irish). What do they mean? I think "eala" pronounced "al-la" is swan, but no fada on the e.