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Baby names

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

Original poster

Aodhán or Aidan

65 replies

ImStayingInside · 04/12/2021 12:24

I have posted before about Irish baby names, but we have whittled down the boys name to Aodhán or Aidan … (we didn’t find out the sex, so could be completely irrelevant if baby is a girl!)
For content, DH is Irish and wants baby to have an Irish name, we live in England and I’m not 100% sure on which spelling to use.
Are we just subjecting the child to a lifetime of spelling his name out?
I am quite settled on the name, it’s just the spelling that is causing me trouble now … any opinions welcome!

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ditalini · 04/12/2021 13:20

I think Aodan (no h, no fada) will give you the pronunciation you want.

ditalini · 04/12/2021 13:19

Well the h after the d means it shouldn't be a hard d sound and the fada on the a means the sound would be aw rather than a, but most people will assume it's Aidan or will ask you.

Irish or Gaelic names pronounced by English speakers often revert to the Anglicised verson.

idiotmagnet · 04/12/2021 13:19

@Treecreature

I'd go Aidan to give him an easier life.
An easier life for who? Shall we just stop using Irish, Welsh, Gaelic, Cornish names so that the English don't have to bother asking/learning how to say them????
RedRobin100 · 04/12/2021 13:19

Hi OP - thanks for the post! I am currently 20 weeks and suspect am having another boy..!
I am also thinking Aidan/Aodhán! (And trying to decide between..)

My husband will probably shy away from the Irish spelling however - so decision probably made. 👎

Either is lovely. where are you? If not somewhere used to Gaelic spellings of probs just go Aidan to avoid long term confusion!

EvilShmeevil · 04/12/2021 13:16

I think ay-dawn is pretty close to how I hear it pronounced in my part of West of Ireland. Definitely has a' d' sound.

EvilShmeevil · 04/12/2021 13:14

Does your husband have an Irish surname?
Aodhán is a beautiful name and sounds good with an Irish surname like Aodhán o' SE but Aodhán Smith may not sound quite as good.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 04/12/2021 13:13

Correct pronunciation is 'Ay-dawn'.

Incorrect.

ClaudiusTheGod · 04/12/2021 13:08

Go for the easier English spelling. Trust me, I have experience of this, and so does my son! Too late now though!

Gooseysgirl · 04/12/2021 13:06

The 'd' is pronounced in Aodhán (I know several!!) Correct pronunciation is 'Ay-dawn'. In answer to your question OP, I would personally go with Aidan. My son has an Irish name which is regularly mispronounced here in UK, it gets annoying for him at times.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 04/12/2021 12:51

They may have the same root but they're very different names. Aodhán is pronounced ay-awn so if that's not what you're looking for go for Aidan.

SoupDragon · 04/12/2021 12:35

if you choose Aidan, people will keep misspelling it Aiden and it will drive him nuts so definitely don't let "Irish spelling in England" be something that puts you off!

Treecreature · 04/12/2021 12:35

I'd go Aidan to give him an easier life.

xyzandabc · 04/12/2021 12:31

My dd has a Gaelic name with a 'dh' in it. There is definitely no 'd' sound in her name.

xyzandabc · 04/12/2021 12:29

Are they not pronounced completely differently, so 2 different names rather than just different spellings.

Aiden = ay den

Aodhan = ay yon or even ee yon

hilseg · 04/12/2021 12:27

I'm not quite sure from your post if they are pronounced the same but I like the spelling Aodàn. It's a nod to your husbands heritage and has character! Plenty of people have to spell out their name including me and mine is very English with only one spelling so don't let that put you off Smile

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