Baby name Oilibhear?

It wouldn’t be my first choice for an Irish name tbh, mainly because it’s not an Irish name.

If you’re in ireland and/ or Irish I can see why you might want to use an Irish spelling of the name but if neither apply it’s just a bit of an odd choice.

I think its a lovely name op. But I've saddled my child with a very unusual irish name. Which he will have to spell to people but the way I see it , having to spell your name hasn't killed anyone yet. Mumsnet isn't the place to ask about irish names, they aren't very popular here at all

Olly Bear.

Never seen that name before in my life. It's not like Siobhan which is one of those "you'd never think it was spelt like that" but you've at least heard the name and can make some sense of it.

It will be an utter pain for him. Through spelling, pronunciation, and obscurity.

I'm Irish living in Ireland & have never heard of a single person with this as their everyday name (was used in class as a translation for Oliver). Obviously if you really like the name then use it and accept your child will have a lifetime correcting peop6, but if you are using it because you want an Irish name there are lots of lovely straightforward names.

@stairgates Given that the Liverpool accent is partly Irish, which is hardly surprising given the history of the city, yes it would. Is that a bad thing..?

As someone with an unusual name - school is fine. Everyone makes the effort at school.

After school - forget it. I get the choice of my name said right or spelled right. Never both. Gave up caring a long time ago but if you about to name a child it's worth thinking about.

There's a fada on the e and I'd say less - y on the Olly bit and more 'i' as in 'ink', if that makes any sense!

I like it, it’s fairly easy to sound out the pronunciation from the spelling even for a non Irish speaker and not to difficult to say. The Bh (v sound)is used in the name Siobhan for example . Lots of names have unfamiliar spelling and pronunciation and the world copes. Having to spell out your name occasionally is not going to blight your life. Mostly the people you meet will speak your name so having a fairly recognisable pronunciation is ok. And given that so much of our communication is online now the spelling will be apparent. Anyway I find that generally people who need to, can learn to spell a name.

No. The poor child will spend his entire life spelling it out. Why inflict such hassle on him?

I work in west Belfast with young families and I have never heard of it- and they LOVE their Irish names.

I don't think its a good idea either. Would it be pronounced sounding like a person from Liverpool saying Oliver?

Its not a name I've come across and wouldn't have known how to say it. If hearing it, I wouldn't have known how to write it.

However, I teach. I'm used to children having a wide range of names. Over the years I've come across many names I don't know how to say/spell. But I know when told - spelling may take a while longer! Though at work I could check to make sure.

Tbh the more unusual names tend to be the ones id be more likely to remember how to say, even if only teaching them once a week. The ones I have more trouble remembering are the names where they can be said in 2 or 3 different ways - especially when we have more than one child with the same spelling, but different pronunciation, in school. I'm thinking of names like Maya/Mya/Mia/Maiya - real life examples form last couple of years,

Oily Bear
seriously, please don't

I wouldn’t be keen on it OP. It’s an English name made Irish, iykwim, rather than a true Irish name. (Hope to god I’m not offending anyone here).

Oliver is a great name, why not just keep it simple.

Is it an Irish name?
Because it just looks like a Gaelic spelling of a Latin (or whatever the root is) name, Oliver.

I think if you're going to have an Irish name, have an Irish name, like Conor. But using a Gaelic spelling of a non (at its root) Irish name just feels weird of you are living in a non-Gaelic community, like being English and calling your daughter Émilie instead of Emily, or you son Christophe instead of Christopher.

If you're Irish living in the Gaeltacht then I take it all back obviously.

PS: love Olly Bear as a name :D

Depends on if you want to sentence him to a life time of spelling OILIBHÉAR.

I read it as Olly-bear. Then checked myself, realised it was an Irish name and saw your instructions.

But being honest he will having a lifetime of Oliver at best, and Olly-bear at worst.

If you aren't in Ireland, or Irish speakers, why would you do that to a child?

It's just awkward, Irish or not.

I read it as oily bear too🤭

I would read it as Oliver. But if you’re not Irish it’s a bit much!

Op stick with Oliver why use an Irish spelling that will get spelt and pronounced wrongly?

As someone with a name much more simpler but unusual please don't... As PP say, a lifetime of explanation and corrections..

So, Oliver.

Unless the whole family goes by their Irish names, I wouldn't. If for example the baby's mum is Siobhradh ui /ni xxx then it wouldnt surprise me from an Irish name family but you can't just use the irish spelling of such a well known name when all the other names are English. Just my opinion. Obviously people can do what they like!!

Oilibhéar Walsh is a bit of a mismatch. Oilibhéar Breathnach, that's no shock.

If you are in the UK, he is going to be Olly-Bear for all of primary.

If you’re in Ireland, crack on.