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Baby names

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

Original poster

Macdara, MacAodh and other Mac names

39 replies

SeanChailleach · 04/10/2022 13:13

I noticed that MacDara is getting used a little and wondered what people think of these sort of names.

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Original poster
SeanChailleach · 04/10/2022 16:48

chilliesandspices · 04/10/2022 16:33

DerFodla brings up no results on Google. Where are these names supposed to be from?

They are Old Irish names. I can't remember where I saw DerFodla. Fodla by itself is getting some use lately.
More familiar names with Der include Derbhile, Derbhfáil, Derdriu (Deirdre)

OP posts:
chilliesandspices · 04/10/2022 16:33

DerFodla brings up no results on Google. Where are these names supposed to be from?

CassandraBarrett · 04/10/2022 16:32

MacTíre - wolf? I thought that was pretty interesting

J0y · 04/10/2022 16:30

As a first name?
No.
I live in Ireland so it just looks wrong.

Original poster
SeanChailleach · 04/10/2022 16:29

LightHousePanda · 04/10/2022 14:02

Are they for boys or girls? I'm not the biggest fan. I'm not against surnames as first names but I just think Mac/Mc style names rarely work. Mac means son in Gaelic so it's an odd name for a girl.

For boys - these are very old names but I think most people would think they are surnames.
The feminine equivalent is Der, so DerFodla, DerForgaill, Derfhinn.
I tend to think that McKayla, used for girls, is Michaela, but can't think of a justification for MacKenzie.

OP posts:
Dartmoorcheffy · 04/10/2022 15:36

Macaroni... Ronnie for short... 😁

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 04/10/2022 15:35

I Know a McGregor in his 40s, who goes by Mac.

CastleTower · 04/10/2022 15:33

Macdara is a saint from about 500AD. So sure, why not?

YourLipsMyLips · 04/10/2022 14:16

Never heard of MacDara before, but there's no difference between that and the likes of McKenzie, Harris, Innes, etc, so why not?

Ifyouknowyouknowyouknow · 04/10/2022 14:12

I know a Macdara (male) who is my age (mid 30s) so don’t think it’s a new thing. I love it actually though I detest surnames in English or (especially) Irish surnames used by English people who don’t know better (like Sullivan etc) so perhaps I am just a hypocrite!

fallinover · 04/10/2022 14:11

Mac anything is a ridiculous name for a girl.
But it doesn't actually do anyone any harm and comes from a positive place.

LightHousePanda · 04/10/2022 14:02

Are they for boys or girls? I'm not the biggest fan. I'm not against surnames as first names but I just think Mac/Mc style names rarely work. Mac means son in Gaelic so it's an odd name for a girl.

whatausername · 04/10/2022 13:44

On the one hand, plenty of surnames are used as first names so why not? On the other, my first thought is it is someone who wants everyone to know that their great grandma's sister's poodle emigrated from Scotland or Ireland and they have "a connection". Usually they've massively romanticised the two countries and believe everyone with the surname MacFarlane is a direct descendent from some clan chief. However, I'm Scottish and if people want to believe the sun shines out our butts and that we are a land of buff men and strong women and that romantic heroes are everywhere then let them 😛 Ditto Ireland

MerryChristmasToYou · 04/10/2022 13:31

They look like irish surnames. I've only seen them spelt Macdaragh and MacAodha.