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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Can I name my baby Ira?

244 replies

phonemouse · 28/03/2023 15:44

I live in the uk. We like the name Ira (pronounced Eye-ra).
It's a fairly popular name in the states and Australia but I am aware it has some other connotations.
Do you think honestly that it would be an issue?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

berksandbeyond · 31/03/2023 20:39

AlwaysFoldingWashing · 31/03/2023 20:31

I wouldn't in the UK.. how about Myra instead? Similar sound but different enough to not be problematic?

Hahahahaha I assume you’re kidding?

ClaraThePigeon · 31/03/2023 20:33

I wouldn't in the UK.. how about Myra instead?

Seriously?

Meredusoleil · 31/03/2023 20:33

AlwaysFoldingWashing · 31/03/2023 20:31

I wouldn't in the UK.. how about Myra instead? Similar sound but different enough to not be problematic?

Apart from the serial killer called Myra Hindley? Maira is a nicer spelling.

AlwaysFoldingWashing · 31/03/2023 20:31

I wouldn't in the UK.. how about Myra instead? Similar sound but different enough to not be problematic?

XanaduKira · 31/03/2023 20:26

It's a horrendous name.

Meredusoleil · 31/03/2023 20:19

I know two children of Pakistani origin with the name Aira, both pronounced I-rah and both girls.

bawchops · 31/03/2023 20:15

Lovely name, but not for UK.

I would never actively choose to give my child a provocative name that I knew could cause them issues (not saying it is right, as it truely is a beautiful name... but IRA evokes a lot of strong emotions)

Original poster

phonemouse · 31/03/2023 20:15

Thanks for all the replies. Still undecided to be honest.
I don't like the idea of adding letters as I feel it changes the name.
I do like the Welsh spellings, is that predominantly a female name though?

OP posts:

redyellowpinkbluegreen · 31/03/2023 20:10

I think it's a difference between north and south wales? I'm from the south and say Eye ra. My friends from the north saying Ay Ra.

I love the name and love Aneira too but I already have a girl with a Welsh name that English people struggle to pronounce so not sure.

redyellowpinkbluegreen · 31/03/2023 20:06

Eira is pronounced Eye Ra or Ay ra depending on where you're from. It's my number 1 girls name atm it's beautiful. So maybe use this spelling instead?

PMAmostofthetime · 31/03/2023 19:30

hoophoophooray · 31/03/2023 15:53

If you are a Welsh speaker they absolutely are not said the same.

I am a welsh speaker and I say them the same, it depends which part of Wales you are from.

hoophoophooray · 31/03/2023 15:53

If you are a Welsh speaker they absolutely are not said the same.

PMAmostofthetime · 31/03/2023 03:35

@phonemouse

Eira pronounced the same as Ira is welsh for Snow and a beautiful baby name used in Wales x

SemperIdem · 30/03/2023 23:54

RuthW · 28/03/2023 15:49

I know an Eira, said the same.

Eira is not pronounced the same as Ira.

Weallgottachangesometime · 30/03/2023 22:54

iaapap · 30/03/2023 22:40

I'm not sure that it matters which came first - the name or the terrorist organisation. The association is definitely there, as evidenced by many posters above.

It matters when people comment about “naming children after a terrorist organisation”. When actually NO one has ever named their after The IRA. They’ve given their child a name that is fairly known and historic in their culture.?so it’s a ridiculous comment to make.

iaapap · 30/03/2023 22:40

I'm not sure that it matters which came first - the name or the terrorist organisation. The association is definitely there, as evidenced by many posters above.

EdgeOfACoin · 30/03/2023 20:10

I don't think Ira is useable as a name in the UK or Ireland.

Pemba · 30/03/2023 05:39

TheBirdintheCave · 29/03/2023 23:15

It's a really old Hebrew name... it's not like OP just made it up in some weird deference to the I.R.A 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ The name Ira was used hundreds of years before the terrorist organisation was founded. It came first.

Show quote history

This is true. The name Ira came first. Obviously words and names may have different implications in different cultures. OP should have the right to name her child the name she loves in an ideal world.

However I still probably wouldn't use it if you were going to be mainly living in the UK or Ireland. In other countries it would probably be fine. Even though the IRA is only an acronym and pronounced differently to Ira. There's so much emotion attached to that combination of letters here.

AncientBallerina · 29/03/2023 23:21

God no - as a PP said they will be asked to spell it and meet incredulity.
All so probably lots of ‘up the ra’ jokes if they’re around bolder Irish people

TheBirdintheCave · 29/03/2023 23:15

iaapap · 29/03/2023 22:47

Ira

it’s the initials of a terrorist organisation

and in Latin, ira means anger

i would really judge you for this, sorry

Ringaroundtheroses · 29/03/2023 23:12

I thought of Ira Glass from This American Life quite a nice association. Asa has a similar feel.

iaapap · 29/03/2023 22:47

Ira

it’s the initials of a terrorist organisation

and in Latin, ira means anger

i would really judge you for this, sorry

Enko · 29/03/2023 22:45

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 28/03/2023 17:38

This, specifically, is what I thought of :

I said to dh after explaining thos thread that Harry quite

6 years later you find yourself singing sorry with a fringe on top in front of IRA!!!
Great.movie

Op I like it as a name and I don't think it's a issue

PuttingDownRoots · 29/03/2023 22:19

My DD has a (female) friend (12yo) called Ira. Never made this connection... probably because I was used to her name before seeing it written down.

Indian heritage.

DappledThings · 29/03/2023 22:10

sheeeeeeshh · 29/03/2023 21:33

HOW is that a longshot?! It's exactly the same!

Show quote history

If the IRA was pronounced as an acronym rather than an initialisation, so actually pronounced Ira rather than I R A then there might be a reasonable comparison. But as it isn't I think it's a long shot too.

Even with the usage you also get oclf "The Ra" its still different. The Ra sound there is different to the sound made by ra in Ira.

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