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Baby names

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Original poster

Irish baby boy name suggestions please!

51 replies

Chellooo · 07/10/2023 11:09

Hi folks, due in a few weeks now with a little boy and having a full on panic about what to name our little one.
Both myself and husband are Irish and are keen to look toward an Irish name, but cannot for the life of us settle on anything!
Front runner seems to be Oisin but I'm not completely sold, so any suggestions welcome x

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DaffodilDora · 21/07/2024 10:25

RogueFemale · 20/07/2024 23:02

Yes, I know - to different posters who might not read through everything. Thanks for citing Tara Ferry as another (and more recent) example of a male Tara. It really is a boy name originally and continues to be.

Show quote history

It's originally a place name. The Hill of Tara, seat of the High Kings of Ireland.

It seems to have been used very occasionally for boys or girls whose parents had an interest in Irish history. Tara Browne's biography says his mother loved Irish history and named him for the Hill of Tara. When Gone With the Wind was released in 1939/40 it also popularised the name in the US at least (it was the O'Hara homeplace).

Online there are records of Irish baby names since 1964. These show the name became increasingly popular as a girls name in Ireland from the mid 1960s and stayed quite popular for the next 35 years or so. There is no record of it geing used for boys during this time - but, for privacy reasons, they don't keep an online record of names if there are fewer than 3 per year. So there could be a few boys/men with the name in ROI. Like pp, I've never met any.

Keith Richards had a son who died in infancy who was named after Tara Browne. Perhaps Bryan Ferry's son was too? They were contemporaries and moved in the same circles.

PiggieWig · 21/07/2024 01:35

I love Oisin and also Malachi

Snugglemonkey · 21/07/2024 01:28

I love Oisín. If I had a boy, I would definitely go for Oisín .

Apileofballyhoo · 20/07/2024 23:08

Never met a male Tara in my nearly 50 years in Ireland. A few female ones though.

RogueFemale · 20/07/2024 23:02

FayCarew · 20/07/2024 22:43

@RogueFemale , you had already posted that link.

Yes, I know - to different posters who might not read through everything. Thanks for citing Tara Ferry as another (and more recent) example of a male Tara. It really is a boy name originally and continues to be.

FayCarew · 20/07/2024 22:43

@RogueFemale , you had already posted that link.

DaffodilDora · 20/07/2024 22:41

Please do @RogueFemale.

RogueFemale · 20/07/2024 18:59

NervousSubject · 19/07/2024 23:49

Tara Ferry isn’t Irish. I’ve met a Sikh male Tara, but it’s not used for boys in Ireland.

Show quote history

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_Browne

Tara Browne - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_Browne

RogueFemale · 20/07/2024 18:57

DaffodilDora · 20/07/2024 09:34

It might be used for boys very occasionally in Ireland, but that doesn't make it 'originally' a boys' name, does it?

I don't think it's one of those names that was exclusively a male name originally, and then started being used more for girls. Or do you know something that suggests this @RogueFemale?

Show quote history

I do know, but it would be outing to tell you here. I can message you if you'd like to know?

FayCarew · 20/07/2024 16:28

@DaffodilDora , it's from a place name, and was occasionally used as a boy's name. It's more 'a place name occasionally used for a boy'.

It was used as a place name in Gone With The Wind - names from which, like Melanie, Tara, Scarlett, ( & Leigh) moved into popular use.

The name Tara also occurs in Sanskrit or something but that's coincidence.

DaffodilDora · 20/07/2024 09:34

RogueFemale · 20/07/2024 00:57

Yes it is originally an Irish boy name. My ex BF from Ireland was called Tara. It may be unusual but it is an Irish boy name.

Show quote history

It might be used for boys very occasionally in Ireland, but that doesn't make it 'originally' a boys' name, does it?

I don't think it's one of those names that was exclusively a male name originally, and then started being used more for girls. Or do you know something that suggests this @RogueFemale?

Wtfmothernature · 20/07/2024 02:02

Tadhg
Ciarán
Dáithí
Ronan
Pádraig

TwirlBar · 20/07/2024 01:25

RogueFemale · 20/07/2024 00:57

Yes it is originally an Irish boy name. My ex BF from Ireland was called Tara. It may be unusual but it is an Irish boy name.

Show quote history

Fair enough, really very unusual though.
Then again I've met a male Saoirse too.

Apileofballyhoo · 20/07/2024 01:07

AzraelsCat · 20/07/2024 00:01

I knew a guy called Seosamh and because he was so lovely, I always had a shine for that name.
I also love the old name Mogue. Very different!

I wonder if I know the same one!

IamaRevenant · 20/07/2024 01:01

My sister was fluctuating between Oisin and Malachy for her boy - went for the latter. Other people I know - Eoin, Colm, Daragh, Cathal? Other Irish friends have tended to have more generic names like Neil, Brendan, Colin.

I love Oisin personally!

RogueFemale · 20/07/2024 00:57

TwirlBar · 19/07/2024 21:37

Is it originally a boys name? I'm not sure the Irish version of the name is, but it's found in other cultures too.

In Ireland it's not typically used as a name for boys, no.
I think the name of the person you linked was an exception rather than the rule.

Show quote history

Yes it is originally an Irish boy name. My ex BF from Ireland was called Tara. It may be unusual but it is an Irish boy name.

TwirlBar · 20/07/2024 00:53

I like Mogue too but have only heard it rarely, used as a nickname (for Hugh, mo Aodh óg).

AzraelsCat · 20/07/2024 00:01

I knew a guy called Seosamh and because he was so lovely, I always had a shine for that name.
I also love the old name Mogue. Very different!

FayCarew · 19/07/2024 23:51

I didn't say he was Irish. I said he was male.

NervousSubject · 19/07/2024 23:49

FayCarew · 19/07/2024 22:00

Tara Ferry is male

Tara Ferry isn’t Irish. I’ve met a Sikh male Tara, but it’s not used for boys in Ireland.

Awaywiththeferries123 · 19/07/2024 22:10

Donnacha
Ferdia
Caelan
Connla
Ardal
Barra

FayCarew · 19/07/2024 22:00

Tara Ferry is male

elgreco · 19/07/2024 21:55

The only Taras I have ever met were women.

TwirlBar · 19/07/2024 21:37

RogueFemale · 19/07/2024 19:12

It's originally a boy's name, and I expect still used in Ireland as such. E.g. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_Browne

Show quote history

Is it originally a boys name? I'm not sure the Irish version of the name is, but it's found in other cultures too.

In Ireland it's not typically used as a name for boys, no.
I think the name of the person you linked was an exception rather than the rule.

kc92 · 19/07/2024 19:21

Iarla or Éanna are my favourites! Love the name Oisín as well.

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