Orla? | Mumsnet

Lululime2024 · 2024-04-26T11:16:50+00:00

what do you think of the name Orla?

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MerryChristmasToYou · 27/04/2024 14:36

Ola is pretty, and so is Orla, but the 'awla' version is 'meh'

CremeEggThief · 27/04/2024 14:23

As an Irish person living in England, I don't like the way most English people pronounce it. You really really need to strongly enunciate the R. The way most of you say it it sounds more like Ola than Orrrla and it drives me mad!

If you pronounce it how it should be pronounced ( i.e. the way it is pronounced in Ireland), it is a lovely name.

TwirlBar · 27/04/2024 14:19

LandArt · 27/04/2024 13:50

This. ‘For’ rhymes with ‘tor’ for me, ‘ór’/ore with ‘bore’, ‘four’, ‘score’ etc.

Someone else will doubtless have pointed this out already, but ‘Orla’ (no fada) means vomit eg ‘Tá fonn orla orm’, ‘I feel like puking’.

https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fgb/Orla

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True but it's pronounced urla so sounds different to the name where I am (far south) at least. Not so sure about Ulster.

Riapia · 27/04/2024 14:02

Orca?

LandArt · 27/04/2024 13:50

Teaalwayshelps · 27/04/2024 12:25

I'm in Cork and say gore and for differently. I say Orla with the sound in gore as does most everyone round here, but I've heard the Or bit said to rhyme with for in other areas (Northern accents, Dublin??) so know exactly what pp means.
Gore rhymes with four/fore to me. For has a shorter vowel sound.

Edited

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This. ‘For’ rhymes with ‘tor’ for me, ‘ór’/ore with ‘bore’, ‘four’, ‘score’ etc.

Someone else will doubtless have pointed this out already, but ‘Orla’ (no fada) means vomit eg ‘Tá fonn orla orm’, ‘I feel like puking’.

https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fgb/Orla

Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla (Ó Dónaill): Orla

Everything about 'Orla' in the Ó Dónaill Irish-English Dictionary

https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fgb/Orla

TwirlBar · 27/04/2024 12:51

Yes, there are somewhat different pronunciations of Orla within Ireland. The name is correctly spelt with a fada and you can hear the pronunciations of 'ór' (gold) in the various dialects here.

https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/%c3%b3r

Irish Pronunciation Database: ór

How to pronounce 'ór' in Irish

https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/%C3%B3r

MerryChristmasToYou · 27/04/2024 12:38

I get it @Teaalwayshelps . For and Four don't sound identical.

Teaalwayshelps · 27/04/2024 12:25

Shayisgreat · 27/04/2024 07:59

But....how does the or in for and in gore sound different? I'm Irish and trying to think of accents that would pronounce these differently.

OP, I really like the name Orla and it was on our shortlist of girls names. However, he's English and I don't like how he pronounces it so it's still on his shortlist but off mime!

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I'm in Cork and say gore and for differently. I say Orla with the sound in gore as does most everyone round here, but I've heard the Or bit said to rhyme with for in other areas (Northern accents, Dublin??) so know exactly what pp means.
Gore rhymes with four/fore to me. For has a shorter vowel sound.

CelesteCunningham · 27/04/2024 09:00

I think it's trickier than not pronouncing it correctly, it's just a different accent. I would always pronounce the R in Charlotte, even if the Charlotte in question was English and used shah-lutt herself.

I don't like Orla as Awla so I wouldn't pick it but I also wouldn't correct it.

My eldest has a name ending in -ing, we live in NI so many say her name ending in -een. I don't love it but don't correct it as the same people would pronounce been and being the same.

harrietm87 · 27/04/2024 08:47

theduchessofspork · 27/04/2024 07:54

That’s what will happen though, like Caitlin. Language evolves etc

Although I do think pronouncing Aisling as Aceling as they do in the US is taking it a bit too far..

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I mean sure…you draw the line at Aceling, I draw it at Orla. Let’s not even get started on Aoibheann!

Personally I wouldn’t give my child a name from another culture and language that I couldn’t pronounce correctly, but each to their own.

Shayisgreat · 27/04/2024 07:59

KlongDuplo · 26/04/2024 23:45

One of my favourite names, and DH too. It was on all our short lists. We were so close to using it, but we realised that we each pronounce it differently (both Irish) and I couldn't face a lifetime of hearing his pronunciation.

One of us pronounces the initial 'or' as in 'gore' and the other as in 'for'. Subtle, but I couldn't do it 😂🤔

But....how does the or in for and in gore sound different? I'm Irish and trying to think of accents that would pronounce these differently.

OP, I really like the name Orla and it was on our shortlist of girls names. However, he's English and I don't like how he pronounces it so it's still on his shortlist but off mime!

theduchessofspork · 27/04/2024 07:54

harrietm87 · 27/04/2024 07:49

Yes OP but to Irish people “Awla” sounds completely wrong as well. It just doesn’t work in an English accent - becomes a different name.

That’s what will happen though, like Caitlin. Language evolves etc

Although I do think pronouncing Aisling as Aceling as they do in the US is taking it a bit too far..

theduchessofspork · 27/04/2024 07:52

It’s OK and quite popular

I like Oona much better

Also like Honor

wafflesmgee · 27/04/2024 07:51

I like it

harrietm87 · 27/04/2024 07:49

Yes OP but to Irish people “Awla” sounds completely wrong as well. It just doesn’t work in an English accent - becomes a different name.

Original poster

Lululime2024 · 27/04/2024 03:47

If I were that woman I wouldn't have named her that based on the fact dad can't say it properly a-man-ee and ar-mar-nee are
tottaly Different names

OP posts:

Original poster

Lululime2024 · 27/04/2024 03:46

It's like a few weeks ago I was in town and this man was calling to his toddler daughter who was just standing in a shop entrance calling her amani, but like a-man-ee

and then a few seconds later the mum called to her and said it like ar-mar-nee

I couldn't believe they were talking to the same child, I'd be asking the dad what he's playing at I thought her name was Manny firstly the way he said it was awful 😂

OP posts:

CelesteCunningham · 26/04/2024 23:52

FriedGold · 26/04/2024 23:46

How else do you say it?!

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You pronounce the R. Or (and oar and ore) sound nothing like aw in most English speaking accents, but most accents in England itself are non rhotic.

FriedGold · 26/04/2024 23:46

CelesteCunningham · 26/04/2024 13:01

I like it well enough, although I'm Irish so know approximately a thousand Orlas.

Where do you live? For some accents, in particular a lot of English accents, it will be Aw-la which would irritate me a bit.

How else do you say it?!

KlongDuplo · 26/04/2024 23:45

One of my favourite names, and DH too. It was on all our short lists. We were so close to using it, but we realised that we each pronounce it differently (both Irish) and I couldn't face a lifetime of hearing his pronunciation.

One of us pronounces the initial 'or' as in 'gore' and the other as in 'for'. Subtle, but I couldn't do it 😂🤔

atomicginge · 26/04/2024 23:44

I love the name, but unless you have ties to the Emerald isle it doesn't really makes sense why you'd use it.

DramaAlpaca · 26/04/2024 23:38

harrietm87 · 26/04/2024 14:41

Lovely in an Irish accent.

The way the English (or most English?) say it - Awla - is awful.

I was going to say exactly this. Orla doesn't sound good without that rhotic 'r' sound that Irish and Scottish people have in their accents, and the strong 'a' sound at the end. If it's pronounced 'awluh' it isn't at all nice.

LandArt · 26/04/2024 23:34

Like PPs, I know about 200 Orlas. It’s a perfectly fine name that gets used a lot, but the non-rhotic English pronunciation doesn’t do it for me.

RainStreakedWindows · 26/04/2024 23:27

Lovely in a Scottish or Irish accent but loses something in an English accent.

BoleynMemories13 · 26/04/2024 18:05

Personally I'm not keen on the sound, or the awkwardness of when autocorrect changes it to oral (which will happen from time to time). Plus kids can be cruel (same as lana, when kids realise when it spells backwards).

Obviously it's up to you though. Plenty of people do use it.