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Baby names

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

Original poster

Sinead

62 replies

ParentsTrapped · 20/06/2024 12:19

What do people think?

Im Irish, DH is English and we live in London.

I feel like most English people will recognise/be able to pronounce this name thanks to Sinead O’Connor (RIP!), but it’s quite unusual these days.

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HughsMermaid · 21/06/2024 12:33

I was going to be called Sinead (b. 1970 - Irish parents) but they went with Susan instead.

What about Gobnait OP 😉?

Bombast · 21/06/2024 12:27

I’m a 51 year old Sinéad (use the fada if you’re going to use the name) and loathed it growing up because it was sooo common. There were four of us in a class of 32 all through primary, and would usually be more than one other in any sports team, club, social group, so you could feel very generic. Plus it gets confused with Siobhán all the time to this day. A colleague I’ve worked with for two years recently introduced me as Siobhán in a very formal situation.

Im assuming it will be a less beige/generic name now, and in London. Lived in the UK for years and never encountered many pronunciation problems.

DuchessOfSausage · 21/06/2024 12:25

@ZoyaTheDestroyer , you'd be surprised. I'm not specifically thinking of any specific age group but I think if I nipped out to the local high street and asked a number of 'English' people, most of them wouldn't know.

I know of her because I remember 'Nothing Compares 2 U' being in the charts.

'English' because many people in GB aren't English.

CyanideShake · 21/06/2024 12:25

Maeve being seen as a fashionable name is funny to me.

2024BabyNameIndecision · 21/06/2024 12:22

Probably totally outing so using my related but throwaway username. We live in London - DH has 4 x irish grandparents so we wanted a link to his family history. Names on our list included lots of the ones you have listed - Aoife, Orla, Maeve, Roisin, Bridget, Bronagh but in the end our two girls are Erin and Imogen.

I really like Sinead and it would have gone on our list except for the fact that i work with a Sinead and i prefer names that aren't connected to a person i know.

DD2 was actually called Maeve for a while until i met three other baby Maeves in the first two weeks after she was born! Put me right off!

FFSWherearemyglasses · 21/06/2024 12:16

I know an Irish Romy - she’s a lovely person 🫶🏻💚

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 21/06/2024 12:10

DuchessOfSausage · 21/06/2024 11:27

I don't think 'most English people' will have heard of Sinead O'Connor.
Nice name but I would think it was a 50 yr old. It did get used a bit more in GB in the 1990s.

I'd strongly disagree with this, unless you are specifically thinking of people under the age of about 20.

DuchessOfSausage · 21/06/2024 11:56

She was, but not everyone will have heard of her. You can be 'English' and not be interested in the things SO'C was famous for.

I can think of a lot of people mentioned on MN who are world famous but I have either not heard of them or have only seen their name.

Original poster
ParentsTrapped · 21/06/2024 11:40

DuchessOfSausage · 21/06/2024 11:27

I don't think 'most English people' will have heard of Sinead O'Connor.
Nice name but I would think it was a 50 yr old. It did get used a bit more in GB in the 1990s.

Really?! She was world famous.

OP posts:
DuchessOfSausage · 21/06/2024 11:27

I don't think 'most English people' will have heard of Sinead O'Connor.
Nice name but I would think it was a 50 yr old. It did get used a bit more in GB in the 1990s.

BodenCardiganNot · 21/06/2024 11:06

Róisín?
Siún?
Síofra?

KvotheTheBloodless · 21/06/2024 11:05

I love the name Sinead! I also really like Siobhan, Roisin and Áine.

Brukli · 21/06/2024 11:03

It’s a 40/50 something’s name in Ireland, but lovely and due a revival. Same as Siobhan.

Niamh and Maeve were old fashioned names and seem to be back in vogue. Orla was a terribly dated name to me and I was miffed at its popularity initially, especially in England and with people with no Irish connection!

Original poster
ParentsTrapped · 21/06/2024 11:01

Interesting @RoaryLion1! Maybe we will start a trend.

Orla is no for me as I don’t like the English pronunciation. Any other ideas of recognisably Irish girls’ names with manageable spelling and pronunciation welcome though!

OP posts:
resm · 20/06/2024 21:51

It’s a great name young and old, and I’d be very pleasantly surprised to hear of a newborn Sinead. Go for it!

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 20/06/2024 21:46

Loads round here but we're a city with a strong Irish heritage. Haven't come across any young children or babies with the name though only grown adults. No issues with pronunciation or spelling

RuthW · 20/06/2024 21:43

Perfectly normal name not to my taste but go for it.

RoaryLion1 · 20/06/2024 21:07

I’m in London and know a baby Sinead - Irish dad, English mum. I think it’s a lovely name and not aware of the mum having issues with people spelling it (probably as people aware of Sinead O’Connor). I also know an Orla if you’re looking for other Irish names that are familiar here?

Kitkat1523 · 20/06/2024 21:03

I don’t love it….it’s a bit harsh for me

DataPup · 20/06/2024 21:02

I like it. My best childhood friend was called Sinead, I was devastated when they moved back to Ireland. I don't think in the UK it would be associated with a particular era.

CheeseyOnionPie · 20/06/2024 20:58

Gorgeous name!

SpikeGilesSandwich · 20/06/2024 20:55

Lovely name!

Original poster
ParentsTrapped · 20/06/2024 14:39

Moreteaandchocolate · 20/06/2024 13:49

I think it would sound lovely and refreshing to meet a little Sinead! Time for a revival of the name maybe?

Yeah! I think so 😊

OP posts:
Moreteaandchocolate · 20/06/2024 13:49

I think it would sound lovely and refreshing to meet a little Sinead! Time for a revival of the name maybe?

IamaRevenant · 20/06/2024 13:44

I'm half Irish and to me from that side it sounds a bit dated (just based on family and friends). In the UK though I think it's pretty cool! And easy to pronounce which is always a bonus when it comes to Irish names 😁