Nora or Eira for a girl?

Taggys · 2025-04-09T07:51:59+00:00

Hey! Which name is nicer for a little girl: Nora Eira (ay-rah) She would grow up in England on the Welsh border, as Eira is a welsh name. Thanks ☺️

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DanDin · 14/04/2025 09:11

@mathanxiety , Aye-ra - Eira is not how the Welsh name Eira is pronounced.

BestIsWest · 14/04/2025 08:50

I know Eira is more popular now but it will (along with Eirlys and Eiryl) be an older persons name to me. I had aunties and great aunts with these names.

It’s nice to see it being used by a younger generation as it’s a lovely name. I’m in the South and even by some Welsh speakers east of a certain point it’s almost always Eye-ra. Do hear Ay-ra sometimes.

ScentOfAMoomin · 14/04/2025 08:41

Eira is a million times nicer than Nora

FrootScoot · 14/04/2025 08:41

DanDin · 13/04/2025 18:08

@FrootScoot . from those names, I'd say you are in South or West Wales.
Cerys wasn't really used in North Wales, but Carys was.
If you are 60ish, you'd probably have a sister or cousin called Carys, if you weren't called it yourself. You'd also have a brother or cousin called Dylan or Gareth, and they'd probably all have the middle name Wyn.

North Wales and I’m under 45. I did go to school with a lot of Gareth’s and Geraints though. Most lads seemed to be Gaz, Gez or Gav!

PomegranateVase · 14/04/2025 06:08

Eira is lovely.

mathanxiety · 14/04/2025 02:04

SpringGreenOnion · 13/04/2025 22:17

What’s the difference between Eira and Eire (as in Ireland) in pronunciation?

I’d hate to be called Nora, sorry. Cora, Dora are nicer.

Aye-ra - Eira
Air-eh - Eire

SpringGreenOnion · 13/04/2025 22:17

What’s the difference between Eira and Eire (as in Ireland) in pronunciation?

I’d hate to be called Nora, sorry. Cora, Dora are nicer.

LilyJosephine · 13/04/2025 22:04

Unlikely to be in her 60’s if she has a 14 year old surely? (I mean I know some people do have kids in their late 40’s but it’s fairly uncommon). I think we just have to accept that different areas of Wales are always going to have different popularity trends.

In my area of N. Wales Eira is popular but not overly so - most people still seem to use “English” names as we are on the border. Of the Welsh names or spellings for babies or toddlers I’d say Osian or Emrys is the most popular for boys here and Efa or Alys for girls - but even then I’ve only met a few of each. Seems to be a much wider variety of names in general.

DanDin · 13/04/2025 18:08

@FrootScoot . from those names, I'd say you are in South or West Wales.
Cerys wasn't really used in North Wales, but Carys was.
If you are 60ish, you'd probably have a sister or cousin called Carys, if you weren't called it yourself. You'd also have a brother or cousin called Dylan or Gareth, and they'd probably all have the middle name Wyn.

iwentjasonwaterfalls · 13/04/2025 17:50

FrootScoot · 13/04/2025 13:58

My DC are aged between 14 and 25 and have multiple friends/peers called Megan, Ffion and Carys. My eldest has a Meg (and a Lauren) in every friendship group.
I’m in my 40’s and most of my female friends with Welsh names are Sian, Rhian/Rhiannon, Cerys or Bethan.
The elderly Welsh ladies at church and bingo are mostly called Olwen, Gwyneth, Luned, Mari or Mag

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Yes this is my experience too!

Moreteaandchocolate · 13/04/2025 16:37

FrootScoot · 13/04/2025 13:58

My DC are aged between 14 and 25 and have multiple friends/peers called Megan, Ffion and Carys. My eldest has a Meg (and a Lauren) in every friendship group.
I’m in my 40’s and most of my female friends with Welsh names are Sian, Rhian/Rhiannon, Cerys or Bethan.
The elderly Welsh ladies at church and bingo are mostly called Olwen, Gwyneth, Luned, Mari or Mag

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This is my experience of names used for different age groups in Wales too.

ChaToilLeam · 13/04/2025 14:01

Eira is lovely!

Nora makes me think of Nora Batty, sorry.

FrootScoot · 13/04/2025 13:58

DanDin · 12/04/2025 18:59

@LadyMonicaBaddingham , is Eirios a name? I've heard of an Eirioes, and assume she's female. Eirian is unisex, but it's used mainly for women.

@iwentjasonwaterfalls , it's a name that was very popular in the 1960s. I can't see any appeal in it, other than it's unlikely to be mispronounced.

Megan seems grannyish. It's nicer in a Welsh accent. 'Meggun' seems American, and I don't like it.

Ffion is OK, but might get mixed up with Fionn. It's very popular now but doesn't seem fresh. It seems a bit 1980s

Megan is in her 80s or 90s, Ffion probably 30s or 40s, and Carys 55-70.

My DC are aged between 14 and 25 and have multiple friends/peers called Megan, Ffion and Carys. My eldest has a Meg (and a Lauren) in every friendship group.
I’m in my 40’s and most of my female friends with Welsh names are Sian, Rhian/Rhiannon, Cerys or Bethan.
The elderly Welsh ladies at church and bingo are mostly called Olwen, Gwyneth, Luned, Mari or Mag

Gundogday · 13/04/2025 13:19

Clearinguptheclutter · 13/04/2025 10:25

The OP might well have no idea who she is and the baby’s generation certainly won’t

there is some kind of connotation with almost every name, unless yo go totally “unique” that is

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True, but op did ask which name was nicer, and for many people, the Nora Batty connotation makes that name less attractive.

Clearinguptheclutter · 13/04/2025 10:25

GiddyCrab · 12/04/2025 21:13

Nora Batty. I couldn't call a baby this.

The OP might well have no idea who she is and the baby’s generation certainly won’t

there is some kind of connotation with almost every name, unless yo go totally “unique” that is

GiddyCrab · 12/04/2025 21:13

Nora Batty. I couldn't call a baby this.

DanDin · 12/04/2025 18:59

@LadyMonicaBaddingham , is Eirios a name? I've heard of an Eirioes, and assume she's female. Eirian is unisex, but it's used mainly for women.

@iwentjasonwaterfalls , it's a name that was very popular in the 1960s. I can't see any appeal in it, other than it's unlikely to be mispronounced.

Megan seems grannyish. It's nicer in a Welsh accent. 'Meggun' seems American, and I don't like it.

Ffion is OK, but might get mixed up with Fionn. It's very popular now but doesn't seem fresh. It seems a bit 1980s

Megan is in her 80s or 90s, Ffion probably 30s or 40s, and Carys 55-70.

LemonLass · 12/04/2025 18:53

I agree with Nora as a bit fuddy duddy. Also makes me think "Bloody Nora!" when people are shocked.

Eira is Welsh for snow - like calling a baby Summer I guess? No problem if a Winter baby but many will struggle with spelling and pronouncing it (soundwise, not spelling obvs, North Wales foll would say Ay-rah).

Thora sounded "better" initially as tjought of Thor and strength but then thought when they write their name on a card, with a kiss, looks like Thorax

Ultimately, whatever you decide, I would announce as done deal to friends and family rather than ask people for opinions as everyone will have their own view on names.

Happy new baby x

SummerDaysOnTheWay · 12/04/2025 18:46

user1492757084 · 09/04/2025 09:43

Eira 100% It's bright and uplifting.

Nora is more fuddy duddy.

Eira is sweet with many middle names; and it's a great choice for near Wales.

This.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 12/04/2025 18:07

Nora. I have a huge (and admittedly irrational) dislike for the name Eira.

Eirlys, Eiry, Eirios? Fine. But for some reason Eira makes my toes curl

iwentjasonwaterfalls · 12/04/2025 14:57

DanDin · 12/04/2025 14:48

If she is English but you want a nod to Wales try Megan, Carys or Ffion.
Megan isn't really Welsh and Carys is old-fashioned and frumpy.

Megan is very popular in Wales (and there may be a different etymology but the one everyone is most familiar with suggests that it's Welsh).

Interesting that you see Carys as old-fashioned and frumpy - I know four girls/women called Carys - one is in her 60s, two are late 20s / early 30s and one is 11. I don't see it as being tied to a particular era or age.

latetothefisting · 12/04/2025 14:54

Sebora · 09/04/2025 08:59

I have a Nora 🥰 Eira is also lovely but it would constantly get pronounced wrong. Personally I would’ve pronounced it Eye-rah until I saw your post.

I'm welsh - it should be pronounced Eye-rah, not the way OP's said

that's south wales though, as pp has said north is different again.

DanDin · 12/04/2025 14:48

If she is English but you want a nod to Wales try Megan, Carys or Ffion.
Megan isn't really Welsh and Carys is old-fashioned and frumpy.

ODFOx · 12/04/2025 08:42

I love Thora!

VenusClapTrap · 12/04/2025 08:19

i prefer Thora to Eira. Nora is the nicest though.