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Baby names

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

Original poster

Pretty sounding irish derived baby names?

132 replies

Bella321 · 11/10/2025 09:11

I'm so stuck for a name for my little girl.

We have been wanting to go with a name with Irish origin because my partner and his family are Irish. However, we live in England and I don't want her to have the life long annoyance of people misspelling or mis pronouncing her name.

Me working in childcare and him having a large family is limiting options too as names like Orla and Fia are already taken.

Please correct pronounciation if wrong.. but my maybe list so far is:

Éabha- Ava

Aoibhe- Eva

Maeve

Úna- oona

Éala- Ayla

Talullah

Íde- eeda

But none are quite feeling like the one. And also the Irish origin is questionable on some even though they have all come from "Irish baby names" lists online.

Help! Any more suggestions or ones to eliminate?

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MagdaLenor · 11/10/2025 09:33

Not Tallulah, I think it has other connotations.
The others are pretty.
I teach several girls called Aoife (in England) but they pronounce it in different ways.
Ayla is lovely, and not too popular, if that's an issue for you.

Mushrump · 11/10/2025 09:31

Bella321 · 11/10/2025 09:11

I'm so stuck for a name for my little girl.

We have been wanting to go with a name with Irish origin because my partner and his family are Irish. However, we live in England and I don't want her to have the life long annoyance of people misspelling or mis pronouncing her name.

Me working in childcare and him having a large family is limiting options too as names like Orla and Fia are already taken.

Please correct pronounciation if wrong.. but my maybe list so far is:

Éabha- Ava

Aoibhe- Eva

Maeve

Úna- oona

Éala- Ayla

Talullah

Íde- eeda

But none are quite feeling like the one. And also the Irish origin is questionable on some even though they have all come from "Irish baby names" lists online.

Help! Any more suggestions or ones to eliminate?

The ‘Irish baby name lists’ online are famously batshit. They invent names, classify as Irish names which have nothing to do with Ireland, misspell, invent etymologies etc. I mean, Tallulah isn’t Irish! Aoibhe and Éabha would be pronounced identically by some dialects of Irish, and Éabha is just a recent invented Hibernicisation of Ava, anyway, if that matters to you. Éala is also a recent invention.

If your husband is Irish, let him lead on this? It’s also not clear why you’re worried about mispronunciation and let considering names with the ‘aoi’ vowel cluster. Though I spent 30 years in England with an uncommon Irish name and surname without difficulties.

I like Íde best of what you’ve suggested.

Other names —Aisling, Clíona, Sadhbh, Clodagh, Róisín, Síofra, Aoife, Caoilfhionn, Caoimhe, Ciara, Eimear, Cara.

Original poster
Bella321 · 11/10/2025 09:29

I am becoming drawn to Éala but think maybe for this reason the spelling Ayla would be simpler but then it seems to loose any connection to being Irish. Also considering Éabha just going with Ava the anglicised spelling but that also looses it's Irish connection.

OP posts:
Bircoe · 11/10/2025 09:25

Imogen

deeahgwitch · 11/10/2025 09:20

Dervla
Iseult
Darerca

SquirrelBlue · 11/10/2025 09:19

I really liked Áine (on-ya) and Róisín (ro-sheen) if I'd had girls.
Never heard of Tallulah as an Irish name. I would assume American origin if I heard it.
Aoife and Siobhan might be more well known so less likely to be spelt or pronounced wrongly.
Out of yours, I'd suggest Maeve with that spelling would be the easiest for Brits to spell / say but I might be wrong.
Fadas are likely to be dropped regularly. Some official paperwork (banks!) won't even let you register with a fada. I have that issue with one of my boys' names. It irritates me as it changes the pronunciation but depends if that will annoy you or not

Teaforthetotal · 11/10/2025 09:16

I like the names you mentioned.Una is my favourite on there.I really like the name Neve also.Have a few friends both Irish and not in the UK who've used it. Also love Enya.