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Original poster

Help Irish names

43 replies

Babyn3909 · 08/11/2026 00:04

Third baby first 2 baby’s have Irish names
would do you perfer?

Orlaith
Aoibhín

or even Ailbhe

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Meetingoffive · 08/11/2026 11:24

@Babyn3909
This is a link showing the typical pronunciation of aoi in different dialects.
That said, naoi in Munster is said more like nay than nee, but you’re a long way from Munster. I can’t think of other exceptions but no doubt there are some…my Irish isn’t great. But aoi is usually said something like ee is in English. I agree that it can be hard to write the sounds exactly 😅

https://www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/Aoi

Original poster
Babyn3909 · 08/11/2026 12:10

What about Aoibhí it’s lovely too ?

OP posts:
Meetingoffive · 08/11/2026 12:27

Babyn3909 · 08/11/2026 12:10

What about Aoibhí it’s lovely too ?

It’s like Evie I guess? Haven’t come across it before, but just looked it up and it’s started being used in the last few years.

Original poster
Babyn3909 · 08/11/2026 12:27

Meetingoffive · 08/11/2026 12:27

It’s like Evie I guess? Haven’t come across it before, but just looked it up and it’s started being used in the last few years.

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Just seen it yeah Evie never seen it before either

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Rondayvu · 08/11/2026 14:16

Love Irish names although did not go with any myself as we were to emmigrate at one point and I was worried people would have a hard time spelling the names. I always wanted Saoirse for a girl but loved Clodagh and Cushla also. Some are spelled ridiculously hard even for Irish people - I have a friend with a child called Saidhbhe for example which honestly outside of Ireland would nearly be abusive lol but inside it is not an easy one either.

Original poster
Babyn3909 · 08/11/2026 14:17

Aw I love Clodagh and Caragh too

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Rondayvu · 08/11/2026 14:19

Laragh seems to be getting some traction too here in recent years.

Fupoffyagrasshole · 08/11/2026 14:23

My daughter had an Irish name and goes to school in north London she is very confident at 5 on correcting people and making sure they know how to say her name properly!

we teach her to be proud of her name being a bit different here and that sometimes people just need help with getting it right and she’s fine with that
it’s not a big deal

my name is also Irish and I have to correct people too and I actually enjoy having a name that’s different and can’t say I’ve ever found it a burden like others on here always seem to say will happen

Meetingoffive · 08/11/2026 14:27

Rondayvu · 08/11/2026 14:16

Love Irish names although did not go with any myself as we were to emmigrate at one point and I was worried people would have a hard time spelling the names. I always wanted Saoirse for a girl but loved Clodagh and Cushla also. Some are spelled ridiculously hard even for Irish people - I have a friend with a child called Saidhbhe for example which honestly outside of Ireland would nearly be abusive lol but inside it is not an easy one either.

Saidhbhe is quite an unusual spelling of Sadhbh it must be said. Most Irish people would go with the standard spelling.

HambleDoll · 08/11/2026 14:35

I love the look of all of them but would need to be told how to pronounce them. I like Saoirse and can say that one. They all sound so pretty to me.

HughManity · 08/11/2026 15:21

Fupoffyagrasshole · 08/11/2026 14:23

My daughter had an Irish name and goes to school in north London she is very confident at 5 on correcting people and making sure they know how to say her name properly!

we teach her to be proud of her name being a bit different here and that sometimes people just need help with getting it right and she’s fine with that
it’s not a big deal

my name is also Irish and I have to correct people too and I actually enjoy having a name that’s different and can’t say I’ve ever found it a burden like others on here always seem to say will happen

My name isn't Irish. It's not a 'burden', it just doesn't work. I can correct people as much as I choose to, it won't make any difference because they still won't be able to say it.

holachicatita · 09/11/2026 19:29

I love an Irish name. What are your other two called OP to see which goes with them better?

mathanxiety · 10/11/2026 05:04

Babyn3909 · 08/11/2026 09:11

Thank you I do really like it. I’m seeing a lot of Orlaith without the fada is Órlaith the correct way?

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Orlaith /Orla doesn't need a fada. It's pronounced the same either way (fada or no).

mathanxiety · 10/11/2026 05:09

Babyn3909 · 08/11/2026 09:00

As in “ee -veen” or “ay veen” any I know are mostly “ay veen” it’s hard to type the pronunciation but I’m sure I’m using more of a “e”

altho I’ve seen a lot of “aoibhe” to which people pronounce it as “Ava”

we also like beibhinn

Edited
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Aoi is pronounced as a long E (ee).

You can hear it in words like Taoiseach, Aoine, Laois, caoine, aois...

Meetingoffive · 10/11/2026 14:32

mathanxiety · 10/11/2026 05:04

Orlaith /Orla doesn't need a fada. It's pronounced the same either way (fada or no).

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Well, if you leave the fada out of a name people do generally pronounce it as if the fada were there. The same happens with names like Seán/Sean. The word sean in Irish is pronounced shan and it means old, but when someone says their name is Sean (no fada) you still say it as Seán is said, not like the word sean.

That’s not exactly the same as a name not needing a fada iyswim. Órlaith does have a fada even though it often gets left out. Ór and Or are pronounced differently in Irish but people will ignore that and pronounce the spelling Orlaith like Órlaith all the same.

honeyrider · 10/11/2026 15:30

Órlaith is the nicest of the names you've posted, in my opinion anyway.

Original poster
Babyn3909 · 10/11/2026 15:53

Thanks everyone we like Aoibhín , Órlaith and Clodagh atm

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