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Baby names

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

Original poster

Seamus James? Is that silly?

37 replies

goomum · 16/06/2009 12:09

Opinions wanted on Seamus.

  1. James was our chosen middle name but Seamus is the Irish equivalent of James. So would it be silly to go for Seamus James?

  2. Our surname is Irish and my husband has Irish roots on both sides although several generations back. I have Scottish and Welsh grandparents. Is it a bit pretentious to give such a gaelic Irish name to a little lad who will grow up in England?

  3. My DH is sold on Seamus but to me it reads SEE MUS rather than SHAY MUS. What do MNetters think about an Anglicised spelling? Sheamus or Shaymus?

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sleeplessinstretford · 16/06/2009 14:02

most people do know that seamus is gaelic for James.
It's a ridiculous idea- people might think you had pretentiously given your child a gaelic name without realising it was actually James if you call your child James James.
Seamus is how it is spelt- please don't start to tinker with spellings of names...

tummytickler · 16/06/2009 14:01

Hi, i think people will pronounce Seamus correctly, so please dont Anglicise the spelling as it looks like you dont know how to spell it!
I think you should use a different mn, after all if it is to honour somebody then you are doing that in using Seamus and i think to use the same name twice is a bit silly tbh.

I think Seamus Gregory sounds good!

Bathsheba · 16/06/2009 13:38

I'm in Scotland and I do think a high proportion of people here would know Seamus is the Irish version of James, and many many people would try and be "helpful" in commenting on it...

kormachameleon · 16/06/2009 12:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

belgo · 16/06/2009 12:20

Yes Sean James is lovely. So is Seamus John or Joseph as another alternative. But Seamus James would just make me think that you had chosen an irsih name without any idea that it was simply the irish version of James..

kormachameleon · 16/06/2009 12:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thedolly · 16/06/2009 12:17

x posts with you belgo

I was also thinking Sean James would be a better alternative

thedolly · 16/06/2009 12:15

The 'Sh' sound is the same in Sean and people seem to be able to cope with that. Seamus is a bit more unusual than Sean but people will get used to it. Don't Anglicise it - uck!

belgo · 16/06/2009 12:15

1.Yes Seamus James would be silly.

  1. No problem.
  2. Seamus is the correct spelling, stick with that. What about Sean James?
Merrylegs · 16/06/2009 12:14

  1. Yes, it is a bit silly. Sorry. One or t'other. Not both.

  2. No, not pretentious to give a gaelic name to a kid growing up in England.

  3. Think it should be spelt as it should be spelt - ie. Seamus, BUT if you go for it, be prepared for a lifetime of him having to spell it out, or correct its pronunciation.
    He may not thank you for that...

Aimsmum · 16/06/2009 12:13

Message withdrawn

orangina · 16/06/2009 12:13
  1. yes, I think so (ssorry, you did ask...)
  2. no, i think that's fine
  3. NO to anglicised spelling. Not Nice At All.

How about a different irish first name and sticking with james in the middle?