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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask how would you pronounce these names?

188 replies

BumWiper · 16/06/2011 18:28

Caoimhe and Naoise

OP posts:
messymammy · 16/06/2011 23:49

Can't wait to tell dp now that mn knew something he didn't!

PamBeesly · 16/06/2011 23:51

I love Orlaith too and I understand why parents want to keep the real Irish names alive even though I can see why the easier to pronounce more Anglo sounding names are favoured, still I think Irish names are lovely and that is what I keep trying to convince my Dutch DH of as we are TTC.... Siofra is top of our girls list :)

messymammy · 16/06/2011 23:54

ooooh gonna piss all over everyone's cornflakes here,but I hate Síofra. Yes it sounds lovely, but I can't understand why anyone would willingly refer to their child as a changeling....sorry guys!

And also I did know a Síofra who is a horrible horrible chav so that might have coloured it for me either!

PamBeesly · 16/06/2011 23:56

Messy I thought it meant....bad fairy? I'm chav immune...as I am class immune and don't buy into it, I shop in Lidl and piss poor love Primark and have a PhD, I'm sure I've pissed someone off here somehow....

Maryz · 16/06/2011 23:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PamBeesly · 16/06/2011 23:59

I still think you should be President though messy....Síofra lover or not...

PamBeesly · 17/06/2011 00:00

I love Daire Maryz and I'd use it as a gender neutral name although I know no female Daires, I know lots of males Daraghs.

messymammy · 17/06/2011 00:00

well I meant that she went around wrecking stuff as a teenager and drives a stupid loud exhaust car and doesnt have a job. I'd typically say knacker, but trying to be a bit more pc....I'm very inclined towards Penneys and Lidl myself!

Afaik, Síofra means a changeling. That the fairies have taken your baby and left you with one of theirs so they can spy on your family. It's alll abit EastEnders but with a happier ending....
So technically, yes a bad fairy....though not an image I'd want to think of my newborn as.

MrsTwinks · 17/06/2011 00:01

Love daire (it's boy btw) but it's too close to my name to use it Sad

messymammy · 17/06/2011 00:03

ah here pam is my biggest fan!not sure if I've ever had an online fan before!

Love Daragh and Darragh, think Dara is the shortened (like Orlaith and Orla) and afaik Daire is for girls, though much like Naoise, is now interchangeable (sp). My friend's brother is Daire, so I'm full of contradictions tonight!

Iwantscallops · 17/06/2011 00:09

Would you mind, whilst on the subject of pronunciation of names. A good friend of mine has called her daughter Aoibhinn (I think the spelling is correct!). How would I pronounce it?

PamBeesly · 17/06/2011 00:09

Pam 4 Messy....I love bad fairy or changeling (I have green eyes maybe my future DC will have them too and the name will be real to life) so its kind of appropriate. All Dutch names have been kind of relegated to second names...Boys name Hugh or Rowan!

PamBeesly · 17/06/2011 00:10

A-veen Scallops, lovely name

Iwantscallops · 17/06/2011 00:15

Thanks Pam. It is a beautiful name, as all the Irish names seem to be. I can now call her to send my congratulations in confidence!

messymammy · 17/06/2011 00:15

ah well as long as you know what you're getting yourself into so Pam! Best of luck with the ttcing.
Aoibhinn is lovely,still biased though :)

RIght cailíní I'm off to the leaba!Night all

mathanxiety · 17/06/2011 00:18

The funny part about English/American/Australian speakers of English who know only English complaining about Irish names and spellings is that English has just about the 'quirkiest' orthography in the entire world, whereas Irish is very systematised and regular. Just different from English.

CRS · 17/06/2011 00:25

Ye Gods! Cathleen is my name - first time I have seen it in real life ever on this thread when I clicked the "Irish names" link! I feel vindicated in my "Cathy - ness". (ALWAYS addressd as Kath, Kathy or Catherine).

MY NAME IS Cathleen! (Cathy is fine) And breathe.

CRS · 17/06/2011 00:31

I get cross when people persist in calling me "Kathy" in wrting - they have seen in writing Cath or Cathy - why??

mathanxiety · 17/06/2011 00:40

I think Keeva is Connaught Irish and Kweeva is Munster. Naoise is really a boy's name, but it has crossed over to some extent.

CRS · 17/06/2011 00:41

And to follow on from mathanxiety's post - my Irish mum thinks I'm pronounced "Cathlinn". Mostly Caff in pracice these days! :)

CRS · 17/06/2011 00:43

practice! Bad typing!

PamBeesly · 17/06/2011 00:43

Top O' the morning to you CRS....or Cathleen, its a fine soft day/night (tis always a soft day here) :)

PamBeesly · 17/06/2011 00:45

Mathanxiety (I feel anxiety about maths too...) I was born and raised in Munster and have been in Connaught since I was 18 and its always been Kweeva...maybe I'm wrong though....

CRS · 17/06/2011 00:45

I'm totally English, just have one lot of Irish ancestors.

CRS · 17/06/2011 00:48

"Caff" works just fine! Night, kids, see you tomorrow. CX