AIBU to give my child an Irish name in the UK?

[FolkSongSweet]

Posting here for traffic. I’ve seen a few heated debates on this on baby name threads recently. I’m considering giving my child an Irish name where the pronunciation isn’t obvious from the spelling. We live in London. Will this be a huge burden to the child when they grow up/a mild annoyance, or not an issue?

(NB this issue could obviously theoretically apply to lots of names, not just Irish ones, but Irish ones are what I’m considering)

YABU - don’t give your child a tricky name
YANBU - it’s not a big deal, people will learn

PS I certainly wouldn’t be annoyed by people getting it wrong (unless I suppose they’d already been told/we’re deliberately getting it wrong), but maybe naively id hope that people who matter would get it right and she wouldn’t care about the others?!

I am in Switzerland and my friend Aoife gets called Waff-ee

Blathnaid isn't unusual in Ireland

@AryaStarkWolf

Blathnaid isn't unusual in Ireland

Isn't it? It is where I'm from (Ulster). The first one I met was the baby I mentioned^^.

It's not a problem.

I don't think you would be unreasonable, per se, but I am an immigrant and DP is a different nationality to me and for our two children we tried hard to find names that would work in both our languages/cultures. Of course it limited our options and there were several names that we loved but which were rules out for being 'too much' to work in the other language, but I wanted my kids' names to make them feel at home in both countries.

Apparently you've done that for your son. You say he has an Irish forename that is fine for English speakers, which to me is respecting both sides of his heritage. There are loads of Irish names that the huge majority of people in England wouldn't have any issue with - personally I'd pick one of those for a mixed heritage Irish-English child.

But that's just me, at the end of the day it's your child and your decision and nothing you choose for your own child could be said to be 'unreasonable'.

I’d say Blathnaid is unusual enough in Ireland. But most in ROI would know how to pronounce it.

Mot towns have a Catholic church and often a Catholic primary where many of the children have traditional Irish names; they've become popular again. Nobody seems to have too much trouble pronouncing or writing their names - as someone said people say Tchaikovsky, Vladimir and Nadal Rafael or Sharapova. Joseph, Patrick, Bridgette and John-Paul are hardly difficult. Siobhan and Saoirse are fairly well known as are Aiden or Declan. There are a few less common ones but nothing that can't be learned.

@TheKeatingFive

I’d say Blathnaid is unusual enough in Ireland. But most in ROI would know how to pronounce it.

Yes, I knew how to pronounce it and what it means, but I had never met one. By unusual, I didn't mean unorthodox, just uncommon. Hope that clarifies.

I married a totally English but very regional surname which 95% of the UK population haven't heard before, can't pronounce or can't spell. Or both. I can absolutely guarantee that when telling it to anyone of the phone, I will say it, then be asked how to spell it, and about half will then repeat the pronunciation back to me wrong. It's like a little IQ test for people who work in call centres.

  The good news is I got rid of my maiden surname, which was far  worse.

Thank you @SaucyHorse. I suppose with my son we picked a name we both loved and it was just luck that it worked ok here. It wasn’t really part of the decision making process, but partly I guess because it didn’t have to be.

With the name I’ve chosen for my daughter, the pronunciation is straightforward but the spelling isn’t. I’d rather it were that way round than eg Orla, where the spelling is easy but to me it is totally mangled by English people who don’t pronounce their “r”s, or Niamh which has become much more common but the nuance of the schwa is lost here (appreciate that’s also the case in parts of Ireland).

I wouldn’t be put off by having to correct the spelling - there’s plenty of ‘English’ names that have different spellings. To take one example - Lindsay, Lyndsey, Lynsey, Lynsay, and I even know a Lindzi.

Who cares if it’s not immediately clear what the spelling is.

And it’s also not difficult for people to correctly pronounce a name once told... I can’t stand the faux “I couldn’t possibly pronounce that so I’ll call you something else entirely”. It’s a laziness.

Call your DD anything you choose (my favourite is Orlaith...!)

I have an Irish name living in England and I love it. It’s more popular now but growing up it was quite rare.

It is a great conversation starter. People either get excited that they know how to spell it or they ask me to spell it and we have a laugh about it.

If you love the name just go for it.

It depends on how familiar people will be with the name.

Most English people can handle Sean. Many can handle Niamh. Thanks to the actress, more than average can even handle Saoirse, even if they may misspell it.

You might not have as much luck with Seosaimhín or Sadhbh.

As someone with an Irish name like this, please don't.
People I've worked with ten years still say it wrong, every appointment or booking is a trial, it's the bane of my life. I book everything possible under my surname.

I'd have changed it by deed poll if it wasn't for the fact that my degree is in my current name.

I always say "oh yes, its a lovely name....for someone else to have".

I really want to know what the name is, OP.

Is the reason you’re not telling us is because it’s Fionnuala? Or Nollaig?

Will her life really not be “easy” because she has to correct the way people say or spell her name? I’m finding it hard to put it in perspective!

No, it won’t be easy. It’ll be a pain in the arse.

Every time she meets someone new, has to tell someone her name, she’ll have to tell them how to pronounce and spell it. Every friend, every acquaintance, when she’s at work everyone there, people at the bank, in shops, over the phone, the list is constant, endless and almost everyday.

If you don’t have a pain in the arse name you don’t realise how frequently you have to tell people what your name is and how tiresome it gets.

Isn't it? It is where I'm from (Ulster). The first one I met was the baby I mentioned^^.

I've known a fair few Blathnaids, I'm in Munster

@AryaStarkWolf

Isn't it? It is where I'm from (Ulster). The first one I met was the baby I mentioned^^.

I've known a fair few Blathnaids, I'm in Munster

Ah well, there you are! Must be more common in some areas...or I don't have many friends .

Ah well, there you are! Must be more common in some areas...or I don't have many friends

@TempestHayes it’s more like Sadhbh - ie tricky spelling but everyone can say “Sive”. So it’s not like @StormTreader’s situation where people would pronounce it incorrectly.

Lol @TerribleCustomerCervix it’s not Fionnuala (though I like that!), Nollaig. It’s Gobnait.....joke!

@heartsonacake have you got personal experience? Just because many others on this thread who do don’t seem to have the same view as you, but it’s good to get other perspectives.

I am also Irish and considered this but decided to go for a well-known (or so I thought) European name. People mispronounce it all the time. It isn't really a big deal , I just correct them , so I figure I could have gotten away with an Irish name. There are so many gorgeous ones and it's a great way to honour your heritage. There are many more Irish people in the UK these days too.

have you got personal experience? Just because many others on this thread who do don’t seem to have the same view as you, but it’s good to get other perspectives.

Yes, I have a name I need to tell people how to spell and pronounce. It’s a pain in the arse and it crops up everyday. As much as I love my parents I do resent them for making what should be something simple so tiresome.

I also came across a British raised adult with one of the names mentioned here recently. I thought it was wonderful that they had such a beautiful Irish name. The more of hem there are , the more people learn to pronounce them. I certainly didn't know how to pronounce many African and Muslim popular names before I moved to the UK.

Ok so I suppose I have to take a gamble as to whether my daughter will feel the same as @heartsonacake or not. 🤔