Sorley

[polkadottytotty]

Hello

I really love this for a boy - wanted it for DS2 but DH wasn't keen and we went for Harper instead. But it has grown on him and he likes it now. Its celtic, which fits with our scottish connection.

My only concern is that it might lead to some undesirable nicknames. Poorly Sorley etc. What do you think?

Sorley not?
Sorry. I've never heard of this name before - where does it come from? How do you say it?

It reminds me of the word 'sordid'. I have never heard it before. How is it pronounced?

I think it is not a great name.

For one thing I have never ever heard of it as a name. That's quite unusual as I know a lot of children from all backgrounds with lots of different kind of names.

Then i think it sounds like sorely, as in I sorely need a drink or whatever.

Sorry. I like the name Harper tho.

Actually this reminds me of the thread where a MN-er asked if she shd name her future DS Portley, after a character in Wind in the Willos (I think).

She was dissuaded

Its Gaelic, derived from Somerled (Scottish) but originally from Old Norse.
It means Summer Warrior or Viking and is pronounced as it looks.

It fits quite well with my other DS's names which are also quite unusual.

My MIL is a Maclean and there was a very famous poet called Sorley Maclean - so I also like that connection.

I really don't think it works.

Sorely vexed
Sorely afraid

It does have a Scandinavian feel to it, so makes sense that it is Norse. I've not heard it before, but would pronounce it to rhyme with Morley. Is that right? I quite like it, makes a nice change from Jack & Co. imo.

My friend's DS is called this and I had never heard of it before but it's a nice name. Even though I'd never heard it before at least it did sound like a name. It's really not common at all which is a good thing.

Go for it!

Yes, it does rhyme with Morley mopsyflopsy - and it is used quite a lot in Scandinavia I think.

Hi Peachsmuggler, how old is your friends DS?
What kind of reaction does he get to his name and does he get any particularly horrible nn's?

I like this name, was on my boys list but DH did not like it. But then his favourite boys name is Jack.

We too have the celtic connection but even in Scotland it would be fairly unusual, though probably no problems with pronunciation or spelling.

Does the sound of it matter? Pronounced with a Scottish rrr sounds a lot different than in some accents.

Well I absolutely love it. It was on my list (I had a girl though).

Thanks for the feedback everyone - a mixed reaction but more positive than I was expecting tbh.

How about Morley?

Sorley makes me think of Sawney Bean and his inbred family of cannibals in Scottish history I'm afraid.

No. This is a new one on me & it makes me think of a sore willy, (sorry!) don't know why.

I think it's beautiful and poetic. Go for it!

How about Saul?

Nice

Horrid and it sounds too much like surly. That'd be a rather unpleasant nickname.

There's a disused railway tunnel in South Devon called Sorley Tunnel -it's part of Sorley adventure farm, which was one of the DC's favourite places when we were staying with the GPs

I think it's an anglicised version of Somhairle. I like it, I grew up in Ireland and a nearby castle was strongly associated with a Somhairle, known in English as Sorley Boy MacDonnell. He came from an ancient Scottish clan I think.

It's also Scottish Gaelic for Samuel. Love it, know a few, young and old...

I would go for the Irish version, Somhairle. It's pronounced Sorla, so you might avoid the 'sorely', 'poorly' comments. But you'd have to really pronounce the R properly.

polka he's just a baby so hasn't been called any NNs as far as I know yet!

I think with names, unless it's off the wall crazy, then just go for one you like. Yes they might get nicknames, but then they might get this about the colour of their hair, their shape, what kind of car their parent's drive etc.