Do you have a link to the origin of your dc's names?

[StickChildrenThree]

Have noticed a lot of names being dismissed as being Irish/Welsh/Scottish/etc and the parents having no link to that country.

My dc all have names that are Irish in origin but apart from an Irish grandparent on my fathers side, I cannot claim to have any links with Ireland. Have I committed a huge naming faux pas?

I don't think so. If you love a name use it. I find it's just everyone elses opinions and people can be a bit ruthless on these threads and say things they wouldn't normally say to you face.

And you do have a link t Ireland if anyone were to question. :o

The Irish link is a bit if a stretch as I haven't seen my father or his family for 25 years!
Just keep seeing the same "I can't use that name because I'm not Irish/Welsh/etc" and just wondered why people feel they can't use them?

I would say DS's name is Celtic (some say Irish, others Scottish). We are neither.

People should be able to use whatever name they want - chosen because they like it!

We named our DS Owen which people get confused by as they think it's a welsh name and not only do we have no welsh connection, my DH is irish!

(My DH's irish grandfather was actually called Owen - spelt that way, not the irish Eoin!)

No accounting for it - just choose a name you like. I don't think you've committed a faux pas :)

I started a thread similar to this a while ago - www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/1032806-Why-do-so-many-people-object-to
Got a variety of opinions!
Interestingly the main objection seemed to be that it was seen as trying too hard.
Personally I agree with LisMcA, if you like a name, go for it. I think we're increasingly becoming a connected world which shares language, names and culture. Don't see the problem personally.

If anyone asks, just say you feel a connection with Ireland.

I used names i liked.

Think the biggest faux pas I've done is spell one the American way! But in my defence as much as I love the name, I just could never remember how the Irish or English versions were spelt!
My poor dd2 will have to live without all the tat beautiful mugs, keyrings etc with a name on!

Skyrg trying too hard? At what?

I don't see the justification as much when people use European names but I would think that as N.Ireland, Wales, Scotland are all part of the UK that they would be more the norm and less questionable?

I don't know Stick, that was where I got confused! They seemed to think that using names from another culture or country was pretentious and 'trying too hard'. Personally I don't get that, because you should try hard when naming your child!

DD has an unusual name from a country the family has no genetic connection with - but the name has been traditional in my family for at least four generations. I like it, and it is pretty and easy to pronounce in lots of different languages. I do have to explain where it comes from quite often though.... And her second name is from the country she was born in, but again, she doesn't have that nationality or any genetic link. I don't see it's a problem.

Think I could come up with some very British names but would also be considered incredibly pretentious where I am!

Maybe I'm over thinking it and being a bit over sensitive. Was at playgroup and was asked again was I/dp Irish, yet have never heard the mothers of some very unusual names having to give the reasons why they chose their dcs names.

My DCs have:
(first name/middle name)

French/French
Irish/Hebrew
Hebrew/French
Latin and Shakespeare/English
Russian and Greek/English

And they are all family names from my Irish family, with the Russian-Greek one going furthest back, weirdly enough.

I think my points are: that names come from all over, that Irish names are just setting out on their mission to conquer the world as Hebrew names did before them, and that it doesn't really matter what a name's origins are. Pick one you like or one that has meaning for you.