Caitrìona, Ùna and Mhàiri

[dunkydunker]

What do you think?

I want something Scottish but not very very obvious (DH is very very far away from Scottish)

also, if a name has two pronunciations in one language, but not in another, surely it makes sense to be called by the vocative because that's how you will be addressed?

technically i said anyone spelling it that way 'marks themselves out as a bit of a numpty'. i meant any parent spelling it that way, of course, not the child, it wasn't their decision. but i did like the example of Bhetty or Khirsty for comparison.

i have a friend who is a Mairi... she has spent her entire life being informed that really she should have an 'h' in there... think of this as a blow on her behalf.

Aitch, a'Bhetty and a'Khirsty would be correct if you were directly addressing the person in Gaelic. Amusing anecdote re your friend Mairi!

Jenny, I certainly did not intend any bashing - I merely think it is preferable to use language as accurately as possible and I personally would be pretty embarassed if I used a name from another language or culture and later discovered that it was wrong. I would always do what the OP did and seek advice.
You will not be addressed in the Gaelic vocative spelling/pronunciation if being addressed in English,
e.g. 1. Here is Mairi (nominative).
e.g. 2. Mairi, come here quickly (vocative).
Grammar works out differently in different languages.
You do not use Gaelic grammar rules for English, unless they ever happen to be the same coincidentally.

oh yes re Bhetty, but the point is surely that it would look ridiculous to use it as their main name?

ah yes aitch, get you, totally ridiculous!

yeah, yeah, you're all dead to me now. sniff.

incidentally, what to we think to Cairistiona?

My cousin Catriona pronounces it 'Ca- tree -uh-nuh', not Catreena, or Catreeohnah IYSWIM. Is this wrong?

i think it's Ca-tree-yun-nyuh. Who knows but.

the red-hot gael i know of pronounces it the same... but i am still confused by the spelling thing. is caitriona right?

Cairistiona - how's it pronounced?

jenny... are you really a Vhairi?

don't even look at me!

cara-shtiona

My sister is a Catriona (Cat-ree-ona) and one of my friends is a Catriona (Katrina)

This is all fascinating. I spent 6 years of my childhood learning Irish, and have a very Scottish (Gaelic) name, but never knew there was a difference between fadas and sràcs. Had never even noticed that sràcs point the other way.

Marsali, Flora, and Nanze are lovely. Or that old island favourite - the father's name with -ina tacked on the end. I know a Johnina, a Kennethina and a Murdina.

oh yes, dh's family has a davidina and a kenina in the mix. not even islanders, just lazy bastards.

seriously pmsl at 'don't even look at me'.

How do you pronounce Nanze flyb? Have never come across it at all. Is it for a boy or a girl?

is it like nanzie? i knew one of them in glasgow. cute name for an old broad with red lippie, i always thought.

Its a girls name - a pet form of Agnes. My aunt, who was christened Agnes, has been called nothing else all her life. The e at the end is silent - imagine Nance as in Nancy, but make it a z sound.

What about Maire? Is it the same as Mairi or Mhairi?

is a maire not a cuddy?

thanks for that flyb, do you think it is within your family only? it is pretty cute.

crystal, the Maire I went to school with was of Irish origin and her name was pronounced Maura. Don't know if that is widespread?

I knew an old lady named after both grandfathers - Hectorina Andrewina. And there were two Marshallinas in my family (nns Marsha and Lina).

Anna is a failsafe Gaelic name - spelled the same in both Gaelic and English, and not much difference in pronunciation.

nanzie is a weegie diminuitive of agnes, it's all coming back to me now...