Fionnuala?

[parmo]

We're expecting DC3 (already have 2 DSs) and as DH is Irish we were thinking of using an Irish name. Top of our list for a DD is Fionnuala but it's had mixed reviews from family and friends? What do you think and would it be spellable/prenouncable for a child growing up in England?

Oops bit of a rouge question mark in there!

i think in England you would be constantly telling people how to spell/pronounce it (how IS it pron. by the way? i think i know, but not sure)

but that's not necessarily a reason for not using it.
I have 2 very common names, but have to spell them ALL the time as there are other popular variations

Lovely name. Not all that well known in England but does that really matter?

I knew a Fionnuala at work, and once I had seen how to spell it that was that.

Love it - really beautiful. And I've known one who never had any problems outside of Ireland. Plus - she'll most likely be known as Fi or Nuala either of which are lovely.

Pron. Finn-oo-la (sorry I'm hopeless at writing it down)

Like it. Like the nns for it too. I wouldn't worry about the spelling bit. There once was a time we all couldn't spell "because". We learnt though. Go for it!

When younger my grandparents (who have a son and daughter) my age had next door neighbours with a daughter called Fionnuala (pr fin-oo-la) i must admit that i really canot get to grips with the name! It was sooo very unusal BUT now having a Gabriel i truely believe if you love it, go for it! Gabriel may not seem 'unusal' to everyone, but certainly where he was born it was...... still i love it and it's a conversation starter!

I would know how to pronounce it. If you like it go for it! There aren't many here :) However, if you are also looking for opinion generally, I'm not that keen. I don't like the way it sounds without an Irish lilt. I never have. There are so many pretty Irish names....but that's just me!

Our absolute favourite name was Maeve but it's been snapped up by my SIL! Being our third a lot of names we like have already been taken by close family (we have a lot of close family!).

Funny, I am very familiar with this name, can't remember a time when I didn't know it or how it sounds, and yet I don't think I've ever met anyone called Fionnuala! Have no idea where I first heard it.

If you think people will struggle, what about Finola?

I am Northern Irish, and I have met more people called Finola than Fionnuala. (I am not a massive fan of anglicisations myself, but that one's not too bad).

There's also Fenella to consider.

There was a Fionnuala in my school many moons ago (Not in my year or anywhere near Ireland). She coped. I admit I always think 'Fee-own-oo-arla' when writing it down, but I know it's pronounced Fin-oo-la. They'll learn it - however she may well need to spell it out for EVERYONE, and people she doesn't meet often will most likely not know how to pronounce it.

It's a bit 70's

I pronounce it more like "Finn-oo-(uh)-la". With the third syllable ("uh") being just barely pronounced.

I love it, I have a close relative (here in Ireland) with that name. If you're worried about the pronounceability / spelling thing, but want to keep it authentic and not bastardised anglicised, you could always go with just 'Nuala' which is a derivative that is used as a name in its own right.

You should pronounce that 'Noo-(uh)-la' though, not Noo-la. :)

I'm awful at writing down pronounciations but I know what you mean about the 'uh'. Day to day she would probably just be Nuala but I think it's quite girly so want her to have the options of the nn Finn or Fi just in case you turns out not to be a Nuala IYSWIM?

Yes, I get what you mean :) 'Finn' 'Fi' and 'Nuala' are all very different and all great nn choices for a girl. Great to have the choice as she goes through different stages of her life.

I love the name in its longer form - I hope you go for it. :) Congratulations!

"all very different" from each other, I mean. I didn't mean that they're desireable because they're 'different' (from the norm or whatever).

I teach one. I had to be told how to say it when I first met her but it's easy enough once you know.

It's quite pretentious looking. Sorry.

People just get used to it I have an Aoife and it is just her name first time people ask how to spell and say it after that they are quite able to use and if they cant spell it they ask or do their best.

If you love it use it I personally think it is beautiful

I'm worried it might be seen as pretentious now

Would it be pretentious with an Irish surname?

Yes.

It's no more "pretentious" than, say, Siobhan.