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Original poster

What do people think of this name in Ireland?

29 replies

mintimperial · 21/05/2012 21:31

Erin. Just wondering as someone on here described it as a 'faux Irish' name (which I took to mean one that's made up). Does anyone know the history of Erin? It didn't seem to be around a few years ago. As far as I understand, it isn't an Irish name as such but rather the word Erin means Ireland.

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SodoffBaldrick · 21/05/2012 21:36

I'm not Irish, but... as I understand it, it's a bit of a plastic name, favoured by American emigrants from Ireland. Along the lines of Caitlin, pronounced KateLyn.

It's a nice enough name, though. I suppose it depends on what sort of links you have with Ireland as to how it might be perceived.

There are plenty of Irish posters who will be along soon enough to advise.

Pinkflipflop · 21/05/2012 21:55

I'm from Ireland and I love that name. Do you have an Irish connection? Doesn't matter either way; if you love it use it.

3boysgirlontheway · 21/05/2012 22:11

I am in Ireland and don't think of Erin as Irish at all, Eire is a word for Ireland but, Erin is just a (pretty) girls name.

FuckerSnailInYourHedgerow · 21/05/2012 22:15

I'd say it's derived from Eireann, which generally translates as Irish? I'm Irish and have never met anyone calleD Erin, I would assume that it's a name that immigrants/people of Irish descent give their daughters.

bobbledunk · 22/05/2012 00:12

I've never met anybody in Ireland called Erin, I agree with FuckerSnail.

LuckyLuckyMe · 22/05/2012 00:39

I'm Irish and I've never met an Erin. It's a made up version of Eireann but I actually like it as a name.

Wasn't there an Erin in the Waltons?

libertychick · 22/05/2012 00:59

I am Irish and have a cousin in ireland called Erin. Fucker is right about the origins so it's a bit like calling an English child England and it's definitely a name I associate with third generation Irish americans - my cousin's mum just liked the name and couldn't give a toss what anyone thinks!

mathanxiety · 22/05/2012 05:15

I put it in the same boat as Colleen, Shannon, Tara, Shayla, Kayla, Kayleigh, Kayleen, Kaitlyn, Keaghan, Teaghan, Loghann, (and the non-Irish Michaela and Megan, which are considered very Irish by many Americans of Irish descent). So Irish American therefore.

MadameMessy · 22/05/2012 06:21

Yep, I think it's "makey uppy" t

MadameMessy · 22/05/2012 06:25

Gah, fat fingers sorry. I think it's "makey uppy" too.
Though I disagree with math, Tara is not and isn't Megan Welsh? Do people think it's Irish?
I think it's OK, just a bit American :)

mathanxiety · 22/05/2012 17:12

Yes, people used to argue with me all the time about Meghan being Irish. I think it's the N ending and the fact that it often has a GH in the middle, which means it's Irish apparently. I wouldn't consider any of the names I mentioned Irish but Michaela and Meghan are definitely given names from other cultures and not Irish place names or madey uppey names that sound Irish to certain ears.

VeryStressedMum · 22/05/2012 17:18

Funny there doesn't seem to be any Erin's in Ireland maybe as it sort of means Ireland it would be a little strange to call your daughter the name of the country you lived in. Lots of Erin's in Northern Ireland (though not the same at all just thought I'd mention it)

squoosh · 22/05/2012 17:22

I'm Irish and I see it as makey upey Irish. It's only become popular in Ireland since its popularity in America. It's clearly derived from Eireann as others have said.

Also, it's a brand of soup.

VeryStressedMum · 22/05/2012 17:22

Actually it seems to be derived from the Greek word for peace as well as the Irish connection (I looked it up) so if you choose it you can say it means peace Smile

MadameMessy · 22/05/2012 17:22

I don't mind place names for kids, I think India is nice, and love Aifric, just that Erin is a bit makey uppy

MadameMessy · 22/05/2012 17:23

Ues squoosh, I forgot about the hot cups! :)

ListenToYourHeart · 22/05/2012 17:28

I'm half Irish and have never heard about a connection between Erin and Ireland Confused
However I love the name Erin, I considered it for my DD I think it's very pretty and a little be unusual.

DottieRose · 22/05/2012 17:28

I'm from Ireland and have only ever met one Erin, would not think of it as particularly Irish. Seems quite dated here kinda like Sharon and Tracey

squoosh · 22/05/2012 17:30

ListenToYourHeart Eireann (pronounced Erin) is the Gaelic/Irish name for Ireland.

BreakingBad · 22/05/2012 22:02

Its not a name I like.

Erin, Shannon, Caitlin as 'Kate-lynn' etc do scream plastic paddy to me.

stleger · 22/05/2012 22:10

I know a 21 year old Erin in Cork. I know of the soup. And a few years ago my dd1 met a child in Belfast who seemed to be called Wee Urn, but was really Erin.

wigglesrock · 22/05/2012 22:24

I know about 4 Erins under the age of 6 - am in NI. Not my cup of tea but its quite pretty when dd2 says it, there's one in her nursery class.

Mollydoggerson · 22/05/2012 23:15

I know a 30 something Irish Erin, I like it.

monkeymoma · 22/05/2012 23:28

reminds me of Erin soups (household name, like an Irish Heinz) never ever met an Erin in Ireland
www.erinfoods.ie/utilities/about.asp

marchpoppy · 30/05/2012 21:44

Very popular at present in Northern Ireland (where I live), possibly moreso amongst protestant community...

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