irish baby girl names

[DeborahRoss26]

Hi ladies :) im expecting a baby girl at beginning of september. And im thinking of using either Aoife.. Caoimhe.. Saoirse, 1 of those 3. I love irish names my middle names Siobhan. What do you think if those 3 names? And any suggestions?

[mathanxiety]

Lots of Corneliuses though, with nn Conn.

Brid (fada on the I) is the Irish spelling for Briege (pronunciation is quite similar). The older spelling is Brighid/Brigid (anglicised as Bridget) -- Brid is the modern Irish (20th C) equivalent. It would be considered similar to Gladys in Ireland. I really wanted to call DD3 Brigid and use the nn Biddy but chickened out.

[Imscarlet]

I don't think there is anything Irish about Cornelia? Muireann is lovely too and I would spell Ethna Eithne

[Cocolikeschoclate]

Cornelia, Mairead and Briege are quite rare Irish names that are very ethereal but strong.

[mathanxiety]

(With a hard G) -- 'Ang' as in hang and then '-gyal'

[mathanxiety]

It's more like Angyal though?

[sorchatallulah]

I also like Sorcha, just remember to pronounce it properly ;)

[Elquota]

I like Aoife.

[burberryqueen]

Roisin
Aine
Ethna
are top 3 for me

[squoosh]

But aingeal is pronounced angle. I think I prefer deamhan!

[WhiteShakette]

What Mathanxiety said. With bells on.

Seeing a few baby Aingeals around these days, which I quite like.

[squoosh]

Lasairfhiona = lassa-reena.

Most Irish people would have difficulty with that one!

[ZolaBuddleia]

How do you pronounce Lasairfhiona? I agree, it's a belter!

Love Afric.

[burberryqueen]

I agree with mathanxiety
i have a reasonably common Irish surname and the smirks and purposeful mispronouncing of it in England drove me mad, you know,
as though it was something hilarious?
pissed me right off I can tell you!

[forgetmenots]

I completely agree mathanxiety. The narrow-mindedness drives me mad.

I'm just ready to chuck the towel in on this topic after umpteen threads... :)

[DramaAlpaca]

Totally agree with mathanxiety.

[HenriettaPye]

I absolutely love Eimear. I wanted to name DD it but DP hated it and told me it was an elephants name

I've still to this day find an elephant called Eimear.

[Justfornowitwilldo]

What Mathanxiety said.

[mathanxiety]

But so what if people who are ignorant of the world outside of the island of Britain can't wrap their little peabrains around the fact that languages use different sounds and different letter combinations to represent them? It's rude of them not to make at least a bit of an effort or to give the impression they find the spelling conventions of another language simply incomprehensible. There are at least two other British languages spoken on the island of Britain (this has been the case for thousands of years) and it is not excusable that anyone on the island should stare in bewilderment at a name. Suspend your disbelief: Yes, Caoilfhionn is pronounced Keelan. Move on with your life. Try respectfully to remember the name next time you meet. Move the spelling to a remote corner of your brain if it helps to get over the Anglocentrism.


Hannah/Anna/Anne (all versions of the same name) = Aine (with a fada on the A). Grainne is pronounced similar to Aine (Grawnyeh --- Awnyeh) but they are transliterations of different names.

[PseudoBadger]

My DD will be called Caoimhe when she arrives.

[forgetmenots]

The above, it should go without saying, is a bit different for those of us who speak Gàidhlig or Gaeilge. Might not matter so much to those who don't and that's fair enough.

[forgetmenots]

My head is going to combust if there's one more thread in here about Gaelic names and spelling, so help me!

How about some people consider it important to spell a name correctly in the language it originates and some consider it important to spell it in keeping with the dominant language of their community? Both fine and valid. except when these threads descend into xenophobic crap

[LucySnoweShouldRelax]

You're right, mathanxiety, but it's one thing when it's a common alternative - "that's Jon with no 'h'", and when it's "that's Duran, but with a good handful of letters that you won't be expecting and won't make any sense." (Doireann)


Of course, there are versions of Irish names that are developing their own British pronunciations. My friend's BF (in the UK) has a cousin who insists on "Roh-sheeeen" instead of what I would consider the 'correct' "Row-sheen". And why not, I guess.

[mamageekchic]

*feels

[mamageekchic]

DD is an Orla (I actually regret not sticking to my guns with Orlaith) my second favourite was Aine. I really like Saoirse, it feel nice to say but I'd worry about the associations.

[TakingTheStairs]

I have one of the Irish names mentioned in on this page of this thread and I have to have explain how to say my name or spell it at least twice a day and often a lot more.

When I order a sandwich or have to give my name, I just say Amy. It's a pain in the ass otherwise.

For your baby, my preference would be Aoife. It's still very Irish but will be the least amount of hassle for your daughter.