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Original poster

Orlaith vs Nuala

49 replies

nevergoogle · 22/10/2013 21:04

Opinions on both Orlaith and Nuala please.

I'm scottish but DH and kids are not, which may be relevant.

OP posts:
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TeaAddict235 · 22/10/2013 21:10

Nuala without a doubt, but orlaith might be more cultural. Both cute names op.

gininteacupsandleavesonthelawn · 22/10/2013 21:14

I have an Orla and think I wish I'd gone for Orlaith, i love it, definitely better than Nuala

MrsBungle · 22/10/2013 21:17

Orlaith for sure! I also have an Orla (am also Scottish but DH and kids are English). I really wanted Orlaith but, in the end went with Orla as DH didn't want her to spend her life correcting her name.

PenguinsDontEatPancakes · 22/10/2013 21:19

Where do you live? I wouldn't do Or-laith outside Ireland (is it also well understood in Scotland. I'm only familiar from an Irish perspective?) simply because she would spend her life being called by that pronunciation.

On that basis, unless you like Orla, I'd go Nuala.

gininteacupsandleavesonthelawn · 22/10/2013 21:20

MrsBungle we are also Scottish and DP wanted the anglicised spelling

HotCrossPun · 22/10/2013 21:22

What about Aurla - the Scottish spelling?

Original poster
nevergoogle · 22/10/2013 21:25

we are in devon.

OP posts:
PenguinsDontEatPancakes · 22/10/2013 21:29

Personally I probably wouldn't use Orlaith.

I think the problem is that it doesn't look confusing to English eyes like Aoife. People see it and think that they can pronounce it. But what they 'see' is Or-layth.

Even I kind of hear Or-layth in my head, and believe me I bloody well know it's Orla.

HotCrossPun · 22/10/2013 21:32

Okay. Just trying to give you an alternative suggestion.

gininteacupsandleavesonthelawn · 22/10/2013 21:34

I've never heard of Aurla, it doen't even appear on the baby name sites.

PenguinsDontEatPancakes · 22/10/2013 21:35

HotCross - I think the OP was answering my question, not dismissing your suggestion Smile

Original poster
nevergoogle · 22/10/2013 21:38

no not dismissing any suggestions. Smile

OP posts:
gininteacupsandleavesonthelawn · 22/10/2013 21:39

Sorry- didn't mean that at all. Just surprised after all the hunting I did for names that there was a scottish version of my favourite name that I had no idea even existed :)

HotCrossPun · 22/10/2013 21:56

Alternative spellings here

HotCrossPun · 22/10/2013 21:57
Smile
BustleInYourHedgerow · 23/10/2013 00:21

I'd go for Orfhlaith, just to mix it up a little! :) Saw your thread title and thought of Nora though - combination of both sounds and a nice name too:)

BustleInYourHedgerow · 23/10/2013 00:21

I'd go for Orfhlaith, just to mix it up a little! :) Saw your thread title and thought of Nora though - combination of both sounds and a nice name too:)

mathanxiety · 23/10/2013 00:39

I would use the modern Irish version Orla over Orlaith or Orfhlaith. The latter two are much older versions, like using Maighread or Mairghread for Mairead. The extra consonants are not necessary.

Nuala is nice, but I think I prefer Fionnuala, of which Nuala is a nn. I also like the anglicisation Finola.

Nuala is just as likely as Orlaith or Orfhlaith to be mispronounced. It looks very obvious to an Irish person, but to some English eyes it is Noo-alla.

Also a big fan of Nora, and Honora from which it comes.

squoosh · 23/10/2013 11:05

I would always use Orla over Orlaith, Orlaith will ensure a lifetime of baffled faces and mangled pronunciations. That gets boring very quickly.

Nuala........umm.......to me Nuala is a the Irish equivalent of Brenda or Doreen, middle aged and frumpy. Has never seen so much as a whiff of glamour.

Nora is much nicer than both these names.

BunnyLebowski · 23/10/2013 11:08

I agree with squoosh.

As an Irish person I can't imagine a baby Nuala. It's a very middle aged name.

I don't like Orla either but prefer the simple spelling.

My friend is about to have a baby Nora. I am in love with the name. It's fabulous.

MerryMarigold · 23/10/2013 11:10

I don't know how to say Nuala - is it Noo-ar-la? I wouldn't know Orlaith either but once said, I would know. I love the name Orla.

I know 2 boys, one Mateosz (Polish - has a French 'je' sound at the end ) and one Matthias (pronounced the French/ Scandinavian way) and no-one has problems once they have heard it once. I think it can be a pain meeting people the first time, but school, school friends etc. it is fine to have an unusual spelling.

You need to be prepared for incorrect spelling. So few people spell my name correctly (fairly straightforward, but one with several possible spellings) that I know my real friends by people who can spell it! Any old person can say it.

MerryMarigold · 23/10/2013 11:11

Actually I think the Mateosz may be a 'sh' at the end now I have said it out loud!

MerryMarigold · 23/10/2013 11:12

Isn't Nora middle -aged too Confused, just trendier.

BunnyLebowski · 23/10/2013 11:15

In my experience Nora isn't a popular middle of the road name like Nuala.

Noreen is.

Nora is underused and imo simple and really pretty and a wee bit old ladyish but in a good way iyswim. Like Elsie, Mabel etc. I love those types of names. Lots of people don't.

squoosh · 23/10/2013 11:16

Nora is more Irish Granny chic (if such a thing exists!), Nuala is more recent.

Nuala is a bit of a battle axe who'd tell your mother if she saw you snogging a boy at the bus stop, her best pals are Mary, Mary and Concepta, they take it turns to change the church flowers and all have the major hots for Father Murphy.