Irish granny chic names

[Fallingovercliffs]

Just wondering if any Irish posters reckon we will follow English example and start to revive the names our granny's generation had?
I just cannot imagine playgrounds being filled with little Nualas, Kathleens, Doloreses and Eithnes.

How about Gearoidin for a girl - very unfair on her I think!

You'd pronounce it Gar-ode-een

Gobnait = Gub-nat

Anyone remember Frank Kelly's 12 Days of Christmas. Wasn't there a Nuala and a Gobnait in that?

Dear Nuala,
Thank you ever so much for your gift of a partridge in a pear tree,
Yours affectionately,
Gobnait O'Lunacy

I can't believe how horrible this thread is .

I have newborn twins, Fidelma and Concepta and I love their names.

If I ever have another girl I'm going to call her Majella. It's so graceful and elegant.

Are they shortened to Della and Connie?

I really liked the name Fidela and considered it for dd2 but people made face

My first teacher was Nuala. I thought her name was Noodles!

I'd say they will come back in but more our kids will name their kids names like that and we'll be disgusted but have to bite out tongues!

Frank Kelly's 12 Days of Christmas is brill

I love all the old fashioned Irish names. I was meant to be a nuala myself but think my non Irish dad put a stop to it.

I particularly love Mary. I tried desperately to name both my girls Mary but English dh not having it. Had to go for a middle name instead.

Mine have irish names that no one can pronounce though so I bet he's wishing he agreed to Mary now

Gobnait O'Lunacy

Sheila and Eileen must be due a revival as well.

There are some really beautiful traditional Irish names, with fabulous history and meaning.

But I do find that some are harsh - sounding, particularly for babies.

I like Mona, Delia and Honor. I heard yesterday of a Lurleen (yes as in Lurleen Lumpkin of Simpsons fame)

Don't forget Fidelma!

DD who is arriving in 5 weeks will have Eileen as a middle name actually. Be cool for her if it became fashionable again. Not a fan of it but it's my mum's name and I want middle names to mean something.

Philomena?

Not sure if it actually Irish or just happens to be the name my Irish great aunt has. Though she goes by Phyllis...apparently it's a nicer name

Can I ask a question - how do Irish people pronounce Deidre?

If i have a girl she'll be getting both my irish grannies' names. poor kid

Alis Deirdre is pronounced Dear-dra where I'm from

My 7 year old is Eileen. I love it.

Love Mary too.

I love Nuala. Its such a pretty name.

Old irish lady names to me would be

Mary
Margaret
Kathleen
Eileen
Bridie
Bridget
Peggy
Francis
Ann (e)
Rosaleen
Rosemary
Attracta
Assumpta
Faustina
May
Philomena
Noreen
Helena
Doreen
Rita
Marie

Think I've listed every female relative of mine aged over 55

Does anyone know how/why Peggy is a nickname for Margaret?

I think it's thought to be general morphing.

Margaret to Meg/Meggie to Peggy.

In a weird way, Daisy makes more sense!

I know a few Nualas (Glasgow) - seems to be making a bit of a comeback. Beautiful name.

watchamc six of the names on your list belong to work colleagues of mine - all in their 50s or older. Wonder when they'll start making a comeback?!

I know a baby Kathleen

I did consider eithne for a girl. I think it's chic

I would hate a revival of Pauline, Eileen, Theresa

I'm in my early 40s, and I had classmates called Concepta (Connie) and Eucharia (always known as Judy).

Faustina. Now there's a name I haven't come across in decades! It was always a nun's name, though, in my experience. I don't think I've ever met a lay Faustina.

I have two of the names on the list myself (not old but of Irish ancestry) and I love that link to my family's past. Plus it allows me to force food on people.....