Oonagh, Francesca or Nuala?

[Koalafications]

DH and I are struggling to find girl names that we can both agree on.

What are your thoughts on these three?

I know that Oonagh and Nuala are going to have some challenges with spelling and pronunciation.

I think Oona is Finnish...

Ah Joyce, sorry! FWIW it was Nuala I was describing as 'barky' - Una doesn't have the same harsh ooo sound to me - though that could be accent. I like Una/Oona.

Also, I've just remembered that my gran used to know a Nuala, she used to mangle it as Newerler. Now that's even worse than an endless ooooo!

Also like Uma.

Seeing as Oona and Oonagh are both anglicisations of the same name I'd just go for Oona as it would make for an easier life. The 'gh' doesn't really add anything, except much higher odds that people will mispronounce.

Love Nuala. Or Nora or Nola

OP call her Frieda.

I love all three names. My only problem with Oonagh is that I live in Mexico and it sounds like One in Spanish

Hah yes - when she was ill you'd be able to shout 'Oonagh! Dose - tray - CALPOL!

OP call her Frieda. why?!

To be honest, the Oonagh/Oona/Una debate has made me realise I prefer Nuala and Francesca... Much less complicated

Please for the love of God and all that is holy choose Francesca,

Francesca is my favourite, anyway.

JoyceDivision, sorry if I upset you upthread saying Oonagh was 'truly awful' . It's just my opinion & I didn't mean to offend. FWIW, it's much nicer spelled Oona. I haven't seen it spelled that way before

my mums called nuala and she is an utter delight :-) not sure about oonaugh and Francesca is pretty but a bit flouncy and you would probably end up being abbreviated (fran , franny and frankie which i love!). Have you thought about nola?

Oh yeah, the extra u that's another one.

I don't really like Francesca but it's the best of your three names.

Nuala is short for Fionnuala, a much nicer name imo, and Finola is an anglicisation, and very nice too (imo).

Oonagh is too clunky looking for me. I prefer the Oona spelling if you really don't want to use Una, even though it may be Finnish -- it's equally as unIrish as Oonagh.

My Dds have friends known as Chessie, Cesca, Frankie, Frannie, Franny, Francesca (2 teenage daughters). There are 3 in each of 2 school years of 110 so it is not desperate popular.

Orla? Hortense? Fiona?

I like the sound of Oonagh - but only like it written Una or Oona. I also like Nuala. Not keen on Francesca.

Nuala - love it and have taught a couple of gorgeous ones recently! different ages too so it seems spread across the years popularity wise too.

You can't call a baby Nuala. It's like calling her Great-Auntie Beryl-Doris McFustyCardigan. Fionnuala or Finola is a much better idea. Or Francesca. Or more or less anything.

If you met my auntie Nuala, you'd be running for the hills with your baby naming book, flipping frantically through the index...

I have a Francesca, so clearly I am biased... Everyone always says 'Oh what a lovely name!' so, it was a good choice, I think.

Came for squoosh. Was not disappointed .

OP - Francesca is a gorgeous name. Frankie is an even better nn.

Nuala and Oonagh are dumpy frumpy sensible shoe wearing names.

'If you met my auntie Nuala, you'd be running for the hills with your baby naming book, flipping frantically through the index...'

That made me laugh, Nualas are a formidable lot indeed!

This is Nuala as she cross examines you as to why you missed the last Legion of Mary meeting and is it true you were spotted by Majella O’Flaherty getting up to sinful hi jinx in the park with that useless Murphy boy.

I am well aware that Nuala is an 'old fashioned' name. To be honest, that's part of the appeal to me!

I don't like Fionnuala

squoosh