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.

Ha! I see it as my duty Bianca. I've also noticed Bernadette and Colette being suggested as chic names. It's more than a body can stand!

What about Anya?

I love Colette! Great name.

I know an evil Bernadette so I wouldn't use that.

But you've decided on Francesca haven't you? Good!

Haha, yes. We have agreed Francesca.

I won't even go into the boys names that we have agreed on...

squoosh that's hysterical, takes me right back.

I like Oonagh but the silent GH will be too much in the UK. She will spend her life correcting people from calling her Oooon - agg.

I regularly get calls at work from English colleagues and from DH to ask how to pronounce a name before they call someone. I know an Aisling who wishes she changed her name to Ashling when she moved to the UK as she was regularly called Ashley at work. As for the poor chap on the service desk called Tadgh....... Tie -geh

Anyway, I digress. Of the three , I'd go with Francesca. Or compromise with Oona.

Nuala - no strong opinions there, bit old ladyish and there is a sports wear/yoga brand owned by Christy Turlington which is pronounced Noo-Aw-La which would put me right off as it's a terrible mis-pronounciation

I really like Clodagh too (just to really confuse things...)

Do you like Irish names particularly OP? Only I love Orlágh, Niámh, Meave and Erín

Only I love Orlágh, Niámh, Meave and Erín

Maybe check the spelling before filling in the birth cert...

DH doesn't like Orlaith, we can't use Niamh and Maeve. Not a huge fan of Erin.

Liquid, easy on the fadas!

Hehe Sorry holy I wasn't sure if they were right or not!

Treadsoftly, nope I very seldom get Ooooon-ag funnily enough. Lots of other confusion but not very often that one.

English people can cope with a silent gh - there are loads of English words ending in a silent gh.

What about Aoife or Aoibhin?

I'll stop giving suggestions now since you've probably already went through them all yourself So to answer your original question I prefer Nuala by far

Francesca is a beautiful name.

Haha, yes we have LiquidCosh I've looked at top 100, 250, 500 lists. Historical irish names. These are honestly the only three we can agree on!

Nuala and Oonagh seem to have evoked the 'strongest' reaction... I don't want to give my baby a 'marmite' name.

I agree they are either love or hate names definitely Francesca is probably the safest bet

If you like the names at all, then keep them in the ring. They're not without charm and if you're in the UK it's unlikely many will turn up their noses on the basis that they are Irish granny names.

If old fashioned has an appeal for you, how about Dymphna? It's definitely not in any Top Names list.

Imelda is another name that would have the same Irish granny chic-ness to it

Or you could really go for it with very pious names like Immaculata, Attracta, Concepta, Consuela?

I live in the SE but see family in Ireland at least once every month. I will ask them what they think of Nuala and Oonagh.

I love Imelda DH hates it.

My dad jokingly suggested Immaculata etc as they were the names of nuns he was taught by. He was not a fan at all. I will ask him about Nuala and Oonafh although I don't think I will like the response!

Assumpta?

I have two friends (early 40s) born on the 8th of December who were called Concepta because of bossy nuns present at the births... One is Connie and hopes everyone assumes she's called Constance, the other is known by her middle name. Are there still constellations of adult Assumptas born in mid-August?

What about Laobhaise? Pronounced Leesha

Beibhinn - Bay veen

Labhaoise is 'La-veesha' or 'La-weesha'.
Laoise is 'Leesha'.

If you are thinking clunky-cool in Irish, how abut Deirdre, Bairbre, Eithne or Eimear/Emer?

Or for something pretty way out in Irish, Lasairfhíona?

Or how about Iseult/Isolde?