Name to go with Irish named DS

[youarethequarry]

My DS has an Irish name with traditional Irish spelling (the same name as Una Foden from The Saturdays has just picked for her new baby).

Living in England (with Irish DH) the name has caused no issue when spoken aloud but people (understandably) ask how it is pronounced when they see it written down. It doesn't really bother us and we love the name.

We are now expecting DC2 and have no idea what name to pick. I am not against continuing the Irish theme but wanted some other options too. We love Orlaith for girl but that's the only name on the list. Nothing at all for a boy! We don't like royal names (and these really wouldn't fit at all with DS1) but don't mind some of the traditional ones. We rule out anything on the top 10 lists as find them a bit safe.

Any ideas of names that compliment DS1 whether Irish or not?

Thanks!

Orla is as legitimate a spelling as Orlaith and would make life a lot easier for her.

Eoghan? Sounds fine to English ears but lovely and Irish.

Cormac or Cillian for boys.

I like Orla spelt both ways Squoosh. The only reservation I have is that the only boys names I'm drawn to at all is Arlo and that would rule out Orla (and Orlaith) in the future! Really like Cormac!

Oisin
Finn/Fionn
Aidan
Ronan
Naoise (bit more out there)
Tiernan

Oh I LOVE your DSs name and also Arlo. I think they would work beautifully well together.

I also agree with Cormac and Caoimhe for a girl.

Dermot
Coran

(for a boy)

These are lovely if you don't mind having to spell it for people

Boys:
Fiachra
Fionn
Dara
Oisin
Finnbar
Faolan

Girls:
Ailbhe
Liadan
Ciara
Fiadh
Etain
Caoilfhionn

Seamus
Darragh / Dara / Daire
Oisin
Sean
Ruairi
Oran

Saoirse
Roisin
Niamh
Aisling
Emer
Clodagh
Maeve
Laoise

I'm English and think I know how to pronounce all of those names apart from Fiachra and Caoilfhionn?

Love Fionn or Finnbar and Finn as nn.

Saoirse is my fave girls name but I don't think it goes with our surname - very common name beginning with S! I love the actress Saoirse Ronan too so it's a shame!

Any non-Irish names that don't sound out of place with an Irish sibling?

James
Patrick
Ethan
Alexander
Jude
Saul
Finlay
Rhys
Max
Isaac
Felix
Aaron
Jago
Rowan
Dominic
Angus
Elijah
Fraser
Jonah
Samuel
Joseph
Lucas
Leo
Micah
Nathan
Oscar
Noah
Reuben
Zachary
Jacob
Logan
Harris
Jasper
Matthew
Sebastian
Douglas
Seth

Fiachra - Fee-ah-cra
Caoilfhionn - Keel-in / Quail - in (the latter being the technical pronunciation, with the former being the one I've heard used more often)

Flynn
Brennan

Aine

Macushla
Isolde

Cormac
Lowan

These are the girls in my class with Irish names (all girls school in Ireland...)
Saoirse x 2
Niamh
Aoife x 2
Caoimhe
Sorcha
Aoibh (pronounced Eve)
Aoileann (pronounced EE-lynn)

Boys in DS's class as follows
Dónal
Cormac
Odhran
Emmet (culturally Irish if not in language)
Fiachra
Séimí
Senan

Macushla???

Yes, Macushla, it is an Irish name!!

Also, a beautiful song sung by John McCormack

Irish Mumsnetters will correct me if I am wrong, but I think Macushla is a term of endearment, not a name. It means 'my heart's pulse'/'my dear one'.
The word was made famous by the song, composed 1910. McCormack was not singing to a named individual; he was singing to 'my darling'.

I think people have recently used Macushla as a name. Their babies, their choice, of course. It's not traditional, but it has a lovely meaning.

We have a DD and DS both with Irish names, not intentially. We're now struggling to think of a name for DC3!
Anyway, DS is Cormac and it's a perfect name. He's a cheeky, naughty almost 3 year old and it suits him brilliantly,so I would definitely vote for that name!
DD is Bridget if you wanted another girls name!

To me, calling your child Macushla would be like calling your child Darling or Love etc. I've never heard it used as a name.

Macushla would be in some ways similar to Alannah, meaning '(dear) child' or less directly 'little one'.

It's an anglicisation of the phrase 'Mo chuisle', literally 'my pulse' and by implication 'my life'.

However, though Alannah has become acceptable as a name, Macushla is imo more in the category of 'Mother Macree' ('mo chroi') -- 'Mother, my heart' and with the same undertone of stage Oirish sentimentality.

I have heard Croi (pr. Cree) as a middle name, and maybe Cuisle or 'Cushla' could work in similar fashion, but to me the 'Mo' / 'Ma' part is too music hall.

Suggestions:

Girls:
Beibhinn (pr Bevin)
Fionnuala /Finola/ Nola
Muireann
Doireann
Lasairfhiona
Roisin
Eithne
Neasa/ Nessa
Nora/ Honora
Muirne
Sadhbh

Boys:
Ailbe
Ruairi
Fergus
Seamus
Niall
Ferdia
Cormac
Declan
Lorcan
Lochlann
Brendan

Do not call your child Machushla!

Orla/it his one of the top 10 highest climbers this year if that influences at all.

Sorry Orlaith - can't spell my own DD's name