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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Having doubts about chosen Boy's Name

83 replies

MsMittens · 27/03/2015 11:57

Hi all,

DH and I had decided on Donnacha (pronounced Done - aka) for DC2. I imagine that nn will be Don or Donny. Our surname is Blair.

We had picked it because we wanted an Irish name that was unusual but not too out there and that people in England (specifically London/Surrey) would be able to pronounce without too much trouble.

For some reason, now 35 wks and I am having doubts. Would be really interested to hear people's views on the name - do you like it?

(p.s. we don't know whether we are expecting a boy or a girl but still love our chosen girl's name)

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OutragedFromLeeds · 28/03/2015 17:31

Maybe it's just our bad diction in London then, but Peter, Taylor and Luca all end in the same 'uh' sound as Donnacha here, so I don't think a boys name ending in an 'uh' sound is in anyway unusual. Maybe it's more unusual in other parts of the country. I can only speak for myself, but I don't automatically associate an 'uh' sound with a girls name.

OutragedFromLeeds · 28/03/2015 18:01

Oh and for me banner and corner also end the same as banana and drama . All with an 'uh'.

Original poster

MsMittens · 29/03/2015 15:32

As it happens, I have a "what?" first name which I have apent my entire life spelling and producing for people and it used to bother me a little when I was a kid but as and adult I like the fact that my name is not run-of-the-mill which is why we would like a more unusual name for DS.

Surprised that some think it sounds like a girl's name as I would never have made that connection (but as I said I'm Irish and know it as a boy's name). Glad someone of the other posters like it and spotted the rugby connection (I thought more people would have heard of the name for this reason).

Still undecided and DH and I really struggle to agree on names (arg!)

OP posts:

Ficidy · 29/03/2015 19:39

I'm Irish and I've always hated this name. Then again, I'm not really keen on many Irish names and I don't think they sound very nice, even though I am a fluent Irish speaker. It is a harsh name. I'd choose another one, if possible, OP.

turdfairynomore · 29/03/2015 19:48

The rugby connection would be the one I'd make and so to be it's not at all girly! Far from it! In fact donnacha o'Callaghan looked very manly when he tried to play on with no shorts! (I have a very good memory for "interesting" sports highlights!)

DramaAlpaca · 29/03/2015 20:28

Ha! I remember Donnacha O'Callaghan and the no shorts episode

The other Irish name that's become more familiar in the UK thanks to a sports person is Eoin, as in Eoin Morgan the cricketer. There's also Eoin Colfer the author.

turdfairynomore · 29/03/2015 21:39

There's something quite rugged about a lot of Irish boys' names-to me they are "men's names"?? Maybe it's the rugby/GAA link? Donnacha would be one of my favourite along with Daithi-though I'm from NI so pronunciation wouldn't be the issue it might be in England. That wouldn't stop me though!!

Original poster

MsMittens · 29/03/2015 22:36

Ha! I also remember the "no shorts" incident and the rugby connection was how the name came up! Funny you should say that turdfairy my DH said the same thing this evening that maybe it's a bit of a "guys" name.

OP posts:

BernadetteMatthews · 29/03/2015 22:44

I love it but when I say Donny Blair I sound like I'm trying to say the ex prime minister with a blocked nose.

Askance · 29/03/2015 22:49

I think Donnacha is a great name. I know several (I'm in Ireland) and they are all interesting, lovely people so I am very well-disposed towards the name.

LadyGregory · 29/03/2015 22:54

OP, use it if you like it, and discount the usual Little Englander 'ooh, no one will ever be able to pronounce it and your child will be laughed to scorn in the playground' views which are encountered tiresomely often in relation to Irish names on here.

I like it and think it's overdue a revival. For what it's worth, I have an Irish name and surname, live in England, and my son has an unusual Irish name and my surname, and neither of our lives is blighted by not being called Sophie and Jack Smith.

ZenNudist · 29/03/2015 23:05

Terrible, sorry. A lifetime of answering to Doh-nah-ch-ar, and correcting people, plus likely being called Donna by your enemies.

I thought it was a girls name, insofar as I've never seen such a name. And initially read it as Doncha. (Don't ya ).

nooka · 29/03/2015 23:06

I can't imagine that Donnacha will be problematic for London given the huge diversity of names there. Plus Don/Donny is pretty mainstream sounding although still probably fairly unusual. Not sure about Don Blair though.

do you have any reserve names OP?

Stillill · 29/03/2015 23:27

"Being called Donna by your enemies" that really made me laugh for some reason. Do people have enemies?

I have a DS with an unusual Irish name and the spelling and pronunciation have rarely caused issue in England despite the warning that it would. I wouldn't let that put you off at all. The Rugby connection also makes it more recognisable. I'm not personally too keen on the name though but not due to spelling, just my preference. If you like it, stick with it!

HangingInAGruffaloStance · 30/03/2015 00:00

I really like it!

LadyGregory · 30/03/2015 00:05

It's nor pronounced remotely like Donna, it's 'DUN - uh - ka', but the 'D' is like the 'th' sound from the beginning of 'thou', and the 'k' is the soft 'ch' from the end of 'loch'.

Do it, OP. Reclaim it from Donnacha O' Dulaing!

3littlerabbits · 30/03/2015 00:18

No one ever says oh don't give your child that Polish, Nigerian, Korean, Indian name, it's just impossible to say. Somehow its ok for Irish names to not be good enough though. Strange.

I like it. Also love Diarmuid, Declan and Daithi if you need more Irish boys names beginning with D!

OutragedFromLeeds · 30/03/2015 00:30

I only know one, but it definitely gets pronounced 'Donna-ka'. With a hard D and a hard K. I would say it is likely that is how it will be pronounced in London, unless you're going to correct people all the time.

OutragedFromLeeds · 30/03/2015 00:41

The Don/Donny nickname is also consistent with the Donna-ka pronunciation. You'll have real trouble if you want him to be called Dun-a-ka and then Donny as nn. Switching between the D-u-n and the D-o-n will be too much for our tiny English brains.

UseYourFingers · 30/03/2015 00:59

I also agree that it does sound like a girls name. It's too much like Danica.

LadyGregory · 30/03/2015 11:48

But it will generally be pronounced the way you, and later your child, pronounce it. My UK-born son is called Naoise which is pronounced 'NEE-shuh' and to some people in this country, that sounds like an Indian girl's name, Nisha.

But it never occurred to me to privilege consideration of other people's preferences/ethnic backgrounds/preference for the familiar when naming him - I chose a name I loved, and still love. I'm honestly baffled by the sheer fearfulness that so often manifests on naming threads, as if the best thing we could all do for our children is call them all Jack and Sophie Smith, so they never have to spell their names or correct anyone's pronunciation, or stand out in any way.

I find myself wondering where it comes from, and whether it's some middle-class English trait about blending in and not looking overtly 'other', foreign or show-offy that as a foreigner I simply don't get...?

lillamyy1 · 30/03/2015 14:05

Love it, love it and it sounds great with your surname!

Anjou · 30/03/2015 23:31

I wouldn't usually post to say "I don't like it" OP, but you have asked what people think!

I too think it sounds like a girls name as it's very like Danika or a Donna/Anika hybrid. I don't think people will struggle to pronounce it - it's pretty straightforward. The spelling is very reminiscent of 'Doncha' (don't ya) though, so that might be something to be aware of. In terms of personal preference I don't like the sound of it. Quite clunky. Also, for me, Don/Donny is in the same category as Roger, Terry, Malcolm ... quite 'your friends dad's name in the 80's' if you know what I mean. Perfectly fine if you like that genre of name, but I'm definitely not a fan.

Sorry OP!

queentroutoftrouts · 02/04/2015 13:16

Where I live a donny is a slang term used by young people for a close friend, 'he's my donny' .

queentroutoftrouts · 02/04/2015 13:29

Just googled Donny and it also has a number of other connotations

abbreviated nickname of the town of Doncaster in south yorkshire, England.

a dick
Man, that guy sure is being a huge donny right now.

Slang term for McDonald's.
"Let's go to Donny's and get some double cheeseburgers."

to get very high by smoking the reefer
Guy: How come you missed your frist day at school?

Girl: I was so donnie last night that I even for got what a school is...

Also connotations for the nickname Don
In light of the previous definitions stating that the "Don" is the "boss" or in charge of an organized crime family, this hip-hop / rap slang term was derived from the first name of "Don Vito Corleone" the main character and "boss" of the Corleone crime family in the classic blockbuster "Mario Puzo's The Godfather"

I'm not entirely sure that i would want any of those things to be associated with my child's name.

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