Caitlín?

[Aiwo]

Is having Caitlín pronounced the proper (Irish) way too much of an uphill battle in the UK?

mathan
Hmm, interesting.
It isn't a hard Kat but is certainly more Kat than Kath. He says Catherine (almost like Cat-rin) and Cathy (More like Catty) the same.
In my DHs book the more old-fashioned the better, his original suggestions included Concepta

Roísín, Bríd and Gráinne we had talked about before, Maybe we should go back to the drawing board.
Bláthín hmmm

He still loves Caitlín, maybe Cáit could be a compromise, though he will probably say it is too short.

We were trying to honour about a 1000 different Catherines (of various variants) but there are other ways we can.

We should just go with Mary Catherine or a Bridget and be done with it.

It's a very soft TH sound the way I say it - almost like a lisp.

If it might tempt your DH, I know two little sisters called Bernadette and Dymphna?

Or how about Philomena, Fidelma, or Fionnuala.
Or Anastatia? (With a T, pronounced Anastaysha)

Yes - everyone in the UK will pronounce it the anglicised way, unfortunately. I much prefer the Irish pronunciation!

I think that not only in Britain but also, sadly, in Ireland, you'll get the pronunciation Kate-lynn.
Cáit I'd see as the best way out of it.

I'm Irish and like math I don't pronounce "th" as "t". Lots of Irish accents do, but lots don't as well.

stokes
He is just contrary, I guess he is also accentist then :)

mathan
Dymphna and Fidelma are right up his street. He is far better at naming nuns than children.
Fionnuala is lovely, unfortunately we can't use it

Imelda is another one he might like then.

Just make sure you steer him clear of Assumpta and Gobnait.

Everyone will pronounce it wrong

My DH wants an Irish name (or at least one used in Ireland traditionally) but very much feels that in having one we should have one said correctly and not anglicise it.

I applaud him but Caitlin is not the name for him then. I am Irish (living in US) and Caitlin it is a very Irish/american name and pronounced Kate-lynn - which is fine as a name but it isn't how you pronounce Caitlin (sorry for lack of fadas). It will be mispronounced all over the place.

And to be honest if he wants a name traditionally used in Ireland, Kathleen is more probable than Caitlin.

how about:

Maeve
Maire
Muire
Aine
Sinead
Liadan
Niamh

All of these will require some explanation of pronunciation but at least there won't be an alternative pronunciation out there alive and kicking.

Imelda is another one he might like then.

Don't do it to a baby- brutal. Ditto Fidelma, Assumpta, Dymphna etc.

This is close to my heart. very close.

If he really wants a truly traditional Irish name, call her Mary. Every country/culture can pronounce her name and she will be four-square in traditional - but now unusual-Irish names

Étaín (Aideen)
Bairbre
Gormfhlaith
...are old Irish names.

Then there are English names that were popular in my granny's generation (born just about the turn of the twentieth century):
Celia
Delia
Ann(ie)
Ita
Ellen
Johanna
Honora
Teresa
Margaret
Margery/Marjorie
Mary -- Máire, Máirín (post Gaelic League versions.)

You could get away with Dymphna and Imelda and the likes in the UK. They would be unusual names without any baggage, but in Ireland they would be loaded down with associations, and granny chic really hasn't hit Ireland yet.

And of course Eileen.

canyou
I think you are right, other responses as well have kind of shown it would be too much of a battle.
Mary has certainly been in our heads.

mathan
I actually like Gobnait . Gormfhlaith.....hmmm

Other suggestions:
Muireann
Doireann
Siofra
Aifric
Orlaith
Eilis
Taillte
Riona
Aoibheann

Unfortunately I can't use fada on my phone so spellings are off. I do like Caitlin though.

I hadn't heard of the Irish pronunciation before but unfortunately for you, with Jenner all over the media the English version is better known than ever before.

Gormfhlaith is a little too close to gormless imo..

Here's a list of a few of my mum's partners in crime, all aged 75 and up:
Vera
Breda
Colette
Carmel
Barbara
Jean
Edel
Rita
Sally
Thekla
Maura
Josephine (Josie)
Olive
Frances
Lorna
Marian
and three Marys

I really think Mary would be very nice.

I had a Caitlin as a student. At university so she was at least 18. When she said her name I asked her if it was spelt with fada and she looked at me blankly and had obviously never been asked before. This was in England:-)

DH is Irish too.

Caitlín is pretty but it’s much easier to learn the pronunciation of a new or unknown name than to relearn how to pronounce one that people have said as kate-lin all of their lives and there are lots and lots around, most born in the 90s. She’ll get kate-lin all of the time.

I love Irish names but in this case I find kate-lin much more beautiful, sorry!

My favourites:

Fiadh
Aoibhinn
Bébhinn
Medb
Saorlaith