Irish DD names, not irish

[WyldeGharlique]

my dad is Irish, but DH and I are English

We have a DD already who is a Roisin (after a much-loved relative on my dad's side) and are now expecting another girl.

We were going to go with a more traditional name this time eg. Eva, Eliza) but now the name Orla is growing on me.

Roisin and Orla?

Is it a bit too much Irish, given we aren't Irish? It feels a tiny bit silly maybe- like I'm trying to make 'a thing' of my Irishness. But I'm not, I just love the names. And I think I'm a teeny bit in LOVE with Orla

There seems to be a perception that Orlaith is a more 'authentic' spelling than Orla.

It isn't.

The one I know is an Orlaígh.

That's many shades of wrong. People randomly shoehorning fadas into Irish names make my eyes roll out of their sockets.

I really dislike Irish names, as a rule.

Thanks for that contribution. We were all really holding our breaths to know whether you did.

My problem with Orla used in England (or indeed anywhere with a non-rhotic accent) is that the 'r' isn't pronounced, making it 'Ola', which I don't think is nice at all. It sounds a bit margarine-y or oil of Olay-ish.

We're Irish living in England and I know consciously never considered various names that would be wrecked by non-rhotic rs.

The one I know is an Orlaígh - what, they just stuck in a random fada?

Ha, I'm in ROI and I know 2 sets of sisters called Orla & Roisin!

A bit like Sarah and Amy in the UK I guess!

They're beautiful names IMO.

I presume they must have done - I admit I don't know that much about Irish spelling (although I do like a lot of the names, especially with the 'proper' accent). She's in her thirties, from Bangor (NI, not Wales!) so a bit old for yoonique names I'd have thought!

Her sisters are Aoífe and Oonagh, are those spelt normally? Perhaps her parents are just inventive spellers...

I must admit hen I saw the Orlaígh spelling I did wonder if the parents were from NI. Very few people in NI learn Irish in school so although some people are wildly enthusiastic about giving their kids Irish names they're sometimes a bit more free and easy with the spelling rules. And they often assume the more unusual the spelling the more authentic it is. Úna is the standard spelling in Ireland but some people think Oonagh must be more authentic because it's more unusual. And Aoife does not require a fada over the i.

There's a NI guy on Twitter called Eoin something or other and he spells his name Éoin. Drives me mad.

The fada isn't decorative!

I agree with Mitzy. I would consider Oona(gh) as an anglicised version of Una (my granny's name).

Orlaígh should be pronounced Orly.

Irish names are having a "moment" and there are lots of lovely ones - Aoife, Maebh, Gráinne, Sorcha, Úna, to name a few. FWIW I'm Irish with a non-Irish name. Actually, only one of my siblings gas an Irish name! It's entirely your choice what to call your DD

*has

My DD is Orla , DH is Irish. I'd never heard the name until I first visited there and met one of his friends (then many many more Orlas , never an Orlaith though!)

I knew an Eoin and Orla sibling set in NI. No random fada additions, see? We're not all ignorant oop North (of Ireland) .

Lovely names and orla isn't obviously Irish to me