Saoirse, Sienna or Arabella (or something else)

[summerbayray]

Saoirse (seersha) - love love love this but a) we have zero Irish connection and b) pronunciation and spelling would obviously be a major issue.... our surname is mispronounced most of the time as it is.

Arabella - like Bella as a nn but we had a pet called Bella when I was younger. Love a bit of alliteration though and surname begins with a B.

Sienna - love this too, only draw back is popularity. I tend to be drawn to more unusual names and don't really want her to be one of many in a class.

Have read lots of baby name books and lurked on here for ages. Pretty happy with our top 3 but worried there's a perfect name out there that I've missed so suggestions are very welcome.

Arabella

Hate Saoirse, but like Síofra, much prettier and less loaded imo. Others will disagree that Saoirse is a statement but to me, it still kind of is.

Arabella - Love Bella but the ''arra'' sound at the start of a name isn't a natural shortening. I prefer Christabel and Isobel and Annabel. Arable is also a type of farming and I hear one like the other.

Sienna, yeh, I like this, it's an interesting twist on Anna. Totally different meaning I know.

ps, love Bella, like Sienna, I suggest Anya too.

Síofra is pronounced sheefra

I love Arabella.

Sienna

Saoirse I read as 'sore arse'

Sorry, unhelpful

I like Sienna but prefer it spelt Siena (like the city). Bella is nice too although Arabella is a bit jolly hockey sticks for me,

From your list my first choice would be Arabella, then Sienna, both lovely names.

I love Saoirse, but I agree with PinkCosmo that to a lot of Irish people it is a statement due to its meaning. Although it's a beautiful name I'd avoid it for that reason. When I was pregnant I suggested it to DH (who is Irish) in front of his sister & another Irish friend and they all looked at me in horror, so it got ruled out immediately. Being English, I hadn't a clue.

Sienna or Scarlett.

Saoirse - I do struggle with this name. I never remember how to pronounce it and I had to copy and paste because I can never remember the spelling either and usually I'm pretty good at Irish names. I don't particularly like the sound and whenever I see it I always think it sounds a bit try hard Irish when not in ireland. Sorry, you asked for opinions

Arabella is beautiful and on my list too. I don't think I would shorten it as I find Arabella prettier than Bella and it's not an overly long name. If I was to shorten it I think I'd go with Ari

I've never met a Sienna do don't see the popularity issue. I don't particularly like it either though

Comments are all really helpful, keep them coming! I'm thinking as much as I love it Saoirse is safer as a middle name....

I have a Saoirse. I love it.. I like to think it's more from the film 'song if the sea' rather than up the IRA! I've never had a negative comment in that regard!

Oh I love Song of the Sea!

Saoirse doesn't make me think of freedom fighters or anything political really, but it's probably a regional thing. I'm sure in NI it might be more of a statement.

Every second dog is called Bella it seems, so personally I would avoid the name, it's not a lot of fun having it I'm very reliably told.

I've only ever meet one Sienna so can't imagine there'd be more than one in a class.

Ooh Lalaland are you Irish/in Ireland? (if you don't mind me asking) is spelling/pronunciation generally ok after people are told once?

re popularity I don't know any Siennas but it was number 37 on most popular name list last year and I keep seeing it pop up on here. I like Vienna as an alternative but DH doesn't.

I love Arabella.

I'm not in Ireland. We are both Scottish and DH has irish roots.

I think the name raised a few eyebrows and we have had a vast array of spellings and pronunciations however folk are usually fine after you explain it once! I still love it and have no regrets! 😁

Have you considered Seren? Means star and is celtic origin, welsh I believe. I think its less likely to be mispronounced and still lovely

Sienna is lovely and really not that popular.

Saoirse is a controversial name and I wouldn't use it just because you like the sound of it. It does still have political connotations which could potentially be a problem depending where your daughter ends up later in life.

Arabella is okay, I guess, but personally I'd prefer Annabel or Isabel.

I love Saoirse

Saoirse looks like sore arse at first glance, to me.

Saoirse is a lovely name, but yes, does have connotations for some.

Arabella is way too frilly for my tastes, and Bella as a nickname is very tired. If you're 'someone who's drawn to unusual names', I'm surprised this is even on your list.

Sienna is nice.

Arabella is becoming very popular and round here and is the Tilly/Milly of a few years ago.